Wholistic Education and the Shema Creed (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

Abstract

This article sought to examine the shema creed in relation to principles of wholistic education. It concludes that while wholistic education includes emphasis on the development of the mental, physical, social, and spiritual dimensions of life, the shema suggests the inculcation of knowledge through various dimensions of life, using various methods and settings, and developing the entire being. The article also suggests that the shema reveals lessons that can be applied to our educational system today. The creed, whose outline includes the love for Yahweh, the transmission of the words of Yahweh, and the preservation of the words of Yahweh, teaches that we should love the Lord God wholeheartedly and transmit that love to our children diligently using every setting and medium. Applying these to our educational system today, we ought to make sure that the basis of our curricular is in God,  our teachers are totally committed to the love of God and they teach diligently, knowledge is transmitted at all times in every setting, and  our lessons are inculcated into students using all the dimensions of life: physical, intellectual, social and spiritual.

Keywords: Wholistic Education, Shema creed, Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Adventist Education.