Religious Education in a Pluralist Society: The Key Philosophical Issues

by Edwards,John

• ISBN13: 9780713002188
• ISBN10: 0713002182
• eBook ISBN(s): 9781317958079
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 1999-03-30
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

This book discusses the philosophical issues underlying the teaching of religious education, and the conflict between religion and democratic values; it scrutinises religious education programmes in the UK, USA and Australia, and evaluates their effectiveness.

Author Biography

John S. Edwards has lectured in Education at the University of Western Sydney, NSW, Australia, and is currently employed by the Catholic Education Office, Sydney.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	vii
Foreword	ix
John Hull
Introduction	xiii
PART I: The Legitimacy and Place of Religious Education in Schools
A Rationale for Religious Education in the Carriculam	3	(23)
Challenges to Religious Education in the Curriculam: Scepticism, Exclusivism, Relativism, and Reduxtionism	26	(21)
PART II: Responses to Pluralism in the Teaching of Religious Education
The Implications of Religious Diversity for Religious Education: The Case for Extended Pluralism	47	(19)
Critical Realism and the Role of Models in Religion	66	(19)
PART III: Ethical, Political, and Social Dimensions of Religious Education
The Ethics of Belief Debate and its Implications for Religious Education in a Liberal Democratic Society	85	(20)
The Rights of Parents, Children, and the State in Religious Upbringing	105	(26)
PART IV: The Teaching of Religious Education: Cases Studies and Recommendations
Surveys of Religious Education Policies and Programmes in the UK, the USA, and Australia	131	(30)
The Teaching of Religious Education: Recommendations and a Charter for the Teacher	161	(12)
Glossary	173	(6)
Further Reading	179	(2)
Index	181