Educating the whole person

Interfaith and educating the whole person. A meeting of the London group of the Alister Hardy Society for the Study of Spiritual experience

Alan Rainer began by speaking of the bewildering array of gods available to the young person and the danger of secularism. There is very little information about religion on TV. The modern desire for connectivity does not bring happiness or companionship. Students are under enormous pressure from adults and social media. In the end it all comes down to what you see the human being as.

The UK education system is assessment led with such an emphasis on exams that the whole concept of the “love of learning” has been lost. He spoke of too many ideas men at the centre of the system, the breakdown of families and how some have turned to home education as a partial solution.

Marianne Rankin spoke of the study of other faiths being seen as anthropological and there is not much linking up of religions in this study. There needs to be an emphasis on the meaning of life and how to live. Religious education teaching has suffered by being downgraded and lowered in status. While churches are emptying, 73% report having spiritual experiences, including near death experiences. We need to return to silence as a start. She spoke of the trust which Anthony Seldon had built up with his pupils at Wellington College leading to greater interaction with young people.

Nothing is sacred now but everything is sacred. Perhaps the most useful comment was the suggestion that “well-being” should be promoted to teachers as a way forward as advocated by Gus O’Donnell.

John Woodhouse

Westminster Cathedral Interfaith group