KYRGYZSTAN TODAY Policy briefs on - Department of Geography

1. Anthropological reason. As the Soviet experience demonstrated, religion
cannot be completely eliminated. There has never been a nation in the history
that had no religion. Respect and veneration of the saints are very strong
feelings in human minds. On the basis of these feelings, religious education, in
fact, influences the memory of an individual and his or her dogmatic thinking,
which may create a grounds for fanatical sentiments. The possibility of reducing
such sentiments has been proved today, which is why the teaching process
should be directed toward developing logical and creatively thinking person.
The learning of secular subjects contributes to the general cultural development
of a person.
2. Social reason. We live in a society. To be in harmony with the surrounding
world, we must adhere to certain ethical standards. Each religion puts forward a
set of basic principles, in accordance with which people and society should live.
For example, a special branch of Islam teaches the ethics of Islam: Ahlaq.
3. Cultural reason. Religion affects every culture to varying degrees. The worldview
of people, to some extent, is shaped by religious influences. For example, to
understand the images created in epics, poems, songs, ornaments – as well as
the rituals, customs and history of the Kyrgyz people – one should know Islamic
philosophy as well as pre-Islamic beliefs. Indeed, pre-Islamic beliefs are still
strong in some customs and rituals.
4. Global reason. Today’s technologies make nations closer to each other. We live
in the Information Age. Thanks to new opportunities, people from different
societies get to know each other better. Mutual understanding is very important
in this process, and it is not enough to have only religious knowledge for that.
For comprehensive and fruitful relations with other cultures and religions, it is
necessary to know and respect the history, beliefs, attitudes and habits of other
people. The basis of mutual understanding and mutual respect among people,
nations and states is their knowledge of each other.
5. Philosophical reason. Each state determines its own educational policy. This
policy is based on the spiritual values existing in a country.
6. Legal reason. A citizen of Kyrgyzstan has the right to learn about the religion he
professes.
A person with basic knowledge about their religion can immediately recognize a
situation that contradicts the principles of his faith. The state must assume responsibility
for teaching its citizens the basics of religion. Following the examples of secular states
in Europe, as well as Turkey and U.S.A., the curriculum of a course must be developed
that provides basic knowledge of religion. This is the only way to block the road to
various fundamentalist and political currents, emerging on religious grounds, that have
an aggressive nature.
Curriculum Development
Curriculum development, methodological foundations and teaching models are
the tasks of pedagogy. In religious education, these tasks are assumed by religious
pedagogy. It develops the methodology, curriculum and methods used in religious
education. This young branch of science has already had some significant achievements
in the religious teaching. It has several units, developed on a well-established scientific
basis.
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