Teaching Ethics and Mature Christian Thinking in Christian Schools

Abstract

This article seeks to show how the teaching of ethics and moral thinking in Christian Schools will be more effective when it includes the insights of the processes by which pupils learn to think morally. The learning stages that pupils go through will be set out, following Kohlberg, Habermas and Gilligan. I will set out the advantage for pupil learning via discussing moral principles with them and helping them to learn to validate their moral arguments. Reference is made to a future article by the author that will explore the processes by which pupils may form an orientation to moral behaviour. Habermas' notion of Stage 6 moral thinking will be used to explore a possible cognate of mature Christian thinking.