The Politics of Religious Education in Spain 1939-2012

Authors

• Tarja Ehnqvist

Abstract

The object of my observation is Spanish religious education. I set as my aims of research the following questions: How and for which reasons has Spanish religious education changed since the times of Franco? What is the current Spanish religious education like in the light of international criteria and classifications? I take a scientific look at the articles of experts and the curriculum of religious studies. Catholic religion has become a voluntary subject, with scarce appreciation, and the number of pupils choosing it has decreased. Spain’s entrance to democracy, the new Constitution, the law about the freedom of religion, the treaty between the Vatican and Spain, secularism, multiculturalism and surprisingly vigorously also party politics have been factors explaining the change. The Spanish teaching of religion faces the challenge to reflect: if religion is considered as a central element of individual development, its place belongs to the curricular subjects, and a qualitative alternative to it should also be provided.