Religious Literacy in Secular Religious Education

This edited volume aims to shed light on the relationship between the design of the Subject of religious education in different Nordic countries and the Subject knowledge and generic abilities that the Subject aims to develop, such as the ability to discern and relate to various aspects where religion and outlook on life are central factors. This volume further examines theoretical, methodological and empirical issues concerning the practice and the study of religion and non-religion, spirituality and worldviews within contemporary education.

In this volume, questions are addressed revolving around religious literacy and education. The term religious literacy is explored as the ability to discern and analyze intersections of religion with social, political, and cultural life in pluralistic societies. Questions about what types of religious literacies are possible in a non-confessional, and even secular, educational context are in focus. It delves into the intricate relationship between religious literacy, religious education in the Nordic countries, and the development of Subject knowledge and generic abilities. The Nordic countries, as modern secular welfare states with shared characteristics, provide an intriguing framework for comparison. The exploration of variations in the organization, content, and goals of religious education in Finland, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden sheds light on the process of shaping educational content within specific historical and societal contexts and the anthology broadens its scope by incorporating global perspectives from the Indian, Italian, and Indonesian contexts. The volume features contributions from 18 researchers who explore empirical, methodological, and theoretical aspects of religious literacy and education. The concept of religious literacy, encompassing both knowledge and generic skills, proves to be indispensable for navigating the diverse religious and non-religious worldviews present in pluralistic societies. Tailored for students, educators, education researchers, and policymakers, this anthology contributes to the ongoing discourse on religious literacy. It not only provides valuable insights into the Nordic educational landscape but also fosters a global dialogue on the crucial role of education in understanding diverse worldviews.

Auteur
Malin Löfstedt, Associate Professor, Uppsala University, Sweden Camilla Stabel Jørgensen, Associate Professor, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NTNU, Norway Nils Jensen ist seit 2010 Professor für Medieninformatik an der Ostfalia Hochschule. Er arbeitete unter anderem am Forschungszentrum L3S/RRZN und promovierte 2007 an der Leibniz Universität Hannover zum Doktor-Ingenieur. Seine Gebiete umfassen die Softwareentwicklung, die wissenschaftliche Visualisierung und das Autonomic Computing. Nils Jensen ist Mitglied der Gesellschaft für Informatik. Martin Ubani is a Professor of Religious Education at the School of Theology and the School of Applied Science of Education and Teacher Education at the University of Eastern Finland (UEF). His research interests include religion and education, spiritual education, RE teacher education and classroom research. Kerstin von Brömssen is Professor in Educational Sciences at University West, Sweden. Her interest covers specifically ways of enhancing diversity in education and teaching. She is a member of the Nordic Centre of Excellence, Justice Through Education in the Nordic Countries, JustEd, located at University of Helsinki. Kristian Niemi is a lecturer in Religious Studies at Karlstad University, Sweden, and a PhD student at Stockholm University, working on religion in Indian schools, using primarily anthropological methodologies. He is the coordinator for Karlstad University's India programme, including exchange of students and staff between Karlstad and Varanasi, enabling study visits and research.