A Seventh-day Adventist Concept of the Kingdom of God and its Implication for Religious Education
Problem: While there are statements in the writings of Ellen G. White and those of Seventh-day Adventist scholars that seem to indicate that there is a relationship between the kingdom of God and education, it appears that no major work has been done to show, in a systematic manner, the relationship between the Adventist concept of the kingdom and its philosophy of education. The purpose of this study was to find what relationship exists between the SDA concept of the kingdom and its philosophy of education.
Method: This study, which is documentary in nature, is essentially a typological classification research effort. Both the kingdom of God and theories of religious education are classified as transcendent, immanent, and transcendent-immanent. The SDA concept of the kingdom and its philosophy of education are studied in the light of these three classifications.
Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest a definite relationship between the SDA concept of the kingdom and its philosophy of education. (1) Biblical scholars agree that the kingdom of God is future as well as present. Although the present kingdom remains unclear to them, the biblical writers have described it as spiritual. Individuals may enter into it. (2) God's kingdom consists of a sovereign Ruler, territory, subjects, justice, law, and worship with the Sabbath standing out as a sign of the presence of the kingdom. (3) The kingdom and religious education are philosophically classified as transcendent, immanent, and transcendent-immanent. (4) Emphasis on the transcendent concept of the kingdom may lead to scholasticism, a philosophy of education that leads to intellectual attainment. Stress on immanence may lead to humanism that relates to practical education. But the transcendent-immanentist concept takes into consideration an education that deals with the development of the whole person. (5) The SDA Church upholds the transcendent-immanentist philosophy of education that takes into consideration man's total experience--his spiritual, moral, social, mental and physical dimension.
Method: This study, which is documentary in nature, is essentially a typological classification research effort. Both the kingdom of God and theories of religious education are classified as transcendent, immanent, and transcendent-immanent. The SDA concept of the kingdom and its philosophy of education are studied in the light of these three classifications.
Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest a definite relationship between the SDA concept of the kingdom and its philosophy of education. (1) Biblical scholars agree that the kingdom of God is future as well as present. Although the present kingdom remains unclear to them, the biblical writers have described it as spiritual. Individuals may enter into it. (2) God's kingdom consists of a sovereign Ruler, territory, subjects, justice, law, and worship with the Sabbath standing out as a sign of the presence of the kingdom. (3) The kingdom and religious education are philosophically classified as transcendent, immanent, and transcendent-immanent. (4) Emphasis on the transcendent concept of the kingdom may lead to scholasticism, a philosophy of education that leads to intellectual attainment. Stress on immanence may lead to humanism that relates to practical education. But the transcendent-immanentist concept takes into consideration an education that deals with the development of the whole person. (5) The SDA Church upholds the transcendent-immanentist philosophy of education that takes into consideration man's total experience--his spiritual, moral, social, mental and physical dimension.
URL:
Availability:
Free
Publication Date:
1982
Author:
Alvinus D Bhola
Publisher:
| Andrews University Press Sutherland House 8360 W Campus Circle Dr Berrien Springs, MI 49103 | Phone: 616 471 6134 or 800 467 6369 FAX: 616 471 6224 Email: aupo@andrews.edu URL: https://www.andrews.edu/universitypress |
Order Information:
Full text available online through ProQuest Digital Dissertations. Completed through Andrews University.
Keywords:
Language:
English
Resource Type:
Unpublished Plans & Papers; Internet Resources
Resource Objective:
Research
Level:
Kindergarten-Lifelong
Audience:
Researcher
Religious Origin:
Seventh-day Adventist