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Changes in Religious Education in Response to Growing Diversity: A Comparison of Brazil, Canada and England

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Title: Changes in Religious Education in Response to Growing Diversity: A Comparison of Brazil, Canada and England
Language: English
Authors: Solange Lefebvre (ORCID 0000-0002-6915-5794), Paula Montero (ORCID 0000-0001-7911-1296), Linda Woodhead (ORCID 0000-0002-1232-1173), Guilherme Borges (ORCID 0000-0002-8687-9452), Annegret Marten (ORCID 0000-0001-7122-8713), Karel J. Leyva (ORCID 0000-0001-8637-5601)
Source: British Journal of Sociology of Education. 2026 47(3):402-422.
Availability: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 21
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Evaluative
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Comparative Education, Religious Education, Role of Religion, Christianity, Educational Change, Diversity, Cultural Pluralism, World Views, Ethics, Citizenship, Multicultural Education, Civics, Values
Geographic Terms: Brazil, Canada, United Kingdom (England)
DOI: 10.1080/01425692.2025.2509960
ISSN: 0142-5692
1465-3346
Abstract: This article examines the evolving role of religion in public, state-funded schools in Brazil, England, and Canada--three countries where Christianity has historically dominated. It focuses on how religious education (RE) addresses growing diversity. After outlining the historical state-religion relationships shaping contemporary policies, the study draws on new data to analyse how each country's educational system responds to religious and secular pluralism. We identify different national strategies, including incorporating a broader range of religious traditions, emphasising non-religious worldviews, or shifting RE towards ethics, citizenship, and cultural education. These variations are explained by historical trajectories, stakeholder competition, and policy concerns over citizenship, national identity, and social cohesion. Theoretically, the article highlights how RE reflects broader tensions in liberal democracies between fostering civic values, embracing pluralism, and promoting individual autonomy. Finally, it provides a case study of secularisation in RE, illustrating competing educational and political priorities in diverse societies.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1502730
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Changes in Religious Education in Response to Growing Diversity: A Comparison of Brazil, Canada and England
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  Data: English
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Solange+Lefebvre%22">Solange Lefebvre</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6915-5794">0000-0002-6915-5794</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Paula+Montero%22">Paula Montero</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7911-1296">0000-0001-7911-1296</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Linda+Woodhead%22">Linda Woodhead</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1232-1173">0000-0002-1232-1173</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Guilherme+Borges%22">Guilherme Borges</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8687-9452">0000-0002-8687-9452</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Annegret+Marten%22">Annegret Marten</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7122-8713">0000-0001-7122-8713</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Karel+J%2E+Leyva%22">Karel J. Leyva</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8637-5601">0000-0001-8637-5601</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22British+Journal+of+Sociology+of+Education%22"><i>British Journal of Sociology of Education</i></searchLink>. 2026 47(3):402-422.
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  Data: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
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  Data: 21
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Comparative+Education%22">Comparative Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Religious+Education%22">Religious Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Role+of+Religion%22">Role of Religion</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Christianity%22">Christianity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Change%22">Educational Change</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Diversity%22">Diversity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cultural+Pluralism%22">Cultural Pluralism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22World+Views%22">World Views</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ethics%22">Ethics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Citizenship%22">Citizenship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Multicultural+Education%22">Multicultural Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Civics%22">Civics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Values%22">Values</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Brazil%22">Brazil</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Canada%22">Canada</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+Kingdom+%28England%29%22">United Kingdom (England)</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
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  Data: 10.1080/01425692.2025.2509960
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  Data: 0142-5692<br />1465-3346
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: This article examines the evolving role of religion in public, state-funded schools in Brazil, England, and Canada--three countries where Christianity has historically dominated. It focuses on how religious education (RE) addresses growing diversity. After outlining the historical state-religion relationships shaping contemporary policies, the study draws on new data to analyse how each country's educational system responds to religious and secular pluralism. We identify different national strategies, including incorporating a broader range of religious traditions, emphasising non-religious worldviews, or shifting RE towards ethics, citizenship, and cultural education. These variations are explained by historical trajectories, stakeholder competition, and policy concerns over citizenship, national identity, and social cohesion. Theoretically, the article highlights how RE reflects broader tensions in liberal democracies between fostering civic values, embracing pluralism, and promoting individual autonomy. Finally, it provides a case study of secularisation in RE, illustrating competing educational and political priorities in diverse societies.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1502730
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1502730
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        Value: 10.1080/01425692.2025.2509960
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 21
        StartPage: 402
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Comparative Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Religious Education
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      – SubjectFull: Role of Religion
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      – SubjectFull: Christianity
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      – SubjectFull: Cultural Pluralism
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      – SubjectFull: World Views
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      – SubjectFull: Brazil
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      – SubjectFull: Canada
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      – SubjectFull: United Kingdom (England)
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