The reference of Clement of Alexandria in A.D. 190 to the ‘Paideia of God’ is probably one of the earliest explicit references that merges the classic tradition of virtues and Christianity. Origen, likewise, was a master of the Greek philosophical tradition and his works and teaching are replete with references to virtue. But the earliest…
In addition to its religious and spiritual weight, the New Testament can be considered as an instance of the heroic literature that plays a vital role in the education of character and virtue. The main feature of this kind of literature is to depict heroes of virtue for emulation and villains of vice for avoidance…
‘Do not run hither and thither and distract yourself by changing your abode; for such restlessness is the sign of a disordered spirit’ (Seneca). Part 1 – Moral Letters to Lucilius We’re going to take a quick look at Seneca’s Moral Letters to Lucilius (Epistulae morales ad Lucilium). As Seneca looks deep and hard into his…
Paideia is the ambitious educational project of ancient Greece, that claims that what counts is the ideal shape of soul that can be intentionally moulded by the education of character. Here is what is in this brief video. We begin by exploring an initial definition of Paideia to then move on to see that for Paideia…
The Neo-Aristotelian Model of Moral Development represents a viable framework for character education in the context of theological education . Although much of character is ‘caught’ by role-modelling and emulation, it can also be taught through what the Jubilee Centre for Character Education has called a three-fold ‘caterpillar process’ which includes virtue knowledge, virtue reasoning and…
In ancient Athens virtue was caught, taught and from there it spread. Theological education has deep roots in the ‘Athens model’. We can explore virtue and character education in many ways. Geography is one of these ways, and there is not better place to start from than Athens. In Athens character was caught. The Republic of fourth century…
Character Education and Theological Education 