Religion in Schools: Controversies around the World

(Hardback)

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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.

Reviews

Thomas turns his considerable analytical skills not only to delineating religious controversies in 12 nations-France, Japan, England, India, Spain, China, Italy, Pakistan, the United States, Thailand, Australia, and Saudi Arabia-but also to discovering similarities and differences between these controversies and to explaining their contextual development. Furthermore, he investigates the success of recent attempts at resolving issues such as Muslim headscarves being worn in French public schools, teachers singing the Japanese national anthem, and multifaith religious education in schools versus Christian advocacy in England. Belief constituencies, tradition, critical events, and the exercising of power comprise an interpretative scheme that enables Thomas to condense vast amounts of material into fairly brief chapters addressing various perspectives and influences (e.g., tolerance for diversity, influence of anticolonialism, secularity versus religiosity). A very timely book; highly recommended for all libraries. * Library Journal *
[H]ighly valuable as a resource work for students interested in making their own analyses of the topic.The cases treated in the book are so fascinating and rich that one could hope for a set of twelve books elaborating on each in a more lively, interdisciplinary style. * Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith *
Thomas comparatively examines 12 recent national-level religion/school controversies in France, Japan, England, India, Spain, China, Italy, Pakistan, the United States, Thailand, Australia, and Saudi Arabia. For each case, he seeks to describe the typical controversies that have appeared in the various nations, similarities and differences in types of controversy, the contending national constituencies involved in the controversies, and efforts that have been made to resolve the controversies. * Reference & Research Book News *

Author Bio

R. Murray Thomas is professor emeritus at the University of California, Santa Barbara.