Unsafe safety: the essence of challenge and experiential education as implicit religion

ABSTRACT

In this paper I argue that every learning situation may be based on an implicitly religious essence. It may be visible in experiential education, which utilizes challenge, adventure, and other unsafe situations intentionally and purposely. According to Rudolf Otto, the sacred as well as religion is characterized by awe and trembling (mysterium tremendum et fascinans). Whenever I want to learn anything new, I enter into uncertainty. Just as a comfort zone, safety, and security are valid for high-risk situations or extreme sports, they are also legitimate for any learning situation.

KEYWORDS:

• Edgework
• risk
• comfort zone
• mysterium tremendum et fascinans

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

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Ivo Jirásek

Prof. Ivo Jirásek, PhD, specializes in the field of experiential and outdoor education, philosophical kinanthropology (philosophy of sport) and the phenomenon of spirituality and spiritual health. The author of four books and tens of journal articles and book chapters (in both English and Czech languages), used to serve as editor-in-chief of Gymnasion, journal for experiential education and longtime an instructor and lector in the Vacation school of Lipnice - Outward Bound Czech Republic. ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-1244-5237