THE MISREPRESENTATION OF RELIGION IN MODERN BRITISH (RELIGIOUS) EDUCATION

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this paper is to articulate a new perspective on British multi-faith religious education that both complements and, in part, subsumes existing critiques. My argument, while controversial, is straightforward: it is that British religious education has misrepresented the nature of religion in efforts to commend itself as contributing to the social aims of education, as these are typically framed in liberal democratic societies. Contemporary multi-faith religious education is placed in context and its underlying theological and philosophical commitments identified and criticised. It is concluded that current representations of religion in British religious education are limited in their capacity to challenge racism and religious intolerance, chiefly because they are conceptually ill equipped to develop respect for difference.

Keywords:

• British education
• multiculturalism
• multi-faith religious education
• respect for difference
• tolerance

Notes

¹ The term ‘British religious education’ is used to draw attention to ideas and influences that are common across religious education in the three nations of England, Scotland and Wales; if pressed the ideas considered and criticised are more characteristic of English religious education and educators than Scottish or Welsh education.

² Not that religious education in a pluralist society should favour one religion over others, but it should make pupils aware of the contested nature of religion and introduce them to the skills and considerations that are relevant to the assessment of religion and religious phenomena; this modern British religious education has failed to do.

³ Copley's similar judgement is noteworthy because he has written authoritatively on the history of religious education in England and Wales; see Copley, 1997 and 2000.

⁴ I have developed a number of philosophical arguments against the thesis of religious unity in Barnes, 1990; and in Barnes and Wright, 2006, criticisms are raised against Hick's pluralist theology and its application to religious education.