Role models in religious learning

"Role models in religious learning" was the title of the second Religious Education and Theology Study Day at the Institute for Catholic Theology at the University of Kassel in 2015.

The goals of religious learning are the formation of a responsible judgment on religious questions and the decision to take one's own (religious) path in life. Do we even need role models in religious learning today to guide us and support us in our search for our own path in religious development? Which ones are suitable for this and how can children and young people be inspired by role models in the present day? This central topic was addressed in two keynote speeches:
Prof. Dr. Hans Mendl from the University of Passau, a religious educator, asked whether a process of self-education can succeed without orientation towards other people and role models. He presented concrete religious education models and answered the questions of what attractive religious models are and what they can contribute to the development of one's own faith.
Prof. Dr. Ursula Rapp from the Institute for Religious Education Feldkirch in Austria, as an Old Testament scholar, worked on biblical texts on the figure of Miriam and showed the diverse and exciting statements they contain. The compact presentations were followed by a controversial discussion on whether and to what extent the orientation towards role models can be experienced as beneficial for people today in religious terms.

The topic was then dealt with intensively in various workshops and concretized in terms of school practice. Under the title "Role models? Very close... - In search of local heroes", Jesus Sola Requena, religion teacher at the Freiherr-vom-Stein-Schule in Hessisch Lichtenau and pedagogical assistant at the institute, presented the results of the lessons together with his students and reflected on the respective learning gains. Dr. Martin Pujiula, religion teacher at the König-Heinrich-Schule in Fritzlar, gave insights into his own teaching concepts on the topic of "Role models - signposts to oneself". Replacement professor Dr. theol. Thomas Nauerth, a religious education teacher from Osnabrück, discussed the function of fictional role models in literary works in his workshop entitled "How do fictional role models work? On children's, youth and other literature". Dr. Viera Pirker, education officer at the Pedagogical Center for Dioceses in the State of Hesse in Wiesbaden, worked with contemporary images of the Stations of the Cross on the topic of "The Stations of the Cross - learning from the greatest role model".

The study day was framed by the opening and presentation of the traveling exhibition "Local Heroes", which was hosted in the building of the theological institutes in Diagonale 9 in the winter semester 2015/16. The exhibition, which was conceived at the University of Passau, focused on the "little" saints "from next door", whom it portrayed in exemplary fashion and thus provided a concrete example of learning from role models.

With almost 120 participants, including students as well as teachers of religion, trainee teachers and heads of religion departments, the response to this study day was unexpectedly high. It was therefore necessary to move to a larger lecture room for the main lectures.

The event, which served to promote cooperation between the three phases of teacher training, can be considered an all-round success. During the breaks, students, trainee teachers and religious education teachers had the opportunity to exchange ideas both professionally and personally. For some, it was an opportunity to get a taste of "university air" again, while for others it was a chance to talk to religious education teachers who are already in professional life. In addition, the specialist contributions offered the opportunity to receive theological and religious education training.