Forgiveness, the Moral Law, and Education: A Reply to Patricia White

This paper articulates a new critical perspective on British multi-faith religious education that both complements and, in part, subsumes existing critiques. The overall argument, while controversial and original, is straightforward: British religious education is accused of misrepresenting the nature of religion in efforts to commend itself as contributing to the social aims of education, as these are typically framed in liberal democratic societies. Contemporary multi-faith religious education is placed in context and its underlying theological and philosophical commitments identified and criticised. The tools of both philosophical and post-structuralist analysis are employed to support the conclusion that British religious education is limited in its capacity to challenge racism and religious intolerance, chiefly because it is conceptually ill equipped to develop respect for difference. The paper offers a rigorous philosophical review and critique of British religious education and outlines the need for a different conceptual model to organise and structure effective teaching and learning in religious education. As a result of the publication of this article Dr Barnes has been invited to present a keynoter address at an international conference entitled ‘Education and Religion in North Western Europe and North America from 1800 to today: tradition and transformation’ at the Université du Littoral Côte d’Opale à Boulogne-sur-Mer, in Novemebr 2007.