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This study was motivated by the importance of using digital technology-based learning media in Catholic Religious Education learning to improve students’ learning achievement. The development of digital technology requires teachers to use interesting and interactive learning media that are suitable for students’ needs. This study aimed to determine the use of digital technology-based learning media in Catholic religious education learning and its impact on students’ learning achievement at SMPK Swadaya Tuakepa. This study used a qualitative method with a descriptive approach. The research subjects consisted of the principal, the Catholic religious education teacher, and five students. Data were collected through interviews, observations, and documentation. The data were analyzed through data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The results showed that digital technology-based learning media such as PowerPoint, learning videos, Canva, Kahoot, and Quizizz had been utilized well in the learning process. The use of digital media helped teachers explain learning materials more clearly and attractively so that students became more active, focused, and motivated in learning. In addition, the use of digital media also improved students’ intellectual abilities, cognitive strategies, attitudes, and skills. Therefore, digital technology-based learning media can improve the quality of Catholic religious education learning and students’ learning achievement at SMPK Swadaya Tuakepa.

This study aims to examine relevant and effective Christian Religious Education (CRE) learning methods in the digital era. The rapid development of information and communication technology has brought significant changes in education, including CRE instruction. The research method employed is a literature study with a descriptive-analytical approach to various academic sources and technology-based CRE learning practices. The results indicate that integrating digital media such as online learning platforms, Bible-based interactive applications, and social media creatively can enhance students' engagement and understanding of Christian faith values. Furthermore, the use of digital technology opens wider opportunities for contextual and meaningful faith formation across diverse learning environments. The study also identifies key challenges faced by CRE teachers, namely digital readiness, infrastructure limitations, and maintaining relational and spiritual dimensions in virtual learning environments. Teachers must therefore be equipped not only technologically but also theologically to navigate these complexities. The research concludes that the transformation of CRE methods in the digital era is not merely a technology adoption but a holistic theological integration of faith, technology, and pedagogy.

Christian religious education teachers act as agents of social, spiritual, and cultural transformation by integrating Christian values ​​into the lives of communities that are still strongly bound to ancestral customs and beliefs. The transformation of customs through contextual evangelism is both a challenge and an opportunity for Christian religious education (PAK) teachers in carrying out their roles as educators and servants of God in a pluralistic society. This study aims to analyze the strategic steps of PAK teachers in integrating Gospel values ​​with local culture without eliminating the identity of the Christian faith or damaging the noble values ​​of customs. The research method used is a qualitative approach and literature study. The results of the study indicate that PAK teachers need to have three main strategic steps, namely contextual understanding by studying in depth the values, symbols, and practices of local customs, a transformational approach, namely presenting Gospel values ​​through education that respects culture but leads to renewal of life and pedagogical implementation through creative and reflective learning methods that foster students' awareness of faith and social responsibility. With this strategy, Christian Religious Education teachers can become agents of transformation, bridging the gap between Christian faith and local culture, ensuring that evangelism is not confrontational but contextual, dialogical, and builds lives rooted in the love of Christ.

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.

Middle order thinking skills (MOTS) questions are very important in Christian religious education learning. Evaluation of Christian religious education learning needs to be carried out by educators (teachers) based on each learning material so that students' academic achievement can be achieved well. In general, educators (teachers) do not fully understand the concept of middle order thinking skills (MOTS), as well as low order skills (LOTS) and high order skills (HOTS), so that some students find it difficult to answer questions given by educators (teachers) during learning evaluations. The type of research used is qualitative research with a literature review/literature study approach. The purpose of the study is to explain the understanding of the meaning of MOTS in Christian religious education learning on materials that are in accordance with learning objectives, so that students' academic achievement can be achieved well through learning evaluations. The results of the study are students are able to answer questions well from the middle order thinking skills (MOTS) type of questions when educators (teachers) create learning evaluation questions based on learning materials. Conclusion; To create evaluation questions for Christian religious education learning that students can answer and achieve academic success, ideally, questions should be based on the learning material they have learned.

This study examines the integration of Christian values into the Merdeka Curriculum for Christian Religious Education (PAK) in junior high schools (SMP), focusing on the challenges and strategies for its implementation. The Merdeka Curriculum, introduced in 2022, offers flexibility in instructional design; however, its implementation in the field of PAK requires specific adaptations to maintain the relevance of Christian values such as love, justice, and responsibility. This study employs a descriptive qualitative approach using library research combined with empirical content analysis of various case studies in Indonesian Christian schools. The findings indicate that the primary challenges include resource constraints, the readiness of PAK teachers, technological infrastructure gaps, and the influence of secular digital culture. Effective strategies include the development of a contextual curriculum based on Christian values, the utilization of digital technology in learning, the enhancement of teachers’ professional competencies, and collaboration between schools, families, and churches. The implications of this study suggest that the integration of Christian values into the Merdeka Curriculum can foster the holistic character of junior high school students, equipping them with integrity, resilience, and the ability to face the challenges of the digital age.

The diversity of students’ study motivations in theological higher education presents both challenges and opportunities in shaping the spirituality of prospective Christian Religious Education (CRE) teachers. Not all students enter the CRE program based on a calling to ministry, resulting in varying levels of initial spiritual readiness. This study aims to analyze the process of spiritual formation among CRE students as prospective teachers at STT Katharos Indonesia Bekasi in the context of diverse study motivations, referring to James W. Fowler’s theory of faith development. This research employs a qualitative descriptive approach using observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation involving CRE students. The findings reveal that despite diverse initial motivations, the integrated theological education process through academic learning, ministry practices, community life, and spiritual formation effectively fosters faith growth and personal encounters with Christ. This process contributes to the development of students’ spiritual maturity. The study concludes that CRE education functions as an effective means of faith transformation in preparing prospective teachers with strong spiritual integrity and readiness for ministry.

The digital era presents various opportunities as well as challenges in the world of education, particularly in the formation of student character. The development of technology, social media, and the unlimited flow of information influence the way students think, act, and behave. This condition demands the role and responsibilities of Christian Religious Education (PAK) Teachers that are increasingly complex and strategic. This study aims to describe the responsibilities of PAK Teachers in the formation of student character in the digital era. The research method used is a qualitative method with a literature study approach. Data were collected through a review of scientific journals, academic books, and theoretical sources relevant to the research topic. The results of the study indicate that PAK Teachers are not only responsible for conveying Christian faith material, but also guiding students in internalizing and practicing Christian values such as love, honesty, responsibility, self-control, and empathy, both in real life and digitally. PAK Teachers act as educators, role models, guides, and spiritual counselors who integrate character education into the learning process. In addition, PAK Teachers are required to have adequate pedagogical, professional, personality, and social competencies, as well as the ability to utilize technology wisely. Collaboration with parents and schools is a crucial aspect in sustainably shaping students' character. Thus, Christian Religious Education teachers act as agents of transformation in shaping a generation with Christian character ready to face the challenges of the digital era.

This article discusses the role of Christian Religious Education (PAK) in shaping inclusive attitudes of students in the midst of diverse Indonesian society. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, this study examines how PAK can teach the values ​​of love, justice, and respect for differences, and their impact on students' character. The results of the study indicate that PAK not only functions as a transmitter of the doctrine of faith, but also as a means to promote tolerance and interfaith dialogue. Teachers play an important role as facilitators who create a safe and supportive learning environment, and integrate multicultural values ​​into the curriculum. Although PAK faces challenges in the learning approach, collaboration between the church, school, and family can strengthen the impact of religious education. Thus, PAK has great potential in shaping a tolerant generation committed to social justice in a pluralistic society.

This study aims to analyze how the implementation of the Kurikulum Merdeka supports the cultivation of Christian moral values among senior high school students in Christian Religious Education (PAK) classes. Using a library research method, the study reviews various written sources including books, scholarly articles, and curriculum documents to obtain a comprehensive understanding of how Christian values are integrated into PAK learning. The findings reveal that the Kurikulum Merdeka provides wide opportunities for student-centered, contextual, and character-oriented learning through the Profil Pelajar Pancasila (P5) Project. Christian values such as love, honesty, responsibility, forgiveness, and compassion can be internalized through intracurricular, co-curricular, and experiential project-based activities. The role of teachers as moral exemplars is crucial in guiding students’ character formation. The study also identifies several challenges, including the influence of digital culture, lack of role models within families, and limited instructional time. In conclusion, the implementation of the Kurikulum Merdeka has significant potential to foster Christian character in students, yet requires collaborative support from schools, families, and churches to achieve maksimal outcomes.

This study aims to examine the contribution of educational psychology in the context of Christian education, particularly for educators, school principals, Christian Religious Education (CRE) teachers, Sunday school teachers, pastors, elders, and church servants. This theoretical study shows that educational psychology helps in understanding the characteristics of learners, optimizing teaching methods, building effective teacher-student relationships, and enhancing motivation and involvement in the learning and preaching process. The research method used is a descriptive qualitative approach, collecting data through a review of books, literature, journals, notes, and relevant reports. Educational psychology plays a significant role for all those involved in Christian education and ministry. CRE teachers and Sunday school teachers have a crucial role in instilling faith values in the younger generation by understanding the learning needs of children according to their cognitive and spiritual development stages. This enables them to deliver God's word in an engaging and meaningful way. Meanwhile, pastors, elders, and church servants require an understanding of educational psychology to carry out more wise pastoral ministry. Psychological understanding helps them provide spiritual guidance, counseling, and support for members who are struggling. Educational psychology also equips church servants to lead with empathy, listen with their hearts, and guide the congregation towards true spiritual restoration. The integration of educational psychology with Christian faith significantly impacts the improvement of learning and church ministry, producing individuals who are intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually balanced.

Christian Religious Education (PAK) research in Indonesia has undergone significant developments, but its future direction and relevance are still crucial questions. This article aims to map the PAK research landscape and identify key challenges and opportunities through a literature review of publications in national and international journals, theses, and dissertations. The analysis is focused on three aspects: dominant themes, methodology, and contextual relevance. The findings show the dominance of conventional themes such as teaching methods, curriculum, and the role of teachers, with a qualitative approach limited to case studies, making generalizations difficult. Contemporary issues such as religious pluralism, digital media, Generation Z spirituality, integration of faith and knowledge, and inclusive approaches in multicultural contexts are still underexplored. This article proposes the reorientation of PAK research through an interdisciplinary approach (theology with psychology, sociology, media studies), methodological strengthening (longitudinal and mixed-methods studies), and emphasis on Indonesia's socio-cultural reality as a starting point. With this strategy, PAK's research is expected to be able to expand its theoretical contribution while answering practical challenges in shaping the character and spirituality of students in the era of modernity.

Learning fatigue is a serious challenge in the world of education, including in Christian Religious Education (CRE) subjects. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effectiveness of active learning methods in overcoming learning fatigue among students in CRE subjects. Furthermore, it aims to provide theoretical and practical contributions to the field of basic education, particularly in formulating more adaptive, interactive, and psychologically appropriate learning approaches. This article employs a qualitative research method by analyzing the effectiveness of active learning methods as a solution to address such boredom. Active learning methods, which include strategies such as group discussions, simulations, role-playing, and project-based learning, have proven to increase students' cognitive, emotional, and social engagement. In addition to providing an enjoyable learning experience, this approach also reinforces Christian values in the context of PAK learning. This article concludes that active learning is not only capable of reducing learning boredom but also improving the quality of the learning process holistically. Therefore, teachers need to continuously develop their pedagogical and spiritual competencies to achieve transformative PAK learning that frees students from boredom. This study is expected to serve as a practical reference for teachers and policymakers in designing relevant, interactive, and contextual learning strategies. Moreover, the implementation of active learning methods in CRE subjects can also foster a deeper connection between students and the spiritual teachings of Christianity. By engaging students through hands-on activities such as role-playing biblical stories or collaborating on projects related to Christian values, students are encouraged to actively reflect on their faith in a more meaningful and personal way.

This study aims to explore the relationship between work motivation and discipline on the performance achievement of Catholic Religious Education (PAK) teachers in the Semarang region. The research uses a quantitative survey approach, collecting data from 15 PAK teachers through a validated questionnaire. The instruments used to measure work motivation are based on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs for the motivational aspect, while discipline is measured using indicators developed by Rivai, and performance achievement is evaluated based on parameters defined by Robbins. The findings show that motivational drive contributes 50.5% to performance achievement (R² = 0.505, p = 0.003). This indicates that work motivation has a significant impact on performance, although its contribution is lower compared to discipline. In contrast, discipline contributes more significantly to performance achievement, accounting for 66.2% (R² = 0.662, p = 0.000). This suggests that discipline is a more dominant factor in improving the performance of Catholic Religious Education teachers, as discipline is critical in achieving optimal performance. Simultaneous analysis reveals that the combination of motivation and discipline explains 72.6% of the variation in performance achievement (R² = 0.726, F = 13.893, p = 0.000). This result indicates that both variables are significantly related to performance achievement when considered together. However, partial tests show that only discipline has a significant independent impact on teacher performance, with p = 0.121, while motivation does not have a significant effect when considered separately. This study concludes that discipline functions as the main mediator in the relationship between work motivation and performance achievement. Therefore, it is essential to strengthen discipline in efforts to improve teacher performance, particularly in the context of Catholic Religious Education.

The Society 5.0 era brings profound transformation in education, requiring Christian Religious Education (PAK) teachers to integrate technology in learning while maintaining Christian values. This study aims to analyze the challenges faced by PAK teachers in improving professional competence in this era, as well as exploring existing opportunities. The method used is library research with a qualitative approach, collecting data from journals and related literature. The results of the study indicate that many PAK teachers are not ready to face change, so they need a systematic professional development program. In addition, digital technology offers innovative learning methods that can increase student engagement. This study recommends a holistic approach in developing teacher competence, by maintaining a balance between technology and spiritual values.

The 21st century has brought significant challenges and transformations to the world of education, demanding a curriculum that integrates critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication skills (4C), as well as digital literacy and ethical responsibility. This study aims to explore a contextual curriculum design for Christian Religious Education (PAK) that is relevant to the holistic development of students in today's era. Using a qualitative descriptive method based on literature review, the research analyzes theoretical concepts and previous studies related to contextual and character-based Christian education. The findings show that a transformative and contextual PAK curriculum must address not only the cognitive dimension but also affective and psychomotor aspects, rooted in real-life experiences and local cultural contexts. The role of teachers as facilitators, curriculum designers, and role models is central to effective implementation. This study provides implications for curriculum development policies, teacher training, and further research in applied classroom settings.

This study aims to examine the role of Christian Religious Education (PAK) teachers in fostering the mentality of students from broken homes. Broken home problems have a significant impact on the mental and psychological conditions of students, which require special attention from PAK teachers as professionals who have spiritual and educational responsibilities. The research method used is a literature study by analyzing various relevant literature. The results of the study indicate that PAK teachers have a multidimensional role in fostering the mentality of broken home students, including the role as interpreters of the Christian faith, shepherds, role models and leaders, evangelists, facilitators, mentors, and motivators. The conclusion of this study confirms that PAK teachers have a strategic and holistic role in helping broken home students overcome problemstheir mental health through a comprehensive spiritual and educational approach.

As a substitute for parents in school, the role of Catholic Religious Education (PAK) teachers is crucial in guiding and nurturing students to avoid behaviors that may lead them towards inappropriate social interactions. This research is significant to understand the role of Catholic Religious Education (PAK) teachers in shaping the faith of Catholic students at SD Negeri 045957 Suka, Kabupaten Karo. The research methodology employed is qualitative, involving observations, interviews, and document analysis. Data was collected through observing PAK teachers' activities, interviewing teachers, the school principal, other subject teachers, and students, as well as analyzing documents related to the Catholic religious curriculum. The research was conducted at SD Negeri 045957 Suka in the sixth grade over a period of three months. The findings indicate that the creative and in-depth teaching methods of PAK teachers are effective in strengthening students' faith through prayer, Bible teachings, and active participation in church worship. The results underscore the need for enhanced teacher training in deep teaching approaches and the integration of Catholic values into daily school activity.

As a substitute for parents in school, the role of Catholic Religious Education (PAK) teachers is crucial in guiding and nurturing students to avoid behaviors that may lead them towards inappropriate social interactions. This research is significant to understand the role of Catholic Religious Education (PAK) teachers in shaping the faith of Catholic students at SD Negeri 045957 Suka, Kabupaten Karo. The research methodology employed is qualitative, involving observations, interviews, and document analysis. Data was collected through observing PAK teachers' activities, interviewing teachers, the school principal, other subject teachers, and students, as well as analyzing documents related to the Catholic religious curriculum. The research was conducted at SD Negeri 045957 Suka in the sixth grade over a period of three months. The findings indicate that the creative and in-depth teaching methods of PAK teachers are effective in strengthening students' faith through prayer, Bible teachings, and active participation in church worship. The results underscore the need for enhanced teacher training in deep teaching approaches and the integration of Catholic values into daily school activity.

Christian Religious Education (CRE) not only functions as a means of delivering theological teachings, but also as a strategic medium in developing students' soft skills. This article aims to explore how Christian moral values ​​such as love, honesty, empathy, and justice can be integrated into learning practices to shape students' character and interpersonal skills. Through a qualitative-descriptive approach, this study collected data through observation, interviews, and documentation studies. The results show that PAK, through activities such as group discussions, social services, spiritual reflection, and project-based learning, contributes significantly to developing students' communication, leadership, cooperation, and emotional intelligence skills. The role of teachers as facilitators and moral role models is a key factor in the success of this process. Thus, PAK not only enriches the spiritual aspect, but also prepares students to become resilient and integral individuals in social life. The integration of faith values ​​with life skills is a strong foundation in forming a generation of Christians who are able to answer the challenges of the 21st century.