Publisher Description

Following the events of September 11, 2001, public focus has been on the power of religion. This book addresses the role of religious education in a world where terrorism has impacted on western democracy. Through an analysis and evaluation of the models of religious education, it considers if religion is part of the answer or part of the problem.

Author Biography

The Revd Professor Jeff Astley is Director of the North of England Institute for Christian Education and Honorary Professorial Fellow in Practical Theology and Christian Education, University of Durham, England. The Revd Professor Leslie J Francis is Director of the Welsh National Centre for Religious Education and Professor of Practical Theology, University of Wales, Bangor, Wales. Dr Mandy Robbins is Teaching and Research Fellow in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Wales, Bangor, Wales. The Contributors are drawn from universities in the UK (including Wales), Germany, Norway, Kenya and the USA.

Review

'This book is a timely and welcome addition to the field and will be a useful addition to the libraries of academics and students who are engaged in various disciplines related to education and religious and cultural practices.'Marian de Souza, International Journal of Children's Spirituality, Nov 2009 "The essays in this volume offer a wide range of views and ideas on the issues of war, peace and their place in religious education. Anybody teaching RE, academic theologians or those with a general interest in improving interfaith dialogue will find something to interest and challenge in these essays. As such they make a useful contribution to the current debate about how to inculcate harmonious relations between those of different faiths and viewpoints.A"Keith Watson, Journal of Education and Christian Belief, Volume 12:1/Spring 2008

Review Text

Following the events of September 11th 2001, public focus has been on the power of religion in world politics. This book addresses the role of religious education in a polarised and globalised world where terrorism has impacted on western democracy. Through an analysis and evaluation of all the different models of religious education across the western world, the book considers if religion is part of the answer or part of the problem. Internationally, religious educators have been required to face the challenge of developing and justifying their subject matter in a world keen to combat terrorism and to promote peace. This book demonstrates that while some claim religious education inflames fundamentalist sensitivities and in some cases lead to sectarian violence, it also has the counterbalancing capacity to inform and enrich communal life.

Author Comments

The Revd Professor Jeff Astley is Director of the North of England Institute for Christian Education and Honorary Professorial Fellow in Practical Theology and Christian Education, University of Durham, England. The Revd Professor Leslie J Francis is Director of the Welsh National Centre for Religious Education and Professor of Practical Theology, University of Wales, Bangor, Wales. Dr Mandy Robbins is Teaching and Research Fellow in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Wales, Bangor, Wales. The Contributors are drawn from universities in the UK (including Wales), Germany, Norway, Kenya and the USA.

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