Spiritual Questions about Christian Education and Nurture
A January 17th Seminar was held in Petershulye Christian Gymnazia (private highschool) in St. Petersburg to discuss spiritual questions about Christian education and training.
The director of the school, E.B. Mooshnikova, offered a hearty welcome to the guests who had gathered. This "round-table" was organized by the Y.A. Komenski religious-philosophical educational center and by the Christian school "Petershulye." Rectors of religious institutions in St. Petersburg which provide higher education took part in the work of the seminar. In the name of St. Petersburg Christian University, both the rector, A. M. Negrov, and pro-rector, I.M. Savich, participated.
The themes discussed turned out to be of burning interest and none of those who attended remained indifferent to the questions that were raised. The general opinion of the round-table participants was very supportive of the value of Christian upbringing and education in Russia. A lower opinion happened to be held by members of the audience who chose to speak.
Some of the comments made during the seminar include the following.
"It's necessary to seek a new form of religious education. We need to teach students to think spiritually."
"Religious education must be multi-dimensional. Right now it is only single-faceted. A Christian school is an important category."
"Religious education in school is essential. It is possible to assimilate religion through the culture. The study of culture in academic institutions is also important."
There is no salvation without redemption. This is our priority. It follows that we should avoid moralism and liberalism."
"Religious education is necessary for the revelation of one's internal being."
"Christianity is salt, not soup."
During the discussions of the questions broached, an unexpected debate flared up about creationism and Darwinism. As became apparent, not all the participants were on the side of creationism for one or another reason. The lack of needed attention to this question on the side of the educational institutions was noticed. As was noted the consequences of an evolutionary worldview are ruinous for modern society and deprive people of the foundations needed for raising the younger generation.