The Future of Religious Education in Europe

This small volume covers the entire conceptual range of approaches to religious education in public schools. The papers gathered in this publication cover the conceptual debate on the subject, ranging from a confessional approach to a sociological approach with an inclusive model as the middle-position. The different models diverge on how they define, in the context of public schooling for children aged 6 to 14 years, what religious education is aimed at: is that what should be conveyed knowledge about religion or instead religious knowledge? Should pupils become cognitively equipped to recognize and discuss religious diversity, or should they first become literate in one, presumably “their own” religious tradition?