Spirituality as an Articulating Axis of Religious Education and the Teaching of Philosophy in Chilean Public Schools

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Spirituality as an Articulating Axis of Religious Education and the Teaching of Philosophy in Chilean Public Schools
Language: English
Authors: Francisco Vargas-Herrera (ORCID 0000-0002-0718-6616), Loreto Moya-Marchant (ORCID 0000-0003-4123-579X), Dangelo Luna-Muñoz (ORCID 0000-0003-4923-8186)
Source: British Journal of Religious Education. 2026 48(3):424-437.
Availability: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 14
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Public Schools, Ethics, Religion, Religious Education, Philosophy, Secondary Education, Catholics, Spiritual Development
Geographic Terms: Chile
DOI: 10.1080/01416200.2026.2637513
ISSN: 0141-6200
1740-7931
Abstract: The General Education Law in Chile states in its second article the encouragement of spiritual development in schooled population. However, it does not state what encompasses this kind of development, nor its content or strategies. It is known that the concept of spirituality has been tackled in philosophy and theology traditions, several of which nurture various aspects of the national curriculum. This study examines critically how this mandate of the Law is tackled by the subjects of Catholic Religion and Philosophy during the last 2 years of secondary education. For this purpose, a documentary review of the Curricular Bases is carried out, the ones responsible for the programs of those subjects. In addition, the narratives of teachers, collected through interviews, are examined. The analysis of data offers different and similar outlooks on what spiritual development is and entails for the schooled population and expresses how the concept of spirituality constitutes a reality that favours and, potentially, supports the teaching of religion and philosophy in Chilean public schools, suggesting a greater interrelation between these two educational disciplines.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1508453
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:The General Education Law in Chile states in its second article the encouragement of spiritual development in schooled population. However, it does not state what encompasses this kind of development, nor its content or strategies. It is known that the concept of spirituality has been tackled in philosophy and theology traditions, several of which nurture various aspects of the national curriculum. This study examines critically how this mandate of the Law is tackled by the subjects of Catholic Religion and Philosophy during the last 2 years of secondary education. For this purpose, a documentary review of the Curricular Bases is carried out, the ones responsible for the programs of those subjects. In addition, the narratives of teachers, collected through interviews, are examined. The analysis of data offers different and similar outlooks on what spiritual development is and entails for the schooled population and expresses how the concept of spirituality constitutes a reality that favours and, potentially, supports the teaching of religion and philosophy in Chilean public schools, suggesting a greater interrelation between these two educational disciplines.
ISSN:0141-6200
1740-7931
DOI:10.1080/01416200.2026.2637513