BOOK REVIEWS
Abstract
The effective teaching of religious education, 2nd ed. by Brenda Watson and Penny Thompson, Harlow, Pearson Education, 2007, xi + 240 pp., 21.99 (paperback), ISBN-13 978-1-4058-2410-1 This book represents a major revision of a 1997 original by Brenda Watson. It is divided into four parts, each in turn sub-divided into three chapters. Part 1 addresses the role of Religious Education (RE) in society today: the effective teacher of RE, the notion of RE as an erratic boulder and 'giving religion a chance.' Part 2 addresses 'What do we mean by religion?' sub-dividing into: the purpose of RE, Christianity and 'other world religions.' Part 3 addresses skills for understanding: concepts and imagination, truth-claims and thinking skills and interpreting scripture. The final part deals with extending the curriculum: RE and the rest of the curriculum, worship and education, encouraging spiritual development. A five-page appendix called 'meeting requirements' is about juggling the pressures of inspection, syllabus requirements and assessment. The writers hold strong, occasionally trenchant, views which are clearly expressed. Sometimes these views are vigorously defended. At others they are left as assertions. Either way, readers are left in no doubt where the writers stand. It is passionate writing. They start