Die problematiek van geloofsekerheid in die godsdiensonderrig aan Afrikaanse onderwysstudente

Abstract

1. The Lord calls man to certainty of faith. In addition a call to certainty of faith goes out to the young from the distress of Western civilization, the practice of daily living and the necessity of sound mental development. 2. Opposed to this call are the factors causing and increasing doubt, namely the transcendental Evil, the changed spirit of the times and various historic-pedagogic and psychological factors that make the teacher in training in his late-adolescent instability uncertain and confused about religious and moral matters. 3. On account of the apostolate of the Christian organization the training of teachers can be expected to assist through the acceptance of a Christian foundation, milieu, purpose, curriculum, staff and organization in the realization of the ideal of prospective teachers who are certain of faith. 4. In particular stress must be laid on the Christian tuition of subjects, as well as a course in the Christian approach of the sciences and dogmatic religious education. This does not mean that a student will be isolated from foreign standpoints, but that in his encounter with them he will be equipped with Christian standards with which he can evaluate all standpoints, instead of being confused and experiencing obstacles in connection with his growth in faith. 5. The subject Religious Education must serve the ideal of teachers in training who are certain of faith particularly through purpose and method, through an understanding approach of the student, through actualizing of the subject matter, and through the testifying conviction of the lecturer - of future educators who do not live doubtfully and ever introspectively, but who can look around them in certainty of faith and toil for the Christianizing of every field of life, in this case especially the teaching profession, and in so doing can help to bring about the recognition of the kingship of Christ over heaven and earth.