Religion and Nationhood: Insider and outsider perspectives on Religious Education in England

Religion is both too dangerous and too important to be left to any single belief community, academic association or political group. The challenges of secularity and competing belief systems require attention within the curriculum of every state school. The authors of this volume, more than thirty authoritative practitioners and scholars, illuminate the context for religion in public education nationally and globally. Their principal focus is on Religious Education in England, with its distinctive matrix of Christianity, plurality of beliefs and secularity. The complementary attention to RE provision in eight other countries and within Europe is revealing of each and a source for comparative comment on the ‘English approach’. Religion is understood universally as referring to the deepest meanings which we have generated to live with, both individually and collectively. The peculiarity of England with a constitutional monarchy and established church is identified as an enabling feature for understanding, inclusivity and openness rather than separation and mutual ignorance, but that RE is threatened by government inattention.