Apart from the nature of the religious association or organisation it works as an agency of education. Children attend these organizations, if not regularly, at least occasionally. They imbibe certain beliefs and attitudes, through religious practices and teachings.
They learn certain moral principles and moral behaviour from the religious organisations and instructions.
All the religions have a well defined code of moral and spiritual values – what is good, and what is evil; what is done and what is not to be done etc. Children show unquestionable loyalty to these values and follow them in practice.
Through this knowledge of these values they try to pursue higher and higher ideals in life and enjoy eternal peace and happiness in their time.
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Training of Character:
Religious education provides the child with certain models from the history of religion, which help him for the development of his character. He also learns about social, moral and spiritual values.
In the words of Madden Ward, “Religious strength of character includes humility, which recognizes one’s inventive fallibility and submits to the correct process of group thinking and cooperative action. Thus religious education helps for the development of character of the child.
Preservation and Promotion of Culture:
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The literary, historical and musical aspects of religious observances are of cultural importance. From these activities the child learns about his own culture and tries for its preservation and promotion, when he becomes an adult. As a result of which, he is able to meet the overgrowing needs of the present society.