Shifting Borders of Religious EducationTtowards Greater Frames of Solidarity
Shifting Borders of Religious EducationTtowards Greater Frames of Solidarity

Summary/Abstract: Post-modern pedagogy framework advocated by Giroux suggests that education needs to attend to multiple voices of difference by opening for students’ alternative meanings, perspectives and truth claims. This opens a space for deconstructing ‘grand narratives’, revisiting their ontological and epistemological foundations, as well as opening a more inclusive frame for other faith traditions, thus allowing the possibilities of solidarity among the peoples and religions. This means developing sensitivity and even solidarity with other faith traditions, non-religious views, by including gender perspective as well. A genuine openness to other perspectives might enhance a more sustainable RE. This inclusive perspective fosters a more truthful way of relating with the others, leading to the enlargement frames of solidarity with oneself, others and the nature. The aim of the paper is to re-evaluate confessional modes of RE marked with a transmission of cultural and religious norms strictly within the frame of one confession and to offer more critical,expanded, inclusive, empowering and transformative framework. RE in this paper is viewed in a wider worldview framework that encourages students to embrace their freedom of belief and the freedom of belief of others resulting by enriching plurality of meanings and understandings of others, and a deeper sense of solidarity. This article also elaborates on various understanding of solidarity and suggests guidelines for the religious educators for teaching solidarity in turbulent times.

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