The Orthodox Christian Educator in the Modern Cultural and Educational Space

1. Entity type Lemma
2. Original titleПравославный педагог в современном культурно-образовательном пространстве
3. Language term Russian
4. lemma author Asliturk, Miriam
5. lemma category Ecumenism and dialogue > Education
6. Publication date 12-07-2018
7. lemma work Иванчинова-Маринская, Ольга Андреевна [Author]. Православный педагог в современном культурно-образовательном пространстве
8. lemma manifestations Вестник Тамбовского университета. Серия: Гуманитарные науки
9. Keywords history of Russian education - Russian Orthodoxy - religious education - Schools - morality
10. Url Click Here
11. Citations
    1. <p>Иванчинова-маринская, О. А. (2011). Православный педагог в современном культурно-образовательном пространстве. <em>Вестник Тамбовского университета. Серия: Гуманитарные науки</em>, 100 (8), 125-130.</p>
12. Lemma body

    1. This article looks into the question of who should teach the recently introduced school subject "Foundations of Orthodox culture." The author believes that such teachers should be professional pedagogues teaching at secular schools rather than priests. At the same time, these teachers should not "look at the Orthodox culture from the outside.” Rather, they should know it well and be themselves Orthodox believers. This opinion is shared among Orthodox priests and clergymen of other religions as well as many parents, teachers and public figures, with the exception of those who generally oppose the introduction of the course "Foundations of Orthodox Culture."

       It is argued that the spiritual traditions of the Russian people are historically linked with Orthodoxy. This has been repeatedly stated in the philosophical, historical, pedagogical, psychological and literary works of secular authors and Orthodox priests. The unity of the people and the connection of generations are provided by the transfer of spiritual and moral traditions through systematic and organized upbringing and education. This is why the separation of faith from morality leads to moral relativism, which is only legally limited. Such moral relativism and the assumption that "everything is possible, if there is no God", very often leads the person to internal moral collapse and negative social manifestations.

       Therefore, a significant part of Russian society considers it necessary to return to a traditional spiritual and moral upbringing. Parents in particular, understand that the history of Russia cannot be comprehended if one does not know the history of Orthodox Christianity. The author at the same time points out that the foundations of other religious confessions practiced in Russia should be taught as well. Such indeed was the idea behind the decision to experimentally include "Fundamentals of religious cultures and secular ethics" in the school curriculum. The subject includes 6 modules: "Foundations of Orthodox Culture", "Fundamentals of Islamic Culture", "Fundamentals of Buddhist Culture", "Foundations of Jewish Culture", "Fundamentals of World Religious Cultures", "Fundamentals of Secular Ethics", out of which students (or their parents) can choose one to study.

       The teaching of “Foundations of Orthodox Culture” requires that Orthodox teachers are professional and not fanatical in their faith and can teach children from both believing and non-believing families. The Orthodox educator, according to the author, is also a researcher who contributes in every possible way to bridging the gap between secular and Orthodox pedagogy. The goal of Christian pedagogy is the spiritual transformation and salvation of man for eternal life. Thus, the Orthodox pedagogue and Orthodox pedagogy can have a significant impact today on the cultural and educational space of modern Russia.