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This article examines the dialogue between John Calvin’s educational thought and the Merdeka Curriculum within the context of Christian Religious Education (PAK) in Indonesia. Employing a qualitative-comparative approach with descriptive analysis, this study traces the points of convergence and tension between Calvin’s educational principles particularly the concept of imago Dei, holistic education, and the God-centered purpose of education and the principles of the Merdeka Curriculum such as flexibility, differentiated learning, and the Profil Pelajar Pancasila (Pancasila Student Profile). The analysis reveals significant convergence in terms of respect for the potential and uniqueness of learners, holistic educational orientation, and the role of teachers as facilitators and character formers. However, fundamental tensions also exist regarding Calvin’s theocentric theological foundation vis-à-vis the secular Pancasila foundation, the concept of discipline and authority versus student freedom, and the ultimate goal of education glorifying God versus forming the Pancasila Student Profile. Based on these findings, this article offers practical recommendations for PAK curriculum design based on the Merdeka Curriculum, a Kingdom of God-nuanced project-based learning approach, holistic assessment, and Christian character formation within the Profil Pelajar Pancasila framework. This research contributes to filling the gap in studies that dialogue the Reformed theological tradition with contemporary Indonesian national education policy.

This study aims to analyze the relevance of Robert Raikes' Christian educational thinking to the character formation of children in contemporary Sunday School services. This study uses a qualitative approach with a library research method. Data were obtained from various literature sources such as books, scientific journals, and research articles related to Christian education, character education, and the history of Sunday School development. Data analysis techniques were carried out through the stages of data reduction, grouping themes, interpretation, and drawing conclusions using descriptive qualitative methods. The results show that Robert Raikes' thoughts remain relevant in modern Christian education, especially in the formation of children's character through the teaching of God's Word, discipline, role models, and the instilling of Christian values. Sunday School plays an important role as a means of fostering faith, morality, and social responsibility in children from an early age. In addition, the challenges of the digital era require churches to develop more creative, interactive, and contextual learning methods without abandoning the basic values ​​of the Christian faith. This study confirms that the success of children's character formation depends not only on the church, but also on the role of Sunday School teachers and families who work together to build a conducive spiritual environment. Thus, Robert Raikes' thinking makes an important contribution to the development of Christian education that is relevant in the modern era.

This study examines the integration of biblical authority into curriculum design and pedagogical practices as a foundation for developing a transformational Christian education model in a global, digital context. The main issue raised is the dichotomy between normative theological approaches and contemporary pedagogical practices that are often secular, leading to a weak integration of faith and learning in Christian education. The purpose of this study is to formulate an integrative model that harmonizes biblical authority with modern pedagogical approaches in a contextual, relevant, and applicable manner. The research method uses a qualitative approach through systematic literature study and conceptual analysis of various recent journals and books in the fields of Christian education, curriculum, and transformational pedagogy. The results show that the integration of biblical authority can be constructed through three main dimensions: epistemological (the Bible as a source of truth), curricular (the integration of biblical narratives into the curriculum structure), and pedagogical (learning practices oriented towards character transformation and spirituality). The research synthesis produces the "Biblical Transformative Curriculum-Pedagogy Integration (BTCPI)" model that emphasizes the relationship between theological truth, character formation, and the practice of faith. In conclusion, the holistic integration of biblical authority and modern pedagogy contributes significantly to developing students who are not only academically competent but also possess contextual spiritual and moral maturity.          

This article explores the map of Christian education approaches from theological, pedagogical, psychological, and contextual perspectives. Christian education plays a vital role in shaping the faith, character, and spirituality of students in a comprehensive manner. Using a literature review method, the study analyzes various sources on Christian education theology. The findings reveal that the theological approach emphasizes the Bible as the primary foundation for learning, while the pedagogical approach focuses on active and participatory teaching methods. The psychological approach tailors instruction to the developmental stages of students, and the contextual approach links faith with students' real-life experiences. Each approach has its strengths and limitations, and Christian educators are encouraged to integrate these approaches to achieve holistic learning goals. The study emphasizes the importance of collaboration among schools, families, and churches to create an educational ecosystem that fosters the spiritual and character growth of students. By combining these approaches, educators can better equip students for both spiritual and personal development.

 This research addresses the growing tendency of contemporary education to prioritize cognitive achievement while marginalizing character formation and spiritual development, resulting in an imbalanced educational paradigm that affects the holistic growth of learners in various educational contexts. In response, the research critically examines the concept and principles of Christian education as articulated by Ignatius Loyola, particularly in relation to contemporary educational challenges and the need for meaningful transformation in learning processes today. The study employs a qualitative approach using a literature review method, drawing on relevant academic sources such as books, peer-reviewed journal articles, and theological writings to support systematic and critical analysis. The findings indicate that Ignatian educational thought emphasizes holistic human formation through the integration of intellectual, moral, and spiritual dimensions, grounded in the principles of Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam, Cura Personalis, and Find God in All Things, which together foster reflective, value-oriented learning. The study contributes to contemporary educational discourse by offering an alternative framework that promotes holistic development, strengthens character formation, and addresses the limitations of cognitively oriented educational models in diverse educational practices.

A mid the growing complexity of contemporary education, the challenge of integrating intellectual achievement with moral and spiritual development has become increasingly urgent. This study examines educational strategies in the Qur’an through the perspective of tafsir tarbawi, focusing on four core approaches: exemplary conduct, advice, dialogue, and storytelling. The research aims to explore how the Qur’an presents pedagogical methods that not only convey knowledge but also shape character and internalize values in learners. Employing a qualitative library research design with thematic and tafsir tarbawi approaches, this study analyzes relevant Qur’anic verses and supporting scholarly literature. The findings reveal that the Qur’an offers a holistic and dynamic model of education in which exemplary conduct functions as a behavioral model, advice serves as a means of value internalization, dialogue promotes reflective and critical thinking, and storytelling strengthens moral awareness through narrative experience. These strategies are interconnected and operate across cognitive, affective, and behavioral domains. The study concludes that Qur’anic educational strategies remain highly relevant for contemporary Islamic education, particularly in strengthening character formation, reflective learning, and the integration of values in educational practice.

Entering the third decade of the 21st century, the church faces the urgency of redefining its existence amidst the shift to a digital ecosystem. This research aims to analyze the synergy between church management and transformational leadership toward the effectiveness of leader multiplication in the Digital 4.0 era. Using a qualitative method with a descriptive-analytical approach through library research, this study explores the integration of modern management theories and theological principles. The findings indicate that church management serves as a vital infrastructure providing operational stability, while transformational leadership acts as a catalyst for innovation and behavioral change in facing VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity) conditions. The synergy between these two elements creates a “Digital Shepherding” model, where the digital space is transformed into a theological medium for character formation and spiritual transmission. The study concludes that the effectiveness of leader multiplication is determined by a shift from person-centered leadership to a system-inspired approach that integrates digital capabilities with biblical integrity. Strategic implications suggest that churches must adopt a digital mindset and establish digital leadership laboratories to ensure the sustainability of their mission among Generation Z.

This study aims to examine the authority of Islamic Education teachers as a form of moral capital in shaping character education among elementary school students. The research employed a qualitative method using a case study approach at SD Negeri 104267 Pegajahan. The primary subjects of the study were Islamic Religious Education (PAI) teachers, while the informants consisted of students, fellow teachers, and the school principal. Data were collected through observations, in-depth interviews, and documentation studies, then analyzed thematically to identify patterns related to teacher authority and character formation. The findings indicate that the authority of Islamic Religious Education teachers functions as a moral force recognized and respected by students, making it an important asset in the internalization of character values. This authority was formed through exemplary behavior, consistency in attitudes, and the establishment of humanistic pedagogical relationships between teachers and students. Through these qualities, teachers became moral role models who positively influenced students’ character development both inside and outside the classroom. The study concludes that strengthening teacher authority as moral capital is an effective strategy for realizing authentic, meaningful, and sustainable character education in elementary schools, as teacher authority should not only be viewed institutionally but also as a moral resource that significantly contributes to students’ personal and social development.

In the face of Indonesia’s escalating family crises amid rapid digital disruption and post-pandemic social recovery, this study proposes a novel “Dual-Ethos Synergy Model” that integrates the Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23) with the second principle of Pancasila, namely “Just and Civilized Humanity.” The study is grounded in qualitative fieldwork conducted at Gereja Bethel Indonesia Pemulihan Keluarga Allah (GBI PKA). The findings demonstrate that the integration of Christian spiritual values and civic ethics fosters restorative character formation within families and church communities. This synergy produces practical outcomes, including stronger empathy in community service, improved interpersonal relationships, and more constructive conflict resolution practices. Using data gathered through nine in-depth interviews, participant observations, and document analysis, the study addresses existing gaps in urban church discipleship by combining spiritual transformation with social responsibility and civic engagement. The proposed model also offers implications for scalable digital-hybrid ministry programs focused on family restoration and contributes to the development of contextual theological praxis within pluralistic and multicultural societies. Limitations of the study and recommendations for future research are also discussed.

This study aims to understand the dynamics of self-awareness and transcendental experiences in high school students from the perspective of the psychology of religion. Adolescence is a developmental phase characterized by the search for identity, self-reflection, and increased spiritual awareness. This study used a qualitative approach with phenomenological methods to explore students' subjective experiences related to self-awareness and spiritual experiences. The study participants consisted of two high school students aged 15–18, selected using a purposive sampling technique. Data collection was conducted through in-depth semi-structured interviews supported by field notes. The data were analyzed using phenomenological analysis through the stages of phenomenological reduction, identification of key statements, grouping themes, and essential descriptions of experiences. The results indicate that spiritual experiences in worship practices foster a sense of closeness to God, encourage self-reflection, help students cope with stress, and foster awareness to improve behavior. These findings suggest that transcendental experiences play a significant role in the development of self-awareness and character formation in adolescents.

This study explores the dynamics of children’s character formation within Christian families in the digital era from the perspective of church parents. Employing a descriptive light mixed-methods design, the study integrates survey data and semi-structured interviews to obtain both quantitative and qualitative insights. The findings indicate that digital media has become an integral and unavoidable part of family life, making children’s character formation highly dependent on parental guidance, reflective communication, and consistent faith-based education at home. Parents face various challenges related to time constraints, limited digital literacy, and the increasing exposure of children to external values that may not align with Christian teachings. At the same time, many parents actively utilize technology as a supportive and accessible tool for spiritual learning and moral development. The study concludes that character formation is shaped not merely by technology itself but more significantly by the quality of family relationships and parental role modeling grounded in Christian values. Therefore, the findings recommend strengthening faith-based digital literacy among parents and enhancing church–family collaboration to foster more holistic, balanced, and sustainable character development in children.

This research is motivated by the urgency of effective Islamic Education Management (MPI) as a prerequisite for enhancing the role of Islamic Education (PAI) teachers in shaping students’ religious character amid the challenges of digitalization and institutional coordination constraints. The purpose of this study is to analyze the implementation of MPI experienced by PAI teachers, the interaction among stakeholders, and the teachers’ perceptions of its effectiveness at PKPPS Minhajurrosyidin, East Jakarta. Using a descriptive qualitative method with a case study and phenomenological approach, data were collected through triangulation (interviews, observations, and document studies) and analyzed using the Miles and Huberman interactive model. The findings indicate that MPI is an essential structural mediating variable. The optimization of MPI—particularly in terms of digital facility support and professional training—significantly enhances the effectiveness of PAI teachers as Uswah Hasanah and as facilitators of adaptive and scientific learning. However, the main obstacle lies in the lack of horizontal coordination among teachers in holistically integrating Values-Based Education. The implications of this study emphasize the need for formal managerial policies to ensure collective responsibility in character formation.

This study discusses the importance of family-focused Christian theology in building children's character in the digital era through the Christian Religious Education (PAK) approach. The transformation of information and communication technology has brought major changes, including in the fields of education and character formation. The digital era provides opportunities to increase knowledge and access to learning, but also raises challenges in the form of weakening moral values, integrity, and relationships within the family. The family as a divine institution has a primary role in teaching Christian values ​​through role models, communication, and direct experience. This study uses a qualitative method with a descriptive-analytical approach, which reviews literature and observations of Christian education practices both in families and schools. The results show that families have an important role in developing children's faith and character, while PAK serves as a link between faith education at home and formal education at school. PAK is considered relevant because it can unite students' cognitive, affective, and conative aspects in facing the influence of digital culture. Overall, family-based Christian theology supported by PAK has great relevance in shaping a young generation with integrity, critical thinking, and character. This approach not only instills knowledge of faith but also prepares students to become responsible and wise leaders in utilizing technology in accordance with Christian values.

This study aims to analyze the influence of parenting styles on the emotional development of early childhood based on a literature review. Emotional development is a crucial aspect of character formation, emotional regulation, and children’s social skills in daily life. The research method employed is a literature review, which involves examining relevant sources such as academic journals, books, and research The methodology utilizes a synthesis of peer-reviewed journals and relevant publications concerning the impact of caregiving styles on early childhood emotional maturity The reviewed literature was analyzed descriptively to identify patterns and trends in previous research findings. The results of the literature review indicate that parenting styles have a significant influence on children’s emotional development. Democratic (authoritative) parenting is consistently found to have the most positive impact on children’s emotional development, including better emotional regulation, self-confidence, independence, empathy, and social competence. Children raised with democratic parenting tend to express their emotions in a healthy manner and adapt well to social environments. In contrast, authoritarian, permissive, and neglectful parenting styles are often associated with emotional difficulties, such as low social skills, poor self-control, and challenges in managing emotions. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that democratic parenting plays a vital role in supporting optimal emotional development in early childhood

This study analyzes the implementation of the Fo Guang Shan vision in developing the talents of Buddhist followers through Dharma education, cultural preservation, and spiritual practice within a multicultural environment. In the context of globalization, Buddhist communities face challenges in maintaining spiritual identity while adapting to diverse social and cultural settings. This research aims to examine how Humanistic Buddhism is applied in talent development programs and to evaluate its relevance in multicultural contexts. The study employs a qualitative descriptive approach with a case study design. Data were collected through participatory observation, documentation, reflective notes, and literature review. The findings indicate that the integration of Dharma education, cultural activities, social service, and spiritual practices forms a holistic development model that balances intellectual growth, character formation, emotional maturity, and social responsibility. The implementation demonstrates that talent development is not limited to technical skills but also emphasizes ethical values and spiritual awareness. This model offers a contextual and inclusive framework that can contribute to sustainable Buddhist community development in the era of globalization.

This article provides a descriptive analysis of the potential for integrating national security values into the Christian education curriculum as a strategic effort to support Indonesia's vision of generating a golden generation by 2045. The research object is the formal Christian education system in Indonesia, encompassing its curriculum, pedagogy, and the overarching goal of character formation. The central problem addressed is the perceived dichotomy between faith-based education and the cultivation of civic responsibility, specifically concerning national security a concept often narrowly associated with the military rather than with social resilience, tolerance, and unity. The objective is to explore how Christian educational values can be systematically aligned with national priorities to produce graduates who are both devout and patriotic. Employing a qualitative descriptive analysis method, this study synthesizes findings from a literature review of Christian education philosophy, national curriculum standards, and policy documents on national security and character education. The main findings reveal a significant convergence between Christian ethical teachings such as love for neighbor, integrity, and peacebuilding and the core values underpinning national security and social harmony, like Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity). The synthesis of ideas proposes a conceptual framework where subjects like civic education and religious studies are interwoven to foster a holistic identity. The article concludes that a deliberate integration of national security values, framed as active citizenship and social stewardship, is not only compatible with Christian education but is essential for realizing the resilient, morally grounded human resources needed for Indonesia 2045.

This community service program aimed to strengthen national insight and soft skills among ADik scholarship students through a participatory and reflective mentoring approach. Many students come from underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost regions with diverse socio-cultural backgrounds, requiring contextual guidance to internalize national values and develop essential interpersonal competencies. The program combined interactive socialization, group discussions, and value reflection activities to encourage active participation and personal engagement. The method emphasized dialogic learning rather than one-way lectures, allowing students to relate national values to their lived experiences. The findings revealed noticeable behavioral changes, including increased confidence in expressing opinions, stronger participation in discussions, improved communication skills, and heightened awareness of ethical conduct and financial responsibility as scholarship recipients. The emergence of several students as informal local leaders during discussions indicated early signs of social transformation at the individual level. This program demonstrates that reflective and participatory mentoring can effectively foster character building, leadership, and contextual national awareness among university students. The implications suggest that similar approaches can be adopted in student development programs to promote sustainable character formation, especially for students from diverse and remote regions.

Evaluation of Islamic Religious Education (PAI) learning plays a strategic role in assessing the achievement of educational goals while supporting the character development of students. The evaluation process not only considers cognitive aspects but also includes affective and psychomotor aspects, such as the appreciation of religious values, noble morals, and the ability to perform religious services. This study aims to describe the relationship between the scope of PAI evaluation and the process of character development of students. The method used is a descriptive qualitative approach, with the research location at SDN Ngebel, Kasihan, Bantul. The research subjects included PAI teachers, students in grades I, V, and VI, and several parents. Data were collected through interviews with teachers, students, and guardians, observations of learning activities and religious practices, and documentation, including records of grades and religious activity agendas. Using the Miles and Huberman interactive model, data analysis included the stages of presentation, reduction, and drawing conclusions. Triangulation methods and sources ensured the validity of the data. The results showed that the implementation of a comprehensive PAI evaluation, which included academic assessment, religious practices, and moral behavior, had a significant impact on the development of student character. This is especially true in terms of religiosity, discipline, and responsibility. Therefore, the broader and more integrated the scope of Islamic Religious Education (PAI) evaluation, the greater its contribution to the overall character formation of students.

This study aims to describe the implementation of worship training through fieldwork practice (PKL) activities carried out at the Sibau Hulu Mosque. The focus of the activities includes reading the Qur'an and performing congregational prayers as an effort to strengthen religious values ​​and foster spiritual discipline within the community. The method used in this study is a descriptive qualitative approach with observation, participation, and documentation techniques during the Qur'an reading and congregational prayers activities, which provide a positive contribution in increasing worship awareness, forming better worship habits, and strengthening social interactions among mosque congregations. In addition, this activity also encourages active participation, cooperation, and internalization of Islamic values ​​in daily life. Thus, religious-based PKL activities have an important role in supporting worship training and spiritual character formation within the Sibau Hulu Mosque community, which in turn can strengthen Islamic brotherhood at the local level. This activity is also expected to serve as a model for other mosques in improving worship development and spiritual character of the congregation.

This study aims to understand the essence and role of the Islamic educational environment according to Hasan Langgulung, and examine its relationship with social media as part of the educational environment in the digital age. This study applies a qualitative approach with a literature study type, sourced from books and scientific articles related to Hasan Langgulung's thoughts, the educational environment, and social media. Data collection was conducted through documentation studies, and data analysis used content analysis methods. The research findings indicate that the environment plays an important role in internalizing Islamic values ​​and shaping students' character, while social media has the potential to function as a non-formal educational environment that supports the learning process, the dissemination of Islamic values, and the strengthening of Muslim identity in the digital world. However, social media also presents challenges in the form of the dissemination of inaccurate religious information and the potential for moral degradation. Therefore, the integration of the concept of the Islamic educational environment with social media requires targeted management and the active role of educators and families so that social media remains within the corridor of Islamic educational values ​​and supports the achievement of Islamic educational goals.