You, Me and Religious
Diversity
Presentation by Dr. Thomas G.
Grenham and Dr. Patricia Kieran
26 November 2011
DICE Annual Conference
Are We all the Same?
• What is Different about us? (Does it matter?)
• What is the Same about us? (Does it matter?)
• What is Unique? (Does it matter?)
Celebrating Diversity—Cultural and
Religious
Irish Classrooms are culturally and
religiously diverse
• Ireland has an ancient history of
religious diversity.
• 2006 Census shows over 10% of
the usually resident population in
Ireland were composed of non-Irish
nationals. Results of 2011 pending.
• Many International children, ESL
children, children of diverse faiths
in schools, many children of secular
or personal beliefs.
• We need to celebrate a diversity of
cultures and faiths in Ireland and
consequently we need to learn
about cultures and faiths.
What is diversity of religion and belief all
about?
• Fact that multiple competing belief systems and
religions co-exist in society
• No one religion or belief system is the exclusive or
universal source of truth for the planet’s 7 bn.
inhabitants
• The harmonious co-existence between followers of
diverse beliefs and religions is desirable
• The promotion of co-operation, tolerance, as well as
improved understanding and relationships between
different religions and belief systems is key.
Information from CIA World Facts Book
Irish Primary Schools Survey 2010
• Four in every five primary schools in Ireland
cater for pupils from at least two religious
backgrounds, with one-in-six catering for
children of at least six different faiths.
• 63 % of primary schools have between two
and five different religions represented in
their classes.
• A further 16 % have at least six different
religions in their enrolments.
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Ireland: Religion, 2002 and 2006 – 2011
Census results pending
Six reasons for teaching about religious
diversity and beliefs in primary school:
1. To help children refine their own
beliefs
2. Anti-racist argument – eliminate
prejudice & ignorance
3. To prevent conflict –John Bowker
states that religion is likely to cause
future world conflict
4. To prevent indoctrination – not to
educate children about religion/belief
would be to inculcate an antireligious/belief bias
5. To live out the requirements of being
a good human person as
Agnostic/Atheist/Buddhist/Christian/
Hindu/ Jew/Muslim/ Sikh etc.
Pluralism
• Living with distinct life-giving differences
Creating a Pluralist Society?
Is there a basic common understanding of who we
are and how we belong?
A Shared Vision beyond Tolerance
Provisional Report from the Forum on
Patronage and Pluralism Nov 2011
• RE timetabled to facilitate ‘opt out’
• Every school should have a display wall on
which all beliefs in the school could be
represented.
• World Religions Ethics and Beliefs (ERB)
should be taught in all schools.
• Primary schools should celebrate festivals of
different beliefs.
The Human Person as Starting point—
can we agree?
Six Principles For
Effective Dialogue Among Religious
Traditions and Belief Systems
• A conviction within a tradition;
• Mutual respect and trust;
• Listening and not just hearing the other’s
perspective;
• Kenosis – an emptying out of particular
religious/cultural prejudice and stereotyping;
• An understanding of plurality and diversity that is
conducive to inclusive conversation; and
• Appropriate conflict management
Fundamentalism
• Definition-essential ingredients for cultural
and religious identity become embedded and
inflexible
• Sectarianism—Mine is better than Yours!
• Over identification with primary narrative
• Not much room for dialogue as this position
tends to see themselves as orthodox
• Little or no tolerance of the different other
Is Fundamentalism a Threat?
Religious Education
• Eliminate
sectarianism
• Promote respect of
life-giving differences
• Accept, Appreciate,
Celebrate the lifegiving gifts of the
other
• Achieve tolerance
and go beyond it
Shared Spirituality
Critical Religious Education
Faith seeks Understanding
• Faith and Reason are Compatible
Conclusion: Christian Examples of Religious
Diversity and Strategy for Inclusion
• Many Biblical
Texts about
Inclusion
• The Good
Samaritan
• The Woman
Taken in Adultery