The Religious Education in the European School System Today

1. Entity type Lemma
2. Original titleРелигиозното образование в европейската училищна система днес
3. Language term Bulgarian
4. lemma author Nachev, Ivaylo
5. lemma category Education, Science and Orthodoxy
6. Publication date 25-1-2019
7. lemma work Кожухаров, Валентин [Author]. Религиозното образование в европейската училищна система днес
8. lemma manifestations Религиозното образование в европейската училищна система днес - Велоко Търново: Веста, 2009.
9. Keywords Religious education
10. Lemma body

    1. The book analyses the organization and functioning of religious education in state schools across Europe. Following a first theoretical part that looks at various current models and debates, the author examines the specific situation in thirty three different countries across Europe (including EU-countries and as well non-member countries such as Belarus, Georgia, Serbia, Ukraine, Russia). The third main topic of the book is current developments in Bulgaria. 

       The analysis of the religious education in the various countries is made on the background of information about population, political and educational systems, main religious groups and other aspects in each of the countries. Kozhuharov also focusses on the status of the school subject religion, methodological aspects, tasks and objectives of the educational process, preparation of the teachers and others. 

       Looking at the situation across the continent, the author elaborates on main contemporary challenges that effect religious education today. Special attention is paid to the situation of the religious education in Bulgaria in the context of the wider picture in Europe. The author draws parallels with various European countries, highlighting contemporary requirements of religious education which could be implemented in Bulgarian schools. Kozhuharov makes as well a number of recommendations for Bulgaria, including the necessity to seek wider consensus in society, a more active role of the Church and better cooperation between the Church and state authorities. According to Kozhuharov, the religious education should not acquire secular character as is the case in some of the countries. The role of the Eastern Orthodox Church in determining its character should be maintained, including participation in preparation of programs and textbooks. Kozhuharov also argues in favor of introduction of mandatory and confessional teaching of religion in Bulgarian schools. The confessional teaching (meaning that the subject is based on the Eastern Orthodoxy), just as it is the case in other Balkan countries, will also help maintaining traditions and cultural identity in his opinion.