Richard Thomas Nolan, Ph.D.
New York University, 1973
Reprinted from
DISSERTATION ABSTRACTS INTERNATIONAL
Volume XXXIV, Number 2, 1973
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RELIGIOUS THOUGHT OF EDMOND LA B. CHERBONNIER FOR A BASIC OBJECTIVE FOR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Richard Thomas NOLAN, Ph.D.
New York University, 1973
Chairman: Professor Lee A. Belford
The purpose of this investigation was to determine the significance of the religious thought of Edmond La B. Cherbonnier for a basic objective for religious education. The subordinate problems included: 1) What religious concepts are related to a basic objective of religious education? 2) What religious concepts related to a basic objective for religious education have been examined and interpreted by Cherbonnier? 3) What is the significance of mystical religion, as interpreted by Cherbonnier, for a basic objective for religious education? 4) What is the significance of biblical religion, as interpreted by Cherbonnier, for a basic objective for religious education?
The significance of the study rests upon the established importance of the basic objective to religious education, the relevance of religious thought to religious education, the need for further research in these areas, the recognition of Cherbonnier as a theologian who has already been cited as relevant to religious education, and the thesis that his religious thought further clarifies relationships between religious thought and religious education.
An analysis of related literature was made to determine and select the religious concepts related to a basic objective; the results were reported in Chapter One. An analysis of Cherbonnier's writings produced a systematic exposition of the relevant concepts of his religious thought; Chapter Two describes his interpretation of mystical religion or perennial philosophy, and Chapter Three delineates his interpretation of biblical religion. The significance of mystical religion for a basic objective was determined by the logical relationship between each mystical concept and a basic objective; this was described in Chapter Four. The significance of biblical religion was ascertained by the logical relationship between each biblical concept and the basic objective and reported in Chapter Five.
It was suggested that in the development of a basic objective for religious education, the consideration of epistemology, metaphysics, and axiology is essential and consequential. The investigation sought to show that Cherbonnier's writings sort out what he claims to be the two basic religious perspectives, mystical religion (or perennial philosophy) and biblical religion. Both consist of contrasting theories of knowledge, reality, and value, stated or implied. For Cherbonnier, the historical intrusion of the mystical into biblically based traditions is an error. The significance of Cherbonnier's analysis rests, for this study, in the greater clarity of religious concepts and their particular implications for a basic objective for religious education. It was proposed that the conceptual development of specific religious concepts is pivotal to the actual meaning of any basic objective.
Further studies recommended were an analysis of Christology in the light of Cherbonnier's thought and implications for a basic objective and a study of relationships between the two perspectives (mystical and biblical) for curriculum and methods in religious education.
Order No. 73-19,441, 231 pages.
A microfilm or xerographic copy of the complete manuscript is available from the publisher, University Microfilms, Ann Arbor, Michigan, at the standard prices: any microfilm copy at $4.00, and any xerographic copy at $10.00 plus shipping and handling and any applicable taxes.