Religious representations for Christian adult education

Abstract

This article aims to explore the key concept of religious representations that reflect an individual's relational world and indicates the individual's religious maturity. While the term ‘representations’ is originally used in psychodynamic studies, the article discusses the idea that religious representations provide important indications of an individual's relational and spiritual health. The concepts and patterns of religious representations are discussed based on attachment theoretical studies. This brings some implications for Christian adult education. Variety of God‐language, imaginative pilgrim journey and mentoring relationship are suggested for refining religious representations. Alongside these suggestions, the article reminds us that the images in the biblical materials and in the Christian tradition are important for an imaginative pilgrim journey.

Keywords:

• religious representations
• Christian adult education
• image of God
• image of self
• God‐languages
• imagination
• mentoring