Boundaries of professional ethics and personal freedom in teaching subjects with religious content
Particular attention in the article is drawn to the requirements of professional ethics of the teacher of disciplines with a religious component, which is due to the specific nature of their content, affecting religious beliefs and feelings of participants in pedagogical interaction. The article reveals the substantive content of professional ethics on the basis of selected structural components - professional and ethical position, pedagogical tact, methodological culture and speech etiquette. Compliance with the boundaries of professional ethics and personal freedom of the teacher who implements the education in the specified disciplines is defined as a key problem. The article raises the following questions for discussion: how to ensure conditions for religious self-expression of participants in the educational process and respect for freedom of conscience and religious self-expression? What requirements are imposed on the teacher during the organization of the educational process, so as not to affect the feelings of believers of different faiths? Are there any contradictions between meeting the requirements of the teacher’s professional ethics and maintaining the personal autonomy in the education on religious knowledge? It is concluded that the observance of the secular nature of education, which involves the recognition and guarantee of the freedom of conscience of each participant in the educational process, non-interference in his personal life, protection of his religious beliefs from ridicule and psychological trauma, imposes certain ethical requirements for pedagogical interaction. Thanks to a special tact, methodological culture, special speech etiquette, a certain intuition, the ability to foresee the reaction of students to the issues, topics, discussed problems, it is possible to achieve the pedagogic and educational goals without violating the principle of personal autonomy and freedom of expression of one's own worldview.