Estudos Teológicos

Contributions of confessional education

Neide Laura Fucker Kupas, Rebeca Pizza Pancotte Darius, Fábio Augusto Darius — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0300

Confessional education, characterized by the integration of religious principles into the school curriculum, has played a significant role in the construction of societies over the centuries. In the Brazilian context, it was initiated by the Jesuits in the 16th century and expanded with the arrival of Protestant missionaries from the 19th century onwards, who brought ideas of pedagogical innovation. Given the historical importance of these educational traditions, the objective of this study is to explore, in the literature, aspects of Jesuit and Protestant education and the similarities/distinctions with Adventist education. The research is an integrative review of the literature, whose search took place in texts published in the last 15 years accessible in the three chosen databases: Periódicos Capes, Scielo and Plataforma Schwantes. The search terms included: Adventist education, Jesuit education, confessional education and Protestant education. A total of 352 documents were found, including articles, theses and dissertations. Of these, 37 were removed due to duplication, 315 were selected for abstract screening, 22 for full reading, and 9 were included for qualitative analysis, according to the PRISMA methodology (Moher, 2009), whose free translation of the acronym means “Key Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses”. It was concluded that, while the emphasis of Catholic education covered intellectual, moral and spiritual aspects, Protestant education was characterized by the promotion of individual reading and interpretation of the Bible, encouraging a literacy-centered education. Adventist Education, which emerged in the 19th century, presents similarities with both, but is distinguished by its emphasis on integral development, involving physical, mental and spiritual aspects, in addition to a strong commitment to the community and social service.

Christian Education

Laude Erandi Brandenburg, Marilze Wischral Rodrigues — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0300

Christian education, since its origins in the catechumenate, has been configured as a holistic formative process centered on community life, ethics, and spirituality. Inspired by Greek paideia, it aimed to shape the character and faith of beginners, culminating in Baptism. In the Patristic period, thinkers such as Augustine emphasized interiority and catechesis as a pedagogical method. In the Middle Ages, Scholasticism reconciled faith and reason, with Thomas Aquinas as its main exponent. The Protestant Reformation expanded access to education, emphasizing Bible reading and the role of the family, with Luther and Calvin advocating for a universal and humanistic formation. From the 17th to the 20th century, the Enlightenment criticized Christian education for limiting reason and freedom, proposing a secular and state-run education. However, in Reformed regions, Christian faith engaged in dialogue with reason, maintaining its ethical influence. In the Americas, Christian education expanded with colonization, marked by Indigenous catechesis and religious instruction. In the 19th century, confessional schools grew, and in the 20th century, Christian education incorporated science, citizenship, and human rights. The Comunidades Eclesiais de Base (CEBs), linked to Liberation Theology, promoted popular and critical education, strengthening faith as a tool for social justice. Sunday Schools and Integral Mission consolidated evangelical Christian education by integrating biblical teaching, character formation, and social action. Influenced by Paulo Freire, contemporary Christian education values the dialogue between faith and reality. Christian learning is continuous, relational, and transformative, involving cognition, affectivity, and attitude, forming followers of Jesus committed to the Gospel and the transformation of society.

Christian Education

Olinda do Socorro Machado Soares, Elivaldo Serrão Custódio — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0300

This article aims to reflect, in light of the Christian Scriptures and the contributions of Pedagogy and Psychology, on how Christian Education influences family dynamics and strengthens the bonds between parents and children. It seeks to understand how living faith can contribute to a healthy relationship, based on love, mutual respect, and spiritual responsibility. In addition, it analyzes the relationship between parents and children from birth, and how this contributes to the formation of the individual so that, in adolescence, they may understand the reasons for the various transformations that will occur in their lives. This also provides parents with peace and tranquility to face together this particularly difficult phase of human life. This is a qualitative, bibliographic study. The data reveal that this effective relationship only happens if parents are aware of their importance in the psychosocial and spiritual development of their children, as well as the role of each family member, which must be addressed and cultivated within the home. This relationship should be grounded in the principles and values assimilated and practiced by certain families, whether Christian or not. In the case of the Christian family, it must be guided by the Scriptures, which serve as a manual for the practice of faith, as well as social and spiritual values.

Christian Education in the Digital Age

Elizabeth Souza — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0300

This article explores the pedagogical potential of spatial dimension and event mapping in Christian Education, using the georeferencing of Eucharistic Miracles as a case study. In a context marked by digital transformation and disconnection between religious identity and formative practice, the research investigates how geographic representation—supported by tools like Google My Maps—can serve as an innovative didactic resource. The study is based on the cataloging work of Carlo Acutis (1991–2006), who systematized 136 Eucharistic Miracles recognized by the Catholic Church, transforming them into an accessible digital resource. The methodology combines geospatial analysis, interdisciplinary approaches (theology, history, and science), and active learning strategies to translate abstract theological concepts into tangible experiences. Results demonstrate that spatial visualization strengthens the cognitive, affective, and communal dimensions of faith education, while challenges such as technological disparities and the risk of trivializing the sacred require careful mediation. The study concludes that the georeferencing of sacred events represents a paradigm shift in religious education by building bridges between tradition and contemporary digital culture.

The Adventist philosophy of education and game-based learning

Allan Macedo de Novaes, Erick Lima — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0300

This work consists of an experience report on the Savepoint playroom, a ludic-religious-academic initiative at the Adventist University of São Paulo (UNASP), which serves as an institutional and theological-pedagogical response to the challenges arising from the complex relationship of tensions and reinterpretations of the Seventh-day Adventist Church regarding games. The account of the creation of the playroom, focusing on its methodology and operational logic, engages directly with elements of the philosophy of Adventist education based on Ellen White's theological-pedagogical thought, namely the perspective of an integral and redemptive education and its interface with the concept of recreation.

Carl Jung's contributions to Christian education in the process of individuation

Geörg , Odilon Duffeck — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0300

This article investigates Carl Jung's contributions to Christian education in the process of individuation, considering it as the integral development of the human being. Christian education must go beyond the simple transmission of doctrine; it must promote emotional, spiritual, and cognitive aspects. The research seeks to understand how Christian education can contribute to this process, helping to strengthen the "I" and resilience in the face of life's challenges. Jesus' message and teachings encourage inner reflection and personal transformation. Thus, an effective Christian education must dialogue with human needs, promoting an experience that values inclusion, dignity, and commitment to the Kingdom of God. Therefore, it is concluded that true Christian education not only teaches about Christ, but also leads each person to a personal and transformative experience with Him, promoting a life that is more integral, authentic, conscious, and connected with God and with others.

A Distinctively Christian Pedagogy

Bruno Eliseu Ferreira Ramos, Elden Borges — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0300

This article critically and theologically examines Rousas J. Rushdoony's reconstructionist/teonomist perspective on education, advocating Christian dominionism over all life spheres before Christ's return. This analysis highlights both positive and negative aspects. Drawing on Dutch Neo-Calvinist thought, particularly Abraham Kuyper and Herman Dooyeweerd, this study aims to contribute a balanced biblical-theological understanding of distinctly Christian education.

From Inclusive Confessionality to Confessional Identitarianism

André Luiz Boccato Almeida, Carolina Mureb — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0300

This article discusses the challenge faced by Catholic education in responding to questions from neoconservative Catholic groups regarding its fidelity to its confessional identity. The contemporary world is marked by the affirmation of diverse worldviews, conceptions of the human being, ethics, and education that break away from a single reference model. In the field of teaching and education, this heterogeneity is evident. Social networks and influencers deliberately disseminate these differences, often intensifying conflicts and clashes of perspectives. In this context, a dilemma emerges between two approaches to Catholic education: a dialogical approach and another rooted in identitarianism. The analysis will unfold in three parts. First, it will present the phenomenon of confessional identity and confessional identitarianism in the current educational scenario. Next, it will highlight the theological meaning of Catholic confessional education, based on the Church’s educational tradition, amid various confusions and provocations. Finally, it will reflect on the meaning of the Catholic confessional school and its mission within the context of educational pluralism. Addressing this topic is of utmost importance in the current ecclesial and social context, as both the content and the manner in which education is proposed are crucial for fostering sincere dialogue with reality on the part of the Church.

The Disenchantment of the World and the Civilizational Crisis

Pablo Fernando Dumer — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0300

Modernity has established a civilizational paradigm based on the separation between humanity and nature, a process culminating in the disenchantment of the world and the instrumentalization of nature. This phenomenon not only shaped the logic of Western scientific, technical, and economic development but also profoundly influenced Christian theology, particularly Protestant theology, which has historically privileged an approach that dissociates transcendence from the natural world. In the face of the contemporary ecological crisis and the symbolic exhaustion of religious structures for addressing the relationship between humanity and nature, this article seeks to investigate whether and how theology can offer a response to this impasse. The central research question concerns whether the Protestant theological tradition, regarded by Max Weber as a driving force behind the disenchantment of the world, can provide elements for reconstructing a more integrated relationship among humanity, nature, and God. The hypothesis proposed is that Lutheran theology, particularly through its Eucharistic doctrine, offers a hermeneutical key to rethinking the sacredness of creation without disregarding the autonomy of nature. The findings suggest that Lutheran sacramental theology enables a symbolic reconciliation between nature and transcendence, paving the way for an epistemology of grace that redefines the relationality lost in modernity. The research adopts an interdisciplinary theological approach, integrating philosophy, history, and systematic theology to examine the roots of disenchantment and propose alternatives within the framework of the Protestant tradition. In this way, this article contributes to contemporary theological debate by suggesting new pathways for constructing an ecological spirituality within the Protestant context.

Matzeivás in the Amazônia

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0300

This article aims to present, from the field of cemeterial studies, the historical process that enabled the creation, at the beginning of the 20th century, of the first Israeli Cemetery of Macapá, concomitantly with the structuring of the Israeli Community of Amapá, addressing, among other topics, the rites involved in the funeral, Jewish mourning, and its relationship with the cemetery. This necropolis is a landmark of Jewish immigration in Amapá, and its location, currently in the center of the city, constitutes a symbol of political and economic influence in Amapá society, on whose tombstones are recorded the names of the pioneers of this community and, consequently, offer important data on the history of Jewish immigration in Amapá. In this way, we propose to analyze the historical and formal constitution of this space and its relations with the funerary rites present in the religious tradition of this community.

Religion as art

Everton Carneiro — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0300

The article "Religion as Art: A Sublime Expression of the Human" investigates religion as a form of art, addressing its symbolic, aesthetic, and transcendental manifestations. The main objective is to analyze how religion uses artistic elements to evoke the sublime, connect humans to the transcendent, and provide meaning to existence. The academic justification highlights the relevance of the topic in broadening the dialogue between theology, philosophy, anthropology, and aesthetics in a world marked by cultural and religious tensions. The theoretical framework is based on Paul Tillich, Mircea Eliade, and Clifford Geertz, who explore, respectively, religion as a symbolic system; the manifestation of the sacred through hierophanies; and religion as a symbolic structure that organizes worldview. These concepts underpin the interdisciplinary approach of the study. The methodology includes a bibliographic review of classical works, case studies, comparative analysis, and a phenomenological approach. Examples such as sacred architecture, liturgical music, and religious rituals illustrate the relationship between the aesthetic and the transcendent. Comparative analysis identifies similarities and cultural differences in sacred expressions. The results indicate that religion, like art, creates symbolic realities that transcend rational understanding, connecting humans to the divine. This approach highlights the essential role of aesthetics and symbolism in religious experience, affirming religion as a universal artistic expression that offers meaning, transcendence, and belonging.

The Family Code in Cuba

Yamilka Hernández Guzmán, Carolina Bezerra de Souza — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0300

The Cuban state approved a new Family Code with a more inclusive perspective. The legislation acknowledges the diversity of family structures and extends the recognition and protection of rights to LGBTQIA+ groups. In this context, the new code has also triggered significant polarization among different religious denominations. This study aims to analyze this reality using netnography as a research method, focusing on the social networks of Cuban churches and the religious movements involved. The analysis will primarily draw on feminist and decolonial theological perspectives within the framework of human rights.

Expediente

Marcelo Saldanha — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0300

Editorial

Laude Erandi Brandenburg, Marilze Wischral Rodrigues — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0300

Editorial

Marcelo Ramos Saldanha — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0300