God, human nature and education for peace : new approaches to moral and religious maturity

What prevents the human species from finally learning the lessons of social justice and global peace in an unreconciled world? Are Christians better off? Presenting new challenges to moral and religious education, this book clarifies the true image of the biblical God around the topics of justice and reconciliation. Rejuvenating interpretations of the most outstanding traditions of the Old and New Testament, Karl Ernst Nipkow's approach of 'elementarization' - well known in German speaking countries - is introduced for the first time in the English language. Theological perspectives are confronted with data from evolutionary ethics and social psychology, through practice-based examples of the roots of aggression, violence, xenophobia and ethno-centrism. The analysis ends with peace and spirituality in the light of different faiths. This book presents a striking blend of theology, education and the social sciences, to explore central issues in moral and religious education.

• Contents: Preface
• Global challenges and the role of religion
• God's humanity: Human images of God and God's humanity
• Peace through justice: God, Cain, war and evil in children's eyes
• God and the cry for justice in the psalms and prophets
• Reconciliation through love: Young people, God and Jesus - towards a culture of compassion and care
• Christian education revised in the spirit of God's reconciling joy
• The perspective of victims - peace and justice in the light of Jesus' death
• Overcoming barriers - a biographical approach to Paul
• Paths to peace and human nature: From killing to murder - aggression, violence and warfare in evolutionary perspective
• Paths to peace - a multidimensional approach
• Global peace and religions: Peace and spirituality in the light of different faiths
• Bibliography
• Indexes.