Catholic Anthropology Enhances Religious Education in High Schoolers: Implication for Program Development

Abstract

The aim of this dissertation was to provide a robust, literary investigation into (1) the status of Catholic religious education efforts, (2) the integration of a Catholic anthropological understanding of the human person as it applies to the psychological and developmental needs of the adolescent population, (3) and the pedagogical implications for future program development towards the purpose of fulfilling said needs. Methodological approaches included a review of relevant literature regarding Roman Catholic approaches to education, developmental considerations of the adolescent population, and evidenced-based practices that have been shown to be effective to meet the educational, psychological, and spiritual needs of high schoolers. Results of these efforts have yielded implications for program development considerations that include an integration of a Catholic anthropological understanding of the human person, such that is found in the Catholic-Christian Meta-Model of the Person. Provision of an anthropological stance on the identity of humanity leads to interventions within the classroom that result in developmental milestones being addressed and reached.