The Paul/Elder

Model of

Critical Thinking

in Theology

Gary V. Meegan

Laura Ramey

Junípero Serra High School

American Academy of Religion

Western Region

March 15, 2010

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Our story:�We are an average, middle class, Catholic, all-boy, predominantly white school.

Teaching Critical Thinking�in Theology Classes

Barriers to Teaching Critical Thinking

Barriers to Learning for Critical Thinking

Barriers to Teaching Critical Thinking�in Theology Classes

Expectations of Critical Thinking by Universities

National Convention Abstracts�2001-2009

Nouns following the adjective critical

68 Colleges, Universities, Seminaries in Western Region of AAR have either a Theology, Religion, or Religious Studies Major

The art�of analyzing�and�evaluating�thinking�with a view to�improving it.

Paul’s Working Definition of Critical Thinking

Thinking about thinking while you’re thinking to make your thinking better.

How we think

The Intersection of Critical Thinking and Critical Pedagogy�in Theology Classes

Implications for�Professional Development

1. Provide a consistent model for thinking
2. Rich texts, primary sources
3. Strategies that provide for the messiness and profundity of theology

Skills and Strategies

That Encourage Critical Thinking

Learning is all about asking questions.

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Critical Thinking can be taught through�QUESTIONING

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Critical Thinking can be taught through�Close Reading

and

Annotations

Whatever makes a student more fully, richly, and authentically human, whatever opens a student’s mind, frees a student’s will, brightens a student’s imagination, encourages a student’s ability to act and choose, whatever gives the student courage, hope, and insight, whatever makes the student more truly human is simultaneously making the student holy.

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Fr. Michael Himes, Ph.D., Good Time, Good News, 96^th Annual Convention—Opening Session, National Catholic Educational Association.

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In conclusion…