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Inter-religious dialogue in schools: A pedagogical and civic unavoidability


A Abdool
F Potgieter
JL van der Walt
C Wolhuter

Abstract



Social and civic conflict inspired by the fundamental convictions of different religious groups seems to be rife all over the world, also in schools. One way of addressing this problem is to promote interreligious dialogue. To establish the viability of this solution, the authors take several steps. They analyze the phenomenon “religion”
and discover that it is constituted of several layers or levels that have to be accounted for in the proposed inter-religious dialogue in schools. After discussing the term “dialogue” they consider several approaches to religious diversity or plurality to find a suitable basis
for the proposed inter-religious dialogue in schools. Based on these analyses, the authors argue that schools (teacher-educators and learners) should be allowed to engage in inter-religious dialogue as part of their pedagogical and civic duty. This will ensure a better
understanding of others and their religions, also at the deepest spiritual level. Such comprehension can contribute to the more peaceful co-existence of people in religiously pluralist societies.

HTS Theological Studies Vol. 63 (2) 2007: pp. 543-560

Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 2072-8050
print ISSN: 0259-9422