The Problem of Confessionality of the School Teaching of Religion in Germany

Radosław Chałupniak

Abstract

From the point of view of religious upbringing the issue of confessionality is very significant. According to the General Directory for Catechesis: “The confessional character of religious instruction in schools, in its various focuses, given by the Church in different countries is an indispensable guarantee offered to families and students who choose such teaching”. At present few Germans are interested in the problem of confessional differences between Christians though many of them identify themselves with Christianity, its customs, or commandments. Religious upbringing is based on confessionality and specific reference to the community of believers, both in the personal (a testimony of the teacher of faith) and material sense (transmission of confessionally determined contents). It not so obvious for everyone. Some think that in the pluralistically oriented “school for everyone” confessional division cannot be present. Contemporarily, speaking about confessionality of those classes frequently faces the accusation of non-tolerance or returning to “Church indoctrination” on the ground of the public system of education. Superficially understood ecumenism frequently connected to religious ignorance, subjectivism, and relativism lead to the decline of the sense of confessional distinctiveness and indifference to crucial confessional dissimilarities. The article reminds us significant questions related to the dilemma of confessionality of the school teaching of religion in Germany and therefore understanding of the word “confessionality” and its historical, legal, and practical references. It is worth reminding that there is no general (non-confessional) Christianity and confessional upbringing is consistent with the rights entitled to both families and children.

Keywords:

catechesis, the school teaching of religion, confessionality, Catholic Church, Germany