At Education, Formation and The Church III: Raising New Generations in a Post Traditional Society. 31st October – 1st November 2024, Utrecht Theological University, Utrecht, Netherlands.
I am talking today about Christian tradition schools in England which is a detraditionalized society. Part 1 is about detraditionalization in England. I will give a little definition to the social and political context that Tradition schools operate in. Part 2 is about tradition schools, and the relationship between school, religion and the state in England. The legal constraints the schools find themselves in and the controversy around them. Part 3 is about a theological orientation towards that context for Christians, Christian communities and tradition schools. I will draw on two powerful metaphors, from two writers interpreting the Bible. One, that proposes we think of Christians, and perhaps tradition schools as embassies in exile. Two, that we can think of the work of tradition schools as speaking and teaching bilingualism, so learning the language of tradition and a universal language.