1. Public Education about Religious Diversity: The Wider Context of the EC REDCo project St. Petersburg September 2007 Robert Jackson Warwick Religions and Education Research Unit

2. EC REDCo Project – religion, education dialogue & conflict ‘Religion in Education: A Contribution to Dialogue or a Factor of Conflict in Transforming Societies of European Countries’ EC Framework 6 Project 2006-9 10 European universities including St Petersburg- 10 European universities including St Petersburg- Other universities are from Germany, Norway, France, England, Spain, the Netherlands & Estonia Other universities are from Germany, Norway, France, England, Spain, the Netherlands & Estonia

3. Religion and Education: Global Political and Social Context Events related to religion – global, regional and local September 11, 2001 in USA September 11, 2001 in USA Afghanistan and Iraq wars/occupations Afghanistan and Iraq wars/occupations Bali, Casablanca, Jakarta, Istanbul, Madrid, London, Mumbai etc Bali, Casablanca, Jakarta, Istanbul, Madrid, London, Mumbai etc Inter–religious Israel/Palestine, Balkans etc & intra- religious conflicts (Ireland, Iraq) Inter–religious Israel/Palestine, Balkans etc & intra- religious conflicts (Ireland, Iraq) Civil disorder in N. UK towns in 2001 and France in late 2005 Civil disorder in N. UK towns in 2001 and France in late 2005 The ‘Cartoons’ affair 2006 – Denmark etc The ‘Cartoons’ affair 2006 – Denmark etc Positive ‘social capital’ – Desmond Tutu, Dalai Lama, religiously based movements for peace and justice, interfaith networks etc Positive ‘social capital’ – Desmond Tutu, Dalai Lama, religiously based movements for peace and justice, interfaith networks etc

4. International Institutions and the study of religions in schools UN UN Alliance of Civilizations – ‘ Alliance of Civilizations – ‘Religious leaders, education policymakers, and interfaith civic organizations should work together to develop consensus guidelines for teaching about religions’ (HLG Report 2006) UNESCO UNESCO Delors report (1996) – learning to know, to do, to live together and to be … ‘developing an understanding of others and their history, traditions and spiritual values’ Delors report (1996) – learning to know, to do, to live together and to be … ‘developing an understanding of others and their history, traditions and spiritual values’ Interreligious Dialogue Programme – to promote interchange and understanding between religions or beliefs, including education (in) interreligious dialogue Interreligious Dialogue Programme – to promote interchange and understanding between religions or beliefs, including education (in) interreligious dialogue

5. International Institutions and the study of religions in schools EU (26 states) EU (26 states) European Council (heads of state and the president of the EC) - teaching materials reflecting Europe’s cultural, ethnic and religious diversity to combat racism and xenophobia European Council (heads of state and the president of the EC) - teaching materials reflecting Europe’s cultural, ethnic and religious diversity to combat racism and xenophobia EC REDCo Project – religion, dialogue and conflict – 10 European universities including St Petersburg EC REDCo Project – religion, dialogue and conflict – 10 European universities including St Petersburg Organisation for Security and Co- operation in Europe (OSCE) (56 states including Russian Federation) Organisation for Security and Co- operation in Europe (OSCE) (56 states including Russian Federation) Council of Europe (47 states including Russian Federation) Council of Europe (47 states including Russian Federation)

6. OSCE Toledo Guiding Principles 2007 Toledo Guiding Principles on Teaching about Religions and Beliefs in Public Schools to contribute to an improved understanding of the world’s increasing religious diversity and the growing presence of religion in the public sphere to contribute to an improved understanding of the world’s increasing religious diversity and the growing presence of religion in the public sphere to assist OSCE participating States in promoting the study and knowledge about religions and beliefs in schools, particularly as a tool to enhance religious freedom and increase tolerance to assist OSCE participating States in promoting the study and knowledge about religions and beliefs in schools, particularly as a tool to enhance religious freedom and increase tolerance Underlying principles: respect for everyone’s right to freedom of religion and belief respect for everyone’s right to freedom of religion and belief teaching about religions and beliefs can reduce harmful misunderstandings and stereotypes teaching about religions and beliefs can reduce harmful misunderstandings and stereotypes

7. Council of Europe Projects Intercultural Education and the Challenge of Religious Diversity and Dialogue 2002-2007 Intercultural Education and the Challenge of Religious Diversity and Dialogue 2002-2007 (DG IV) Ministerial Policy Declaration September 2007; book in Russian translation 08 Interfaith Dialogue and Human Rights 2000-2006 (ongoing) Interfaith Dialogue and Human Rights 2000-2006 (ongoing) (Kazan seminar Feb 2006: Commissioner for Human Rights) Move towards a European Centre for Human Rights and Citizenship Education, including religion (2006 onwards)

8. Council of Europe - Religious Diversity & ICE: a Reference Book for Schools 2007 Integrates ideas from intercultural, citizenship and religious education Integrates ideas from intercultural, citizenship and religious education Active, collaborative learning Active, collaborative learning Range of pedagogical approaches and methods Range of pedagogical approaches and methods Ministerial recommendation with principles for dealing with religion in public education Ministerial recommendation with principles for dealing with religion in public education

9. Volga Forum Declaration Final document of the International Council of Europe Conference ‘Dialogue of Cultures and Inter-Faith Cooperation’ (Volga Forum) Nizhniy Novgorod, 7-9 September 2006 Final document of the International Council of Europe Conference ‘Dialogue of Cultures and Inter-Faith Cooperation’ (Volga Forum) Nizhniy Novgorod, 7-9 September 2006 Held within the framework of the Russian Federation's chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe ‘a milestone in efforts to foster intercultural dialogue’ Held within the framework of the Russian Federation's chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe ‘a milestone in efforts to foster intercultural dialogue’ To promote effective intercultural and interfaith dialogue and cooperation at local, national and international levels – including education To promote effective intercultural and interfaith dialogue and cooperation at local, national and international levels – including education

10. Volga Forum Declaration The participants rejected the idea of a ‘clash of civilisations’ being at the heart of present-day instability The participants rejected the idea of a ‘clash of civilisations’ being at the heart of present-day instability One way of responding to these challenges…is to promote effective intercultural and interfaith dialogue – including education One way of responding to these challenges…is to promote effective intercultural and interfaith dialogue – including education the participants expressed their support for setting up, in the framework of the Council of Europe, a Centre of excellence on human rights and democratic citizenship education, taking into account the religious dimension the participants expressed their support for setting up, in the framework of the Council of Europe, a Centre of excellence on human rights and democratic citizenship education, taking into account the religious dimension

11. Types of religious education in Public Education Systems Educating into religion Educating into religion a single tradition is taught by insiders a single tradition is taught by insiders Educating about religion Educating about religion religion is taught from a descriptive and historical perspective religion is taught from a descriptive and historical perspective Educating from religion Educating from religion pupils relate learning to issues of personal (and social) concern pupils relate learning to issues of personal (and social) concern

12. Diversity of Policy for Religion & Education: Contextual Factors Historical tradition Historical tradition history of Church/State relations history of Church/State relations the nature and degree of ‘multiculturalism’ in society the nature and degree of ‘multiculturalism’ in society Geographical position Geographical position Socio-political/economic systems Socio-political/economic systems International/global influences International/global influences Move by international bodies towards including ‘teaching about religions and beliefs’ Move by international bodies towards including ‘teaching about religions and beliefs’

13. Reasons for studying religions in public education Citizenship & human rights arguments to promote tolerance/respect/recognition of others/peace to promote tolerance/respect/recognition of others/peace to respect/protect the human rights of all to freedom of religion or belief to respect/protect the human rights of all to freedom of religion or belief to counter misunderstandings, stereotypes, and caricatures to counter misunderstandings, stereotypes, and caricatures to promote community cohesion – ‘societies in which the diversity of people’s backgrounds and circumstances is appreciated and valued’ to promote community cohesion – ‘societies in which the diversity of people’s backgrounds and circumstances is appreciated and valued’