• Journal of Christian Education in Korea
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• v.61
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• pp.233-262
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• 2020

Rapidly developing modern science &technology have a profound impact on Christians and pastoral work. Recently, the 4th Industrial Revolution has induced lots of discussions in the field of church and theology, and artificial intelligence (AI) has become an important issue in many ways. Nevertheless, there is a lack of empirical research on how the AI would affect church and pastoral work. This study examined and analyzed the theological students' perception of AI. A survey was conducted on the perception of seven sub-areas of 220 male and female theological students at major seminaries in Korea. The seven subareas were including the degree of interest in AI, social influence, AI's alternative influence, and AI's church influence. The results showed that theological students generally agree with the academic relevance of AI or the need for education on AI. However, it presented alow perception of the impact of AI on the church. Such recognition may reflect the following belief. Students are aware that the AI is a necessary and important part of social and general education, but at the same time, they think the AI may not significantly threaten the church. Therefore, wes uggest that considering a response of Christian education to raise the perception of theological students of AI, courses related to science and technology should be organized in the curriculum of seminaries at various levels from the perspective of the Christian worldview.

• Journal of Christian Education in Korea
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• v.61
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• pp.9-35
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• 2020

In the second half of the previous century the composition of the teacher population - and the composition of the pupil and parent population - in the Netherlands gives rise to the name change 'age of secularisation' to 'age of pluralisation'. In previous centuries the (religious or secular) worldview identity of the parents and the educational philosophy of the school were attuned to each other, and merged into a mono-cultural perspective on the identity development of pupils. The basis for both - the upbringing by the parents and the socialisation in the family on the one hand, and the teachers' efforts to enculturate the students at the school on the other - was a similar life orientation. The school choice of the parents was predetermined by their commitment to a particular (religious) worldview, very often inspired by Christianity. The religious identity of their children developed in a clear-cut context. However, in contemporary society plurality dominates, at home and at the school, both in case of the parents and the teachers. A direct relationship with a community of like-minded believers is no longer decisive for parents with varying cultural and religious backgrounds. Instead, a good feeling upon entering the schoolyard or the school building is a convincing argument in the process of school choice. The professional identity development of teachers and the religious identity development of children takes place in a plural context. Our question is: what does this mean for the normative professionalism of the teacher? To answer this research question we make use of the resources of the Dialogical Self Theory (DST) with its core concepts of 'voice' and 'positioning'. After presenting the Dutch dual education system (with public and denominational schools) we provide a lively description of a Dutch classroom situation occurring in a public school, as viewed from the perspective of the teacher. The focus in this description is on performative dialogue as a 'disruptive moment' and on its potential for the hyphenated religious identity development of teachers, which makes up a part of their normative professionalism.

• Journal of Christian Education in Korea
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• v.65
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• pp.29-54
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• 2021

In Europe, the diversity in religions, cultures, languages and historical backgrounds is enormous. World War II and the Soviet Regime have played a large part in this and the flow of refugees from other continents increases the pluralism. How can religious education add to bridging between differences? The language across European countries is different, literally between countries, but also figuratively speaking and even inside individual countries. These differences occur in cultural sense and across age groups as well. Secondary education has the task to form young people to become firmly rooted people who can hold their own in society. It is essential that they learn to examine their own core values and their roots. Recognising their values should be a main focus of religious education. However, schools are currently accommodating increasing numbers of non-religious pupils. What role do religious values still play in this situation? How do pupils feel about active involvement in religious institutions, and about basing life choices on religious beliefs? Can other, non-religious values be detected which could form the basis for value-oriented personal formation? Research of these subjects has been ongoing in the Netherlands for more than twenty years and is currently being expanded to the Czech Republic and(former East) Germany. These are also secularized countries but have a very different history. Does the history and context of these countries play a role, and does this show in the values that are important to pupils? A comparative pilot study is being conducted as start of this broadening perspective geared towards greater insight into the values of pupils in these three European countries. This information helps to design appropriate new forms of religious value-oriented worldview education.

• Journal of Christian Education in Korea
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• v.67
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• pp.11-44
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• 2021

In the early 21st century, the global COVID-19 pandemic, which has arisen during the development of the technological science of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, has been a great challenge in all fields including politics, economy, industry, education and religion in Korean society. To prevent the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic, the Korean government announced 'social distancing guidelines,' focused on the 'prohibition of three conditions'(crowd, closeness, airtight) for safety reasons. These quarantine guidelines made it more difficult for Korean churches and Sunday schools to operate. In general, looking at the statistical data of the major denominations of the Korean Church in the second half of the 20th century, shows that the Church has entered a period of stagnant or declining growth. Data also show that the number of students attending Sunday School is decreasing. The researcher identified four causes of the crisis faced by the Korean church and Korean Sunday school entering the 21st century. These trends are influenced by the tendencies of postmodernism, the deconstruction of modern universalism, the certainty and objectivity of knowledge, and the grand narrative and worldview of diffusion. Moreover, it is a phenomenon in which the young population decreases in contrast to the increasing elderly population in the age of population cliff in Korean society. Sunday Schools are also facing a crisis, as the youth population, who will become the future heroes of the Korean church, is declining. Finally, constraints of Church and Sunday school education activities are due to COVID-19 Pandemic. As analysis shows the loss of the Church's educational vision and a decrease in the passion for education. Accordingly, the researcher suggests four new strategies for the next generation of Korean Sunday schools, whose ranges from 200 members or less; this range covers the majority of Sunday School program run by churches in Korea. First, in the age of postmodernism, a time of uncertainty and relativism, Christian Societies requires teachers who are certain of absolute Christian truth and faith. Second, in an era of declining population cliffs for younger generations, a shift to a home-friendly Sunday school paradigm is needed. Third, during the COVID-19 pandemic, educational activities must appropriately utilize face-to-face and non-face-to-face communication. Finally, even in difficult times, Korean Sunday school should nevertheless remember the Lord's great commandment(Matthew 28:18-20) and restore the vision and passion of education to announce and teach the gospel. The researcher hopes that this study will provide small, positive steps in rebuilding Korean Sunday school educational activities for future generations in difficult times.