Religious Education and Islamic Religious Education in Europe Reflections for Ireland
Citation:
Youcef Sai, 'Religious Education and Islamic Religious Education in Europe Reflections for Ireland', Graduate Students’ Union of the University of Dublin, Trinity College, Journal of Postgraduate Research;14, 2015Download Item:
JPR_2015_set_digital_sai.pdf (PDF) 527.2Kb
Abstract:
Debate about the place of religion in public education, both in Europe and worldwide,
has increased in the twenty-first century. The role of faith-based schools in secular
societies and the need for provision of religious education [RE] have increasingly
become topics of controversy. In Europe, RE is a multi-layered term meaning different
things in different contexts. Some have argued for its continued provision, while
others have contested the need for it in an age that could seem increasingly ‘postreligious’.
This paper examines various forms of RE and explores some arguments
that might support its retention and call for its abolition in Europe with a particular
focus on Ireland. The so-called rise of Islamophobia, in particular, makes these
questions more acute. Therefore, after an initial exploration of background debates
on RE and faith-based schooling, I introduce issues concerning the specific context
and forms of principles in debates on Islamic religious education [IRE] in various
European countries.
Empirical research on Islamic education in Ireland is currently very limited, thus (in
order to add to the theoretical discussion and understanding of how Islamic religious
knowledge is formulated) the paper draws and extrapolates on existing ethnographic
research conducted on how Islam is taught in public schools, similar in context
to Ireland, elsewhere in Europe. The overall aim is to make a tentative attempt
at contributing to our understanding of current debate on the legitimacy of IRE in
pluralist societies (understood to mean those that advocate values such as personal
autonomy, tolerance, diversity, critical openness and rational morality).
Author: Sai, Youcef
Publisher:
Graduate Students’ Union of the University of Dublin, Trinity CollegeType of material:
Journal ArticleCollections:
Series/Report no:
Journal of Postgraduate Research;14Availability:
Full text availableKeywords:
Religious EducationISSN:
2009-4787Licences: