Religious Literacy, Law and History ― Perspectives on European Pluralist Societies

This book examines religious illiteracy in Europe. It seeks to understand religious illiteracy and its effects on the social and political milieu through the framing of the historical, institutional, religious, social, juridical and educational conditions within which it arises. Divided into four parts, the first looks at `Context’ defining the basic concepts underpinning the question of religious illiteracy in Europe. Part 2, `Fields’, highlights the theological, philosophical, historical and political roots of the phenomenon, looking at the main nodes that are both the reasons why religious illiteracy is widespread and the starting points for literacy strategies. Part 3, `Education’, examines the mix of knowledge and competences acquired about religion and from religion at school as well as through the media, with a critical perspective on what could be done both in the schools and for the improvement of journalists’ religious literacy. Part 4, `Views and experiences’ presents the reader with the opportunity to learn from three different casestudies: religious literacy in the media; religious illiteracy and European Islam; and a Jewish approach to religious literacy. Building on existing literature, the volume takes a scientific approach which is enriched by interdisciplinary and transnational perspectives and deep entrenchment in historical methodology.

Francesca Cadeddu is a post-doctoral researcher at Fondazione per le Scienze Religiose "Giovanni XXIII" (Bologna), where she works on the history of twentieth-century American Catholicism and on religious pluralism and literacy in Italy and Europe. She is a member of the Commission on religious pluralism, freedom and the study of religious sciences at school, established in 2015 by the Italian Ministry of Education.

Alberto Melloni is an historian of Christianity known especially for his work on the Second Vatican Council of the Roman Catholic Church. He is Professor of History of Christianity at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, holder of the Unesco Chair for Religious Pluralism and Peace at the University of Bologna, Italy. He has been a member of Fondazione per le Scienze Religiose "Giovanni XXIII" since 1982, Vice-Secretary from 2002 to 2006 and General Secretary since 2007. Founded in 1953, the Foundation is one of the most important research centers on the history of Christianity in Europe.