Taking Religion to School: Christian Theology and Secular Education (Paperback)

by Stephen H. Webb (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
In the modern university, religion is often taken to school-primarily in the sense of being critiqued, disciplined, and domesticated. In this provocative book, Stephen Webb steps into the middle of current controversies about the place of religion in secular high schools and colleges.

Speaking explicitly as a Christian theologian, Webb offers penetrating analysis and vivid autobiographical reflections that will benefit professors of religious studies, high school teachers of religion, students, seminary- and university-based theologians, and all others concerned with the many points of contention over religious education in our day.

From the Back Cover
In the modern university, religion is often taken to school-primarily in the sense of being critiqued, disciplined and domesticated. In this provocative book, Stephen Webb steps into the middle of current controversies about the place of religion in secular high schools and colleges. Speaking explicitly as a Christian theologian, but also as one who accepts the reality of religious pluralism, Webb argues that the teaching of religion is itself a religious activity, that teachers of religion should not disguise their own faiths in the classroom, and that high schools and universities should allow more-not less-space for religious voices.

Taking Religion to School, rather than rehearse tired debates, bursts with creative insight and strategic reframings of the crucial questions about religion and pedagogy. Webb's penetrating analysis and vivid autobiographical reflections will benefit professors of religious studies, high school teachers of religion, students, seminary- and university-based theologians, and all others concerned with the many points of contention over religious education in our day.

"Taking Religion to School is an important book. It takes with conceptual seriousness the idea that teaching religion might itself be a religious activity, and in its exploration and defense of that idea offers an exciting program for the future of teaching religion in universities and colleges. The intellectual climate of higher education in the U.S. has changed considerably in the last 20 years: 'scientific' models for the teaching and study of religion are dead or dying, and Webb's book will be an important element in replacing theirs with something better." -Paul Griffiths, University of Chicago

"Stephen Webb's Taking Religion to School is full of wisdom and wit, self-effacing autobiography, and astute criticism of the educational industry. It will be useful for teachers of all sorts as they ponder what they are doing when they bring their own and their students' religions into the classroom, or keep them out." -James J. Buckley, Co-editor, Modern Theology

"In this fresh and stimulating essay into the fractitious ferment in American culture regarding religion in school, Stephen Webb provides a thoughtful and faithful argument that religious education is always 'religious.' His mildly postmodern, always passionate proposal must be taken seriously by all sides of the current debate." -Alan Padgett, Azusa Pacific University

Stephen H. Webb is associate professor of religion and philosophy at Wabash College (Crawfordsville, Indiana). His other books include On God and Dogs: A Christian Theology of Compassion for Animals and The Gifting God: A Trinitarian Ethic of Excess.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 253 pages
• Publisher: Brazos Press (November 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1587430029
• ISBN-13: 978-1587430022
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,909,156 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars superb, May 31, 2008

By	jon grife (maryland) - See all my reviews

stephen h. webb is a masterful writer. he gives religous scholars a good name. he is a deeply spiritual and intelligent proponent of faith and open-minded religous discourse and philosophy. i love his books. i won't summarize this book. i can only say that his ideas always bring me closer to god and faith and that you won't be disappointed to read this book or anything that he has written. this book is a deeply thoughtful treatise on how to approach the teaching of faith in the classroom and he explains alot about his own scholarly background. next i plan to read his book on god and dogs.