R. Murray Thomas

Religion in Schools (eBook, PDF)

Controversies around the World

• Format: PDF

Produktbeschreibung

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.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Bloomsbury Publishing Inc
• Seitenzahl: 248
• Altersempfehlung: ab 7 Jahre
• Erscheinungstermin: 30. März 2006
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9780313080951
• Artikelnr.: 68528600

Autorenporträt

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

Inhaltsangabe

Preface Part I The Book's Vantage Point Chapter 1: Varieties of Controversy
Chapter 2: The Nature of Belief Systems Religious Belief Systems
Nonreligious Belief Systems Chapter 3: Tradition, Critical Events, and the
Exercise of Power Belief Constituencies Tradition Critical Events The
Exercise of Power Conclusion Part II: Analyses of the Twelve Cases Chapter
4: France Historical Roots The Contending Constituencies Resolving the
Controversy Chapter 5: Japan Historical Roots The Contending Constituencies
Resolving the Controversy Chapter 6: England Historical Roots The
Contending Constituencies Resolving the Controversy Chapter 7: India
Historical Roots The Contending Constituencies Resolving the Controversy
Chapter 8: Spain Historical Roots The Contending Constituencies Resolving
the Controversy Chapter 9: China Historical Roots The Contending
Constituencies Resolving the Controversy Chapter 10: Italy Historical Roots
The Contending Constituencies Resolving the Controversy Chapter 11:
Pakistan Historical Roots The Contending Constituencies Resolving the
Controversy Chapter 12: United States of America Historical Roots The
Contending Constituencies Resolving the Controversy Chapter 13: Thailand
Historical Roots The Contending Constituencies Resolving the Controversy
Chapter 14: Australia Historical Roots The Contending Constituencies
Resolving the Controversy Chapter 15: Saudi Arabia Historical Roots The
Contending Constituencies Resolving the Controversy Part III: In Retrospect
Chapter 16: Answers and Trends Answers Trends Conclusion Notes References
Index