Through a glass darkly : an investigation of religious and moral values expressed in children's literature

Hahn, Anne Florence

Through a glass darkly : an investigation of religious and moral values expressed in children's literature

Master Thesis

1986

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Department of Religious Studies

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Abstract

The study investigates children's religious and moral reasoning in relation to situations in literature. Theoretical examination includes evaluation of both psychological and literary perspectives on morality and religion. Chapter 1 outlines and evaluates the cognitive-developmental approach to moral development as developed by Jean Piaget and Lawrence Kohlberg. The validity of stage categorization is questioned and it is suggested that consideration of types of moral reasoning contributes more than the idea of fixed moral stages to the understanding of moral thought processes. Chapter 2 outlines a literary perspective on religion and examines the emphasis in orientation towards religion as expressed by fantasy and moralistic literature. Although literature has not been categorically designated moralistic literature, passages which contain moralistic emphasis are isolated for discussion. Evaluation of the discipline of reader response theory integrates the theoretical and practical aspects of the study.

Description

Bibliography: pages 248-262.

Keywords

Religious Studies

Reference:

Collections

Masters

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