Religious Education in Austria: Between Confessionality and Pluralism
Religious Education in Austria: Between Confessionality and Pluralism

Summary/Abstract: Research objective: The aim of the paper is to redefine “confessionality” in religious education in Austrian schools, regarding to changing circumstances. The research problem and methodology: The paper describes the history of confessional religious education in Austria, which gets several problems in different school-situations. In some schools, there are 8 and more sorts of confessional religious education. After the description of possible alternatives, a proposal of redefining confessional education is presented. The process of argumentation: The paper starts with an overview of the history and the actual situation of religious education in Austrian schools. Currently 13 recognized religions and denominations in Austria provide religious education. In some situations religious education becomes impossible due to insufficient student numbers. So the state and religious communities will have to try and establish new models of teaching. The main part of the paper consists of pros and cons in the conceptual considerations of confessionality. Research results: It is a challenge to rethink confessional religious education: religious communities will have to take joint responsibility and provide religious education as a service to students with clear denominational features. Conclusions, innovation and recommendations: There are three first steps very necessary in the next future: Commitment of the religious communities to religious education; a new concept to try at several locations; practical support concerning multi-religious events.

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