A Christian Perspective on Religion and Religious Education in the Postmodern Era
Keywords:
Christian Perspective, Religion and Religious Education, Postmodern EraAbstract
Speaking of religious education the hypothesis “Religious education fosters tolerance” is often heard. This will be the core question for my presentation. How far is it true? Talking about religion and religious education in the postmodern era means to focus on the contextual and become situated in a certain environment. The time of universal and general statements is gone. Therefore, this presentation will not speak about a Christian perspective in general, but about Christian religious education in Europe, namely in Switzerland. This paper will focus on the specific situation of educating religious specialists in a secular state, and address theological education in Switzerland. First, I will discuss the two terms postmodern and Religion that come up so prominent in this conference. Then, after an introduction to the Swiss religious landscape, I will deliver a case study of the programmes and courses taught at the Faculty of Theology in Basel and ask how far these study plans increase religious tolerance. At the end, I will deliver some theses that in my opinion are basic conditions for a religious education enhancing tolerance.
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