Peter Schreiner (Germany): An introduction to RE across Europe - download the paper

The seminar gave an overview about the current situation and developments of Religious Education in schools around different parts of Europe. Some key characteristics were used to illustrate and encourage a comparative perspective. In the second part of the presentation recent developments in some selected countries were introduced as well as some important European activities.

Norman Richardson (UK: Northern Ireland): Teaching RE in a Religiously Divided Context

Drawing on experiences of teaching R.E. in the religiously divided and increasingly ethnically diverse region of Northern Ireland, this seminar will offer suggestions for how to approach such work with children and young people. The session will include experience of some practical, active-learning strategies which should be relevant in a range of different contexts.

Download the documents from the session:

• Religious Education where there is Religious Division - presentation
• Teaching RE in a religiously divided context: A Northern Ireland Perspective - download
• Teaching Religious Education Inclusively: Suggestions and Guidelines for Teachers - download
• Ground Rules for Religious Discussion - download
• Dealing with Controversial Issues in the classroom - download
• Reflections on Religious Diversity in Religious Education - download

Elisabeth Faber (DK) is an upper secondary school teacher. She teaches RE and History and is a student adviser. She has been a member of the board of the danish organization for RE-teachers in the upper secondary school for the last 7 years. She has arranged a study tour for RE-teachers to Japan in the fall of 2008.

Japanese Buddhism is a fascinating but for many students foreign religious subject. In the workshop we discussed why it is important to teach unfamiliar religions and how to approach teaching an unfamiliar religion. Do we choose a different approach as when we teach e.g. about Christianity? Shall we look for the exotic, for similarities or for both?

How to introduce an unfamiliar religion was discussed and an example of how to construct a course in Japanese Buddhism was shown. Examples from Zen- and Shinbuddhism was used in the workshop.

In this interactive workshop I will give a selected overview of artefacts and symbols that can promote creative and critical thinking in relation to religious topics, spirituality and citizen education nowadays. We will then try to find answers to the following methodological questions:

• What kind of vocabulary / grammar do we need to decode religious art or the religious dimension in art?
• Which didactic tools can we use in the classroom to work with masterpieces within an intercultural and interreligious context?

Participants may like to bring a reproduction of their favourite masterpiece linked with religion.

Marit Svare (Norway)
What is important when using film to teach the Christian gospel?

Download the presentation - Resources for film and RE

This session will consider the most important films to use when teaching RE. Then using a range of film to stimulate a discussion related to sources, topics and the theological questions raised. The session will also consider the special consideration that needs to be taken when making a film of a holy text. The Key Question for this session is "What are the most important things to consider when choosing films to teach the Christian gospel?"