13:15-14:30 | Room B Monday Onsite Presentation Session 3

Religion and Education

Session Chair: Joselito Gutierrez

13:15-13:40

68971 | The Significance of Thomas Aquinas’ Christology to the “Death of the Subject” in the Postmodern Era

Christian Arisandi Kiding Allo, Driyarkara College, Indonesia

Modernism, which was previously expected to carry human civilization towards a bright and utopian future, has failed. Dark experiences in the twentieth century such as the First World War, the Second World War, the Holocaust, and the Cold War have brought pessimism towards the view of scientific and technological progress. Even the worst is the loss of public trust in modern meta-narratives which then causes a loss of direction and hope for the future. This causes the appreciation of life towards reality to be shallow and without a consistent attitude. People are aware of the many difficulties and problems in life they face, but they try to forget and pretend they don't know, so that the conditions they enjoy are based on suffering. The way of life with this paradigm ultimately leads to "death of the subject" where there is no longer any idealism that is held and only flows with the times. Looking back, Thomas Aquinas, who was a major figure in the Middle Ages, offered the concept of Christology within the theological framework of Visio Beatifica. Aquinas realized that this world which has fallen into sin is inseparable from evil and ugliness, but the personal presence and work of Christ has given humanity a hope that this world runs in God's sovereignty so that there is no reason for humans to stop hoping and living life with despair.

13:40-14:05

68873 | Exploring the Religious View of Cultivating Sages and Talents from the Perspective of Social Innovation

Li-Yueh Chen, Weixin Shengjiao College, Taiwan

Chen-Mei Li, Weixin Shengjiao College, Taiwan

Social innovation involves the development and implementation of new concepts and approaches to satisfy the needs of society and solve issues, ultimately enhancing social well-being. According to the National Development Council, Taiwan merged to form an old-age society in 2018 and will enter a super-old-age society in 2025. Meanwhile, young people have been addicted to the Internet in recent years, and crimes, fraud, drug problems, gambling, and other crimes have become prevalent. From a theological standpoint, this study investigates the concept of "cultivating sages and talents" proposed by Grand Master Hunyuan, the founder of Weixin Shengjiao, a new religion that has been rapidly spreading in Taiwan since 1982. The concept incorporates I-Ching Fengshui as well as insights from Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism in order to promote the public's virtue, aspirations, and spiritual sublimation. It seeks to create the great harmonious world described by Confucius in the Chapter "The Great Together" in The Book of Rites with the ultimate goal of "enriching the people." As a result, this study examines the religious viewpoint of "cultivating sages and talents" in Weixin Shengjiao through document analysis of Grant Master Hunyuan's teachings, and finds that the religious concept of cultivating sages and talents has been put into practice through socially innovative implementation. The results of this study will serve as a guide for people all over the world on how to use religious education and practice as a social innovation in response to population aging and other related social challenges.

14:05-14:30

67050

| Contextualization of Saint Joseph’s Fatherhood in the Light of Pope Francis’ Patris Corde

Joselito

Gutierrez, University of Santo Tomas, Philippines

This research study analyzes, discusses, and offers an interpretation of fatherhood in the light of the teachings of the Apostolic Letter Patris Corde (With a Father's Heart) of Pope Francis. The document promulgated on February 24, 2021, enumerated the ideal qualities of Saint Joseph: a beloved father, a tender and loving father, an obedient father, an accepting father, a creatively courageous father, a working father, and a father in the shadows. In general, this research study aims to provide contextual hermeneutics of the traits of the foster father of Jesus and appropriate these traits to the context of Filipino families. The researcher employs Cardinal Cardin's pastoral spiral known as the "see-judgeact" as its research framework. In interpreting the texts, the researcher uses the contextual method of analysis. Other available references were considered in an attempt to further comprehend fatherhood according to the teachings of our faith. The discussions include reflections on Saint Joseph's fatherhood as revealed in the Scripture, Church Catechism, and previous papal documents. The research concludes with a proposal to the Filipino fathers to adopt Joseph as their model of fatherhood – a father totally involved in the affairs of his family, specifically in the nurturance, providing, and protecting of the Holy Family of Nazareth.