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Religion and belief in Religious Education

This chapter evaluates religious education. Under the Education Act 1944, it is a requirement in English law that learning about religion and belief must take place in all state-maintained schools, including those in reception classes and sixth forms. During the period up until 1988, teaching was almost entirely based on a Christian, scriptural approach, though increasingly with consideration of the other 'world religions'. The requirement for religious education of a 'Christian character', the notion of 'six main religions', the continuing mandate for a daily act of collective worship, the right to withdraw, and massive change in the real religion and belief landscape suggest that, in relation to religion and belief, we have a mid-20th-century settlement for an early-21st-century reality. This is likely to both reflect and reproduce a lack of religion and belief literacy among school leavers, who are confused by the religion and belief messages communicated in schools and, by extension, in wider society. Ultimately, based on the research findings, religion and belief learning should be concerned with preparing students for the practical task of engagement with the rich variety of religion and belief encounters in everyday, ordinary life.