Jesuit Higher Education in a Secular Age: A Response to Charles Taylor and the Crisis of Fullness

Jesuit education can help students create meaningful connections in a secular age by offering three pedagogies of fullness: study, solidarity, and grace. These pedagogies cultivate an openness in students that can help them achieve a better self-awareness, a stronger sense of global solidarity, and a greater aptitude for inspiration, awe, and gratitude.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 01 April 2022
Publisher: Georgetown University Press

In a secular age, where Western societies are increasingly moving away from traditional religious beliefs, the philosopher Charles Taylor emphasizes the importance of genuine spiritual experience in human life. He refers to this as "fullness." However, as personal occasions of fullness become less prevalent, Jesuit Higher Education in a Secular Age offers a response to the crisis of modernity through three pedagogies of fullness: study, solidarity, and grace.

The pedagogy of study encourages students to explore their full range of thoughts and emotions, aiming to enhance their self-awareness. By delving into various subjects and engaging in critical thinking, students can develop a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them. This pedagogy fosters openness and a willingness to engage with diverse perspectives, which can contribute to a more inclusive and empathetic society.

On the other hand, the pedagogy of solidarity helps students relate to the lives of others, including those from different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. Through community service, social justice initiatives, and intercultural dialogue, students learn to appreciate the diversity of human experiences and develop a sense of global solidarity. This pedagogy fosters empathy, compassion, and a commitment to social change, which are essential values in a secular world.

Together, these two pedagogies cultivate a pedagogy of grace, which validates students' awareness of and receptivity to the extraordinary spiritual Other that impacts their lives. Inspired by the Renaissance humanistic origins of Jesuit pedagogy, this Jesuit imaginary educates students toward a better self-awareness, a stronger sense of global solidarity, and a greater aptitude for inspiration, awe, and gratitude.

By embracing these pedagogies, Jesuit Higher Education in a Secular Age seeks to provide students with the tools they need to navigate the complexities of a secular world while also nurturing their spiritual growth and development. Through a holistic approach that combines academic excellence with personal and social transformation, Jesuit institutions aim to create a generation of leaders who are committed to building a more just and compassionate society.

Weight: 454g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781647122331