The Pedagogy of Love as a Foundation for Mutual Respect: An Educational Study Based on Matthew 7:12 at UPT SD No. 033926 Soban
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Abstract
This study explores the pedagogy of love as a foundational framework for fostering mutual respect in Christian Religious Education, drawing on the ethical teaching of Matthew 7:12, commonly known as the Golden Rule. In contemporary educational contexts, the cultivation of respect, empathy, and relational responsibility has become increasingly important, particularly in response to challenges such as declining student discipline, interpersonal conflict, and weakened moral sensitivity. Within Christian education, love is not merely an affective disposition but a theological and pedagogical principle that shapes teaching practices, relational dynamics, and character formation. Using a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach, this study synthesizes recent scholarly literature on pedagogy of love, ethics of care, character education, and Christian moral formation. The analysis integrates theological perspectives on love and reciprocity with educational theories emphasizing relational pedagogy, social-emotional learning, and moral development. The findings indicate that pedagogy grounded in love promotes mutual respect by strengthening teacher-student relationships, enhancing emotional safety, and encouraging students to internalize values of empathy, fairness, and responsibility toward others. The study further demonstrates that Matthew 7:12 provides a robust biblical-ethical framework for educational practice, positioning mutual respect as a lived expression of love in daily school interactions. The integration of theological ethics and contemporary educational theory suggests that pedagogy of love contributes to a holistic educational environment that supports not only academic development but also moral and spiritual formation. This study contributes to the growing body of literature on values-based and faith-informed education by offering a biblically grounded and pedagogically relevant model for fostering mutual respect in elementary school settings.
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