Jesus, the Master of Education, in Education as Master

José de Paiva Netto is a Brazilian writer, journalist, radio broadcaster, composer, and poet. He is the President-Preacher of the Religion of God, of the Christ, and of the Holy Spirit.

When I make reference to educators in my talks and writings I try to address not only the heroic professionals of this calling, those who truly deserve this deference, but also those who receive from God (all of us) the mission to place future generations on the right path. So often—History is full of examples—the daily lessons learned on the school benches of life also prepare students for facing up to the challenges of a society that has reached the death throes of its suicidal stance with regard to the environment.

From the Dialectic of Good Will

With regard to the stumbling blocks, even in the Third Millennium teachers are still having to strive on a daily basis to live with dignity, and I recall a passage from my book Reflections and Thoughts — The Dialectic of Good Will (1987) at the time of the communism-capitalism dichotomy, when even then I warned that in fact, teachers are not being treated with dignity. They are orphans by virtue of an inhuman economic system that is in force in various regions on the planet. For the sake of argument, we can say that where they are allowed better material conditions, they are denied the right to think and feel; and where they are not forbidden the action of reason, they are not granted the ability to survive decently . . .

Ecumenical Educational Proposal

Seizing this opportunity, I would like to bring some reflections I have developed over the years on the radio, TV, and the Internet that today help guide the ecumenical educational proposal of the Legion of Good Will’s schools:

The Pedagogy of God—foreseen by late founder of the Legion of Good Will, Alziro Zarur (1914-1979), since the establishment of the LGW (in 1950)—of which the Ecumenical Citizen Pedagogy and the Pedagogy of Affection are part, aims to build a free creature through Divine Love, Truth, and Justice. Inspired by the Lord of Peace, the Pedagogy is summarized by the verse: “Love one another, as I have loved you. Only by this shall all of you be recognized as my disciples” (feeling) and in “Then you will know the Truth [of God], and the Truth [of God] will set you free” (reason)—The Gospel according to John 13:34 and 35 and 8:32. Why Pedagogy of Affection? Because world stability begins in the hearts of children.

The Pedagogy of God means Jesus, the Master of Education, in Education as Master.

Now the same way that we need bread made from wheat to survive we also need the spiritual bread, the one that came down from Heaven, the sustenance of absolute freedom, the food of Eternal Life for all those who trust in Him, since they respect Him (The Gospel in the writings of John 6:22 to 59).