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In the field of practical theology from a Christian pedagogical perspective we have to make a clear distinction between world picture (describing empirical reality) and worldview (determining personal affection to the first one). While the science based world picture tends to be as objective representation of our actual world as is could be, the worldview is hermeneutical system based upon principles, ideas and values. In most cases, mixing up these two notions cause tensions between faith and natural science. In order to clarify some points of differentiation and also reference to each other, this study investigates the two notions in the context of religious education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

About twenty years ago, Children's Bibles gained special attention in the field of Religious Education. Since then there has been active research in this field. The historical investigations have revealed a great amount of data unknown before. This study presents the case of the Hübner Bible in Hungary. There has been research concerning the theological and pedagogical aspects based on which the selection of the Biblical stories was made, research about the theological and didactical aspects of the narrative style and also the developmental psychological aptitude on the receiver side that has to be taken into consideration. The types of changes and distortions that differentiate the texts of the Children's Bibles from the original are also discussed in the study. The quality and the function of the illustrations are also a subject of investigation. Here again the needs and the characteristics of the age group of the children who use the Children's Bibles is a significant aspect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The basic assumption of this article is that the (pastoral) care giver must provide not only psychological support to those in need in their difficult life situations, but in addition to that she/he should give assistance to find meaning of the psychic reactions befallen under the given circumstances and contextual effects. Care giving in believing aims both to raise trust in God and to help evaluating the situation according to the truth of God. The Reformed tradition emphasized the cognitive aspect of faith with the same strength as well as the affective aspect, the "wholehearted trust". The latest pastoral care almost leaves out of eyesight the content of faith and does not endeavor to change the conviction of the client. As if it would go along with the demand of truth-plurality of the postmodern world. Although there is no theological, nor psychological reason to do so. From theological point of view, we should perceive faith both as an affective commitment, also a novel cognitive process reflection upon ourselves, others and the world through the lenses of God's truth. From psychological view we can say that we evaluate and shape our inner and outer positions of our lives according to our basic convictions. The aim of pastoral care would be to help the clients to turn the basic convictions of hopelessness into real faith contents (credition), that radically change their perceiving and living through the different situations. By this approach could become the pastoral care a helping device of nurturing thinking faith that is in accord with the Reformed tradition and the truths of God's Word. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article compares the empirical studies of God representation to the latest basic need theories. It covers the development of the personal images of God, along with history of research of the correlation between the personal images of God and the parental images. The article draws the conclusion that in the background of the development of God's image in the sequel the birth of a complex God representation are three basic needs. The satisfaction of the basic needs for attachment, self-enhancement and control/ orientation are ultimate in the development. The desire of fulfillment urges us to search for satisfaction over the horizon of our empirical reality. Along with this process, our God representation is also developing, but this representation should be corrected by the self-revealing God. God can verify our personal image of God, or rather God can reshape it, in order to our image would reflect to the true reality of God. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]