Religious Education and Freedom of Religion and Belief

What opportunities and challenges are presented to religious education across the globe by the basic human right of freedom of religion and belief? To what extent does religious education facilitate or inhibit ‘freedom of religion’ in schools? What contribution can religious education make to freedom in the modern world? This volume provides answers to these and related questions by drawing together a selection of the papers delivered at the seventeenth session of the International Seminar on Religious Education and Values held in Ottawa in 2010. These reflections from international scholars, drawing upon historical, theoretical and empirical perspectives, provide insights into the development of religious education in a range of national contexts, from Europe to Canada and South Africa, as well as illuminating possible future directions for the subject.

Stephen Parker is Head of Postgraduate Studies and Research Degrees Coordinator in the Institute of Education, University of Worcester, UK.
Rob Freathy is Director of Taught Programmes for the College of Social Sciences and International Studies and Director of Education for the Graduate School of Education at the University of Exeter, UK.
Leslie J. Francis is Professor of Religions and Education at the University of Warwick, UK.