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Paul Faller

St Augustine College of South Africa, Religious Education, Adjunct

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Paul Faller taught in Catholic primary and secondary schools before taking up his present position at the Catholic Institute of Education. His work in the field of Religious Education includes policy, curriculum and materials development together with teacher training and support. His current work includes the development of an entry-level distance learning course, the promotion of meditation in schools, and research into a new curriculum for Catholic schools. He holds a BA from the University of South Africa, a Masters in Theology from St Augustine College in Johannesburg, and a Master of Religious Education degree from the Australian Catholic University.
Address: South Africa

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Papers by Paul Faller

Professionalising Religious Education in South African Catholic Schools

In what sense is it valid to talk of Religious Education as a profession? If we were to call Reli... more In what sense is it valid to talk of Religious Education as a profession? If we were to call Religious Education a profession, and if we were to practice as professionals, what would this mean? In this paper we apply
Cook and Hudson’s (2003) seven characteristics from the point of view of Catholic schools in South Africa and ask ourselves to what extent our Religious Education measures up to them?

Keepers of the Fire

Fire brings light. Fire warms. Fire tests an object’s worth. Fire transforms what may appear dull... more Fire brings light. Fire warms. Fire tests an object’s worth. Fire transforms what may appear dull into something resplendent. And this is the task of education. Education can be seen as the lighting of a fire: Religious Education as the lighting and fanning of the fire of faith – that which lies at the heart of the curriculum of the Catholic school and at the heart of what it means to be human.

Meditation Gardens

We usually think of ‘Sabbath’ in terms of time but there is an equal need for Sabbath spaces to w... more We usually think of ‘Sabbath’ in terms of time but there is an equal need for Sabbath spaces to which we can retire for conscious or prayerful rest. And there is no place more conducive to rest than a garden. This short piece describes the initiative of two schools to create a meditation garden.

Responding to Student Questions

In the Religious Education classroom today many teachers find themselves ill-equipped to deal wit... more In the Religious Education classroom today many teachers find themselves ill-equipped to deal with questions of a theological nature posed by their students, either as challenge or as honest enquiry. This may point to a lack in theological education or a sense of insecurity in the teacher's personal faith. This paper aims to put forward some helpful strategies for addressing such questions in the light of the student's current context and experience, and some guidance regarding the appropriate disposition of teachers towards the students and their questioning.

A Sense of the Sacred: Values across the Curriculum

A Sense of the Sacred is the name of a project run by the Catholic Education Office, Sydney, Aust... more A Sense of the Sacred is the name of a project run by the Catholic Education Office, Sydney, Australia, and is the inspiration for this article. Teachers are encouraged to consider that the question of values concerns every area of the school curriculum. They should then take a close look at the value-base of each area of the curriculum in which they are involved.

The Draft Policy on Religion and Education (SACLA)

An address given to the South African Christian Leadership Assembly (SACLA), Shwabac Grounds, Pre... more

The Student Voice in South African Catholic School Religious Education

A survey of the student voice in religious education was carried out in 2017 among 2025 students ... more A survey of the student voice in religious education was carried out in 2017 among 2025 students in South African Catholic secondary schools. The survey, administered through a questionnaire, and focusing on the students’ experience of teaching and learning in the subject, was prompted by a growing concern among those responsible for developing religious education at the very inconsistent and unequal practice in the schools.

Religious education and the new cosmology

Journal of Religious Education

James Michael Lee (in Forging a better religious education in the third millennium, Religious Edu... more James Michael Lee (in Forging a better religious education in the third millennium, Religious Education Press, Birmingham, AL, 2000, p. 3) suggests that "religious education visions a broad sweeping future and then makes that future happen earlier than it would have happened if religious education were not there." Religious Education thus has a prophetic role to play in society. The current generation is between stories-the religious and the scientific. How might religious education be developed in the Catholic school to reflect the growing convergence in theological discourse of the Christian Story with the New Universe Story? How might it energise young students with images that empower them to develop a prophetic stance towards their future and the future of humanity? We first consider the need for a paradigm shift in the way we tell the Christian Story. Then, taking our lead from the theology of Karl Rahner which allows us to take a cosmic view of Christian religious experience, and from various writers who apply such a view to different areas of Christian life, we attempt a synthesis of current theological thought. Lastly, we suggest how this shift might be applied to the religious education curriculum in order to provide an answer to the questions posed above.

Religious Education and the New Cosmology

James Michael Lee (2000:3) suggests that “religious education visions a broad sweeping future and... more James Michael Lee (2000:3) suggests that “religious education visions a broad sweeping future and then makes that future happen earlier than it would have happened if religious education were not there.” Religious Education thus has a prophetic role to play in society.
The current generation is between stories – the religious and the scientific. How might religious education be developed in the Catholic school to reflect the growing convergence in theological discourse of the Christian Story with the New Universe Story? How might it energise young students with images that empower them to develop a prophetic stance towards their future and the future of humanity?
Taking our lead from the theology of Karl Rahner which allows us to take a cosmic view of Christian religious experience, and from various writers who apply such a view to different areas of Christian life, this paper will first discern a common core from a representative global selection of high school religious education curricula. Taking note of student preferences established from previous research, it will then offer some ideas as to how this core might be transformed to provide an answer to the research question posed above.

The Integrity of Creation: Environment as a Social Issue

St Augustine Papers, 2002

The awareness of an ecological crisis has only recently dawned on humankind, and the Catholic Chu... more The awareness of an ecological crisis has only recently dawned on humankind, and the Catholic Church, for reasons we shall consider, has been slow to join its voice with those of other religious traditions and of secular society. To set the scene we shall consider the dimensions of the crisis, and the earliest responses to the global threat. The bulk of this essay will deal with the Church’s voice, and the emerging ecological teaching that has issued from it. We shall become aware of the foundations of this teaching that have, as it were, remained buried through a long tradition reaching back to scriptural times. We shall also look to the future by taking stock of the resources at the Church’s disposal for developing a vibrant eco-theology, and by considering what action the Church can take in putting this vision into practice.

Historical Development of Roman Catholic Biblical Interpretation

The twentieth century has been something of a watershed for biblical interpretation in the Cathol... more The twentieth century has been something of a watershed for biblical interpretation in the Catholic Church, coming of age and growing to maturity after an exuberant childhood in the patristic age, and a long troubled adolescence that lasted nearly four hundred years from the time of the Counter-Reformation. In the century under review we see the Church emerging with hesitant and faltering steps from a method of interpretation akin to fundamentalism (Fitzmyer 1995:132) to embrace the historical-critical method, and eventually to advocate a plurality of scientific and literary methods which shed light on the sacred text of Scripture.

Biblical Interpretation: Paradigm Shifts and Historical and Sociological Perspectives

This essay falls into three parts, the first of which deals with the major shifts or switches tha... more This essay falls into three parts, the first of which deals with the major shifts or switches that have occurred in the history of biblical hermeneutics. While the most recent shift is away from the diachronic historical method as the touchstone of criticism, its usefulness in partnership with synchronic methods like sociological exegesis is widely recognised. It is this method which we will discuss in the second part. In the third part, our attention will be focused on the sociological approach, which is a more than useful complement to historical criticism.

Comparing Christologies.pdf

In this essay I compare two Christological texts – those of Stanley Samartha and Paul Knitter. I ... more In this essay I compare two Christological texts – those of Stanley Samartha and Paul Knitter. I have been struck by the congruencies in their approaches. Their similarity goes further than the fact that both authors deal with christology in the context of the world religions. Both Knitter and Samartha add a dimension of liberation theology, though for different reasons.

By way of contrast, I have chosen to deal with the christology of Jacques Dupuis, because of his strong advocacy of an inclusivist approach as the only one that can take into account other religions while upholding Christian claims for the uniqueness of Jesus Christ.

Finally, in fleshing out my personal approach, I would like to present a picture that draws on elements of the three christological approaches studied in this essay.

Creation and Salvation in Old Testament Literature.pdf

In this essay I will explore two questions. In the first instance, are the biblical concepts of ‘... more

Old Testament Criticism - A Survey of Methods.pdf

The purpose of this essay is to gain an appreciation of the many and various methods at the dispo... more

The Catholic Church and Other Religions.pdf

In this essay, I will try to outline how the Church’s understanding of other religions has develo... more In this essay, I will try to outline how the Church’s understanding of other religions has developed through the twenty-one ecumenical councils. The councils will serve as a series of windows looking out on the broad sweep of church history. In paying attention to each of the relevant councils in turn we will not only listen to what they had to say, but we will also try to understand their context.

Faith and Reason.pdf

In the opening paragraph of his encyclical letter, Fides et Ratio, Pope John Paul II describes fa... more In the opening paragraph of his encyclical letter, Fides et Ratio, Pope John Paul II describes faith and reason as two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth. Throughout the Christian era, both individuals, and the Church as a whole, have struggled to maintain that perfect balance which makes flight possible.
In this essay I will focus on the Church’s progress through the centuries, noting which of the two wings have become dominant, tending to take the bird off course, either towards a denial of critical intelligence in matters of faith, or to a distrust of faith as an abdication of the intellect. A synthesis of the teachings of the two Vatican councils will illustrate the latest attempts to harmonise these two tendencies.

Bernard of Clairvaux - A Spirituality of Love.pdf

In this short essay, I aim to explore the life and times of Bernard of Clairvaux, in particular h... more

The Immaculate Conception - A Theological Exploration.pdf

Our task, as we explore the Church’s teaching on the Immaculate Conception, will be to allow a di... more

Religious Education and Art

In a 2017 survey of some 2000 secondary students in Catholic public and independent schools, the ... more In a 2017 survey of some 2000 secondary students in Catholic public and independent schools, the choice of Art (511 responses) as a favoured dimension of the Religious Education curriculum featured prominently, coming third only to the dimensions of Prayer (798) and Morality (574), these latter two being more typically strands of a Religious Education curriculum. The student sample, though mainly from a range of Christian denominations, contained a significant number from other religions (124) and a number (102) who did not identify with any religious tradition. It is therefore reasonable to assume that the discussion and its finding will be applicable across a range of religious identities.
The result of the survey noted above raises at least three questions to be addressed in this paper.
• What is the potential of the visual arts for developing the spiritual capacity of learners?
• What makes learning through art, described in the survey’s questionnaire as ‘expressing the depth dimension of life’, attractive to students?
• What are the benefits of including the arts in the school curriculum whether in Religious Education or more broadly?

Professionalising Religious Education in South African Catholic Schools

In what sense is it valid to talk of Religious Education as a profession? If we were to call Reli... more In what sense is it valid to talk of Religious Education as a profession? If we were to call Religious Education a profession, and if we were to practice as professionals, what would this mean? In this paper we apply
Cook and Hudson’s (2003) seven characteristics from the point of view of Catholic schools in South Africa and ask ourselves to what extent our Religious Education measures up to them?

Keepers of the Fire

Fire brings light. Fire warms. Fire tests an object’s worth. Fire transforms what may appear dull... more Fire brings light. Fire warms. Fire tests an object’s worth. Fire transforms what may appear dull into something resplendent. And this is the task of education. Education can be seen as the lighting of a fire: Religious Education as the lighting and fanning of the fire of faith – that which lies at the heart of the curriculum of the Catholic school and at the heart of what it means to be human.

Meditation Gardens

We usually think of ‘Sabbath’ in terms of time but there is an equal need for Sabbath spaces to w... more We usually think of ‘Sabbath’ in terms of time but there is an equal need for Sabbath spaces to which we can retire for conscious or prayerful rest. And there is no place more conducive to rest than a garden. This short piece describes the initiative of two schools to create a meditation garden.

Responding to Student Questions

In the Religious Education classroom today many teachers find themselves ill-equipped to deal wit... more In the Religious Education classroom today many teachers find themselves ill-equipped to deal with questions of a theological nature posed by their students, either as challenge or as honest enquiry. This may point to a lack in theological education or a sense of insecurity in the teacher's personal faith. This paper aims to put forward some helpful strategies for addressing such questions in the light of the student's current context and experience, and some guidance regarding the appropriate disposition of teachers towards the students and their questioning.

A Sense of the Sacred: Values across the Curriculum

A Sense of the Sacred is the name of a project run by the Catholic Education Office, Sydney, Aust... more A Sense of the Sacred is the name of a project run by the Catholic Education Office, Sydney, Australia, and is the inspiration for this article. Teachers are encouraged to consider that the question of values concerns every area of the school curriculum. They should then take a close look at the value-base of each area of the curriculum in which they are involved.

The Draft Policy on Religion and Education (SACLA)

An address given to the South African Christian Leadership Assembly (SACLA), Shwabac Grounds, Pre... more

The Student Voice in South African Catholic School Religious Education

A survey of the student voice in religious education was carried out in 2017 among 2025 students ... more A survey of the student voice in religious education was carried out in 2017 among 2025 students in South African Catholic secondary schools. The survey, administered through a questionnaire, and focusing on the students’ experience of teaching and learning in the subject, was prompted by a growing concern among those responsible for developing religious education at the very inconsistent and unequal practice in the schools.

Religious education and the new cosmology

Journal of Religious Education

James Michael Lee (in Forging a better religious education in the third millennium, Religious Edu... more James Michael Lee (in Forging a better religious education in the third millennium, Religious Education Press, Birmingham, AL, 2000, p. 3) suggests that "religious education visions a broad sweeping future and then makes that future happen earlier than it would have happened if religious education were not there." Religious Education thus has a prophetic role to play in society. The current generation is between stories-the religious and the scientific. How might religious education be developed in the Catholic school to reflect the growing convergence in theological discourse of the Christian Story with the New Universe Story? How might it energise young students with images that empower them to develop a prophetic stance towards their future and the future of humanity? We first consider the need for a paradigm shift in the way we tell the Christian Story. Then, taking our lead from the theology of Karl Rahner which allows us to take a cosmic view of Christian religious experience, and from various writers who apply such a view to different areas of Christian life, we attempt a synthesis of current theological thought. Lastly, we suggest how this shift might be applied to the religious education curriculum in order to provide an answer to the questions posed above.

Religious Education and the New Cosmology

James Michael Lee (2000:3) suggests that “religious education visions a broad sweeping future and... more James Michael Lee (2000:3) suggests that “religious education visions a broad sweeping future and then makes that future happen earlier than it would have happened if religious education were not there.” Religious Education thus has a prophetic role to play in society.
The current generation is between stories – the religious and the scientific. How might religious education be developed in the Catholic school to reflect the growing convergence in theological discourse of the Christian Story with the New Universe Story? How might it energise young students with images that empower them to develop a prophetic stance towards their future and the future of humanity?
Taking our lead from the theology of Karl Rahner which allows us to take a cosmic view of Christian religious experience, and from various writers who apply such a view to different areas of Christian life, this paper will first discern a common core from a representative global selection of high school religious education curricula. Taking note of student preferences established from previous research, it will then offer some ideas as to how this core might be transformed to provide an answer to the research question posed above.

The Integrity of Creation: Environment as a Social Issue

St Augustine Papers, 2002

The awareness of an ecological crisis has only recently dawned on humankind, and the Catholic Chu... more The awareness of an ecological crisis has only recently dawned on humankind, and the Catholic Church, for reasons we shall consider, has been slow to join its voice with those of other religious traditions and of secular society. To set the scene we shall consider the dimensions of the crisis, and the earliest responses to the global threat. The bulk of this essay will deal with the Church’s voice, and the emerging ecological teaching that has issued from it. We shall become aware of the foundations of this teaching that have, as it were, remained buried through a long tradition reaching back to scriptural times. We shall also look to the future by taking stock of the resources at the Church’s disposal for developing a vibrant eco-theology, and by considering what action the Church can take in putting this vision into practice.

Historical Development of Roman Catholic Biblical Interpretation

The twentieth century has been something of a watershed for biblical interpretation in the Cathol... more The twentieth century has been something of a watershed for biblical interpretation in the Catholic Church, coming of age and growing to maturity after an exuberant childhood in the patristic age, and a long troubled adolescence that lasted nearly four hundred years from the time of the Counter-Reformation. In the century under review we see the Church emerging with hesitant and faltering steps from a method of interpretation akin to fundamentalism (Fitzmyer 1995:132) to embrace the historical-critical method, and eventually to advocate a plurality of scientific and literary methods which shed light on the sacred text of Scripture.

Biblical Interpretation: Paradigm Shifts and Historical and Sociological Perspectives

This essay falls into three parts, the first of which deals with the major shifts or switches tha... more This essay falls into three parts, the first of which deals with the major shifts or switches that have occurred in the history of biblical hermeneutics. While the most recent shift is away from the diachronic historical method as the touchstone of criticism, its usefulness in partnership with synchronic methods like sociological exegesis is widely recognised. It is this method which we will discuss in the second part. In the third part, our attention will be focused on the sociological approach, which is a more than useful complement to historical criticism.

Comparing Christologies.pdf

In this essay I compare two Christological texts – those of Stanley Samartha and Paul Knitter. I ... more In this essay I compare two Christological texts – those of Stanley Samartha and Paul Knitter. I have been struck by the congruencies in their approaches. Their similarity goes further than the fact that both authors deal with christology in the context of the world religions. Both Knitter and Samartha add a dimension of liberation theology, though for different reasons.

By way of contrast, I have chosen to deal with the christology of Jacques Dupuis, because of his strong advocacy of an inclusivist approach as the only one that can take into account other religions while upholding Christian claims for the uniqueness of Jesus Christ.

Finally, in fleshing out my personal approach, I would like to present a picture that draws on elements of the three christological approaches studied in this essay.

Creation and Salvation in Old Testament Literature.pdf

In this essay I will explore two questions. In the first instance, are the biblical concepts of ‘... more

Old Testament Criticism - A Survey of Methods.pdf

The purpose of this essay is to gain an appreciation of the many and various methods at the dispo... more

The Catholic Church and Other Religions.pdf

In this essay, I will try to outline how the Church’s understanding of other religions has develo... more In this essay, I will try to outline how the Church’s understanding of other religions has developed through the twenty-one ecumenical councils. The councils will serve as a series of windows looking out on the broad sweep of church history. In paying attention to each of the relevant councils in turn we will not only listen to what they had to say, but we will also try to understand their context.

Faith and Reason.pdf

In the opening paragraph of his encyclical letter, Fides et Ratio, Pope John Paul II describes fa... more In the opening paragraph of his encyclical letter, Fides et Ratio, Pope John Paul II describes faith and reason as two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth. Throughout the Christian era, both individuals, and the Church as a whole, have struggled to maintain that perfect balance which makes flight possible.
In this essay I will focus on the Church’s progress through the centuries, noting which of the two wings have become dominant, tending to take the bird off course, either towards a denial of critical intelligence in matters of faith, or to a distrust of faith as an abdication of the intellect. A synthesis of the teachings of the two Vatican councils will illustrate the latest attempts to harmonise these two tendencies.

Bernard of Clairvaux - A Spirituality of Love.pdf

In this short essay, I aim to explore the life and times of Bernard of Clairvaux, in particular h... more

The Immaculate Conception - A Theological Exploration.pdf

Our task, as we explore the Church’s teaching on the Immaculate Conception, will be to allow a di... more

Religious Education and Art

In a 2017 survey of some 2000 secondary students in Catholic public and independent schools, the ... more In a 2017 survey of some 2000 secondary students in Catholic public and independent schools, the choice of Art (511 responses) as a favoured dimension of the Religious Education curriculum featured prominently, coming third only to the dimensions of Prayer (798) and Morality (574), these latter two being more typically strands of a Religious Education curriculum. The student sample, though mainly from a range of Christian denominations, contained a significant number from other religions (124) and a number (102) who did not identify with any religious tradition. It is therefore reasonable to assume that the discussion and its finding will be applicable across a range of religious identities.
The result of the survey noted above raises at least three questions to be addressed in this paper.
• What is the potential of the visual arts for developing the spiritual capacity of learners?
• What makes learning through art, described in the survey’s questionnaire as ‘expressing the depth dimension of life’, attractive to students?
• What are the benefits of including the arts in the school curriculum whether in Religious Education or more broadly?