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Many Americans may believe that religion in the schools is a controversial subject only in the United States. But around the world, the subject has gained widespread notoriety, media coverage, and attention from governing bodies, school administrations, and individuals. In France, conflict erupted when a young girl wore a headscarf to her public school; the government there got involved to reassert the rule that no outward display of religion will be tolerated. In India, a panel was appointed to remove Hindu religious beliefs from high-school textbooks. In Pakistan, the government passed a law to make the curriculum of Islamic religious schools more secular in its approach. Here in the United States, debates abound regarding the Pledge of Allegiance, the posting of the Ten Commandments, prayer in school, and other familiar arguments. But why do these controversies exist? What prompts them? Why do particular conflicts arise, and what attempts are made to deal with them? How have solutions fared? How are the controversies in one country similar to or different from those in another?
In
Religion in Schools, R. Murray Thomas uses case examples from twelve countries around the world, covering all regions of the world and all the major religions, to examine and answer these questions. He reveals the complexities of the conflicts, and shows what brought them about. For example, in France, the conflicts often arise out of that nation's desire to remain intensely secular. Using case examples and applying a uniform approach to analyzing each country's particular focus on religion and education, he is able to show what these conflicts have in common, how well solutions have worked, and what may lie ahead.
List of contents
Preface
Part I The Book's Vantage Point
Chapter 1: Varieties of Controversy
Chapter 2: The Nature of Belief Systems
Religious Belief Systems
Nonreligious Belief Systems
Chapter 3: Tradition, Critical Events, and the Exercise of Power
Belief Constituencies
Tradition
Critical Events
The Exercise of Power
Conclusion
Part II: Analyses of the Twelve Cases
Chapter 4: France
Historical Roots
The Contending Constituencies
Resolving the Controversy
Chapter 5: Japan
Historical Roots
The Contending Constituencies
Resolving the Controversy
Chapter 6: England
Historical Roots
The Contending Constituencies
Resolving the Controversy
Chapter 7: India
Historical Roots
The Contending Constituencies
Resolving the Controversy
Chapter 8: Spain
Historical Roots
The Contending Constituencies
Resolving the Controversy
Chapter 9: China
Historical Roots
The Contending Constituencies
Resolving the Controversy
Chapter 10: Italy
Historical Roots
The Contending Constituencies
Resolving the Controversy
Chapter 11: Pakistan
Historical Roots
The Contending Constituencies
Resolving the Controversy
Chapter 12: United States of America
Historical Roots
The Contending Constituencies
Resolving the Controversy
Chapter 13: Thailand
Historical Roots
The Contending Constituencies
Resolving the Controversy
Chapter 14: Australia
Historical Roots
The Contending Constituencies
Resolving the Controversy
Chapter 15: Saudi Arabia
Historical Roots
The Contending Constituencies
Resolving the Controversy
Part III: In Retrospect
Chapter 16: Answers and Trends
Answers
Trends
Conclusion
Notes
References
Index
About the author
R. Murray Thomas
