Practical catechesis for a postmodern faith community : Ploeger’s religious pedagogic methodology for practical catechesis.

Abstract

This article focuses on the question: how should the postmodern person be formed in the Christian faith? The life views of people are fragmented and a-religious mentalities characterise life in a postmodern society. This article proposes Ploeger’s religious pedagogic methodology to inform catechesis in a postmodern context. Ploeger proposes an interdisciplinary approach in the light of pervasive secular challenges in the Netherlands. His “drieslag plus één humaan-spirituele” (three plus óne human-spiritual) pedagogic form the basis of this methodology and it bridges the gap between theology and the general science. Ploeger helps to integrate and interpret the Christian faith and life and empowers learners with a personal public witness and meaningful life in a postmodern context. With a discipleship and missional life orientation the youth may be helped to develop meaningful life-forming practices. Faith communicative, discipleship and missional actions can orientate our youth for meaningful living within familial-communal settings.