Intercultural Context of Religious Education – the Problem of Open Religious Identity

Abstract

Contemporary dimension of religious, socio-cultural situation in Europe implies the need for the positive perception of the persons of different faiths. The perception of the religious otherness as a value may (through mutual exchange and synthesis of spiritual values intrinsic for whole Christian community and encounter with positive values of other religions) enrich religious identity with the aspect of openness.

Young people tirelessly search for their own identity and, thus, confirm the need for religious education which enhances the formation of religious identity. Tasks of school religious education in the context of forming the open religious identity comprise both acquiring knowledge about one’s own religion and church, religious formation and also the knowledge about religious pluralism; the perception of the religiously other as the value; reflexive approach to religious questions and the development of positive attitudes toward the religious otherness. The author attempts to find the answer to the question whether and to what extent the religious education enhances the creation of open religious identity of young people.