Courage and related values related to religion and worldview in kindergartens

A qualitative study of value thinking among experienced ECEC teachers shows, on one hand, that values only rarely are connected to specific religions or worldviews.  On the other hand, the value ‘courage’ is mentioned by many as important in encounters with children, parents and colleagues. The study confirms a general impression that RE and worldview topics call for skills in dialogue, ethics of empathy and competence to deal with disagreements on existential issues as well as to affirm values within different worldviews. Courage seems to play an important role in such skills and competence.

This chapter in a forthcoming book discusses possible links between the value of courage, related values and issues related to religion and worldview in kindergartens, based on empirical research and ethical theory, mainly using Aristotle, Taylor and Løgstrup.

The discussion finds the form of ethical-philosophical discourse. The line of reason concludes with some theses concerning courage connected to religion and worldviews in kindergarten.