Religion and Nationhood: Insider and Outsider Perspectives on Religious Education in England

The authors of this volume, over 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 volume's 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. Contributors:Jeff Astley, Vishalache Balakrishnan, Dennis Bates, Alan Brine, Alan Brown, Sarah Lane Cawte, Rasamandala Das, Malcom M Deboo, René Ferguson, Brian Gates, John Gay, Angela Gluck, Julie Grove, Anna Halafoff, Nasima Hassan, Sivane Hirsch, James Holt, John Keast, Sahin & Yildiz Kizilabdullah, Emile Lester, Asher Maoz, Bruce Maxwell, Harshad Sanghrajka, Bernd Schröder, Ranvir Singh, Mike Stygal, Phra Nicholas Thanissaro, Richy Thompson, Tatyana Tsyrlina-Spady, Stephen Vickers, Peter Ward, Paul Weller, Barbara Wintersgill, Marc Wisnosky