Dialogic-Denominational Religious Education | Dialogisch-konfessioneller Religionsunterricht (dk:RU)

Encountering different denominations in everyday school life

Initiators
Five Christian churches agreed to cooperate for the pilot project „Dialogisch-konfessioneller Religionsunterricht“ (=dk:RU) (Dialogic-Denominational Religious Education):

  • Catholic Church
  • Lutheran Church (A.B. and H.B.)
  • Greek Oriental Church
  • Old Catholic Church
  • The Free Churches

Occasion
In many European countries, encounter and engagement with religions and religious diversity are an integral part of general education. Knowledge of one's own religion as well as experiences with other religions, cultures and world views require awareness of and learning along differences. At the same time, they call for interdenominational and interreligious dialogues, which ground in respectful and appreciative interaction with one another.

Within the concept of dialogic-denominational religious education, diversity is understood as a resource and a chance to reinforce (religious) identity by reciprocal adoption of different perspectives.

Target Groups
The five Christian churches cooperating in the model project are: the Catholic Church, the Protestant Churches Augsburg Confession (A. B.) and Helvetic Confession (H. B.), the Greek Oriental Church, the Old Catholic Church and the Free Churches.

Pilot trials are currently conducted in the Archdiocese of Vienna, Diocese of Eisenstadt, Diocese of St. Pölten, Diocese of Gurk-Klagenfurt and in the Diocese of Innsbruck.

The program is primarily directed at teachers, students and parents.

Objectives
Objectives include the promotion of dialogue and plurality competences at societal level and, on an individual level, of the ability to empathize and of religious (Christian confessional) identity. On a structural level, denominational religious education is to be maintained. Dialogues on religious and ideological issues are central, especially at schools with a high degree of religious plurality. Further goals of the project are to "render visible the openness of the Christian churches for each other" and to enable authentic opportunities for encounters with other denominations.

A deepening of one´s own faith is to be achieved through cooperation of the denominations.

Topics

  • diversity
  • practicing dialogue in religious and ideological contexts
  • the openness of Christian churches

Duration
dk:RU has existed as a pilot project since 2015. In the autumn of 2015, the project was introduced in 17 schools: Elementary schools, professional schools, Catholic private schools (KPS), two high schools, one vocational middle school (BMS) and one commercial academy (HAK). By the school year 2021/22, more than 50 schools had already participated in the project.

Activities
In terms of implementing the dk:RU several models are available:

1. Teamteaching:
Here, the idea of “the dialogical“ finds its practical realization as several teachers conduct the lessons as a team.

2. The model of delegation:
A single teacher of religious education instructs all students. An authentic encounter with the church tradition the teacher is not part of, should, however, be ensured.

Form of Organization
All matters concerning the dk:RU are discussed and decided upon by a steering committee consisting of representatives of the five participating churches in regularly held conferences.

The project operates within the framework of the school contract or the Religious Education Act, respectively. Religious education in accordance with the respective denominations is thus maintained and is in no way called into question.

The project is accompanied and evaluated by the Faculty of Catholic Theology of the University of Vienna, the Faculty of Protestant Theology of the University of Vienna and the University College of Teacher Education (KPH) Wien/Krems.

Funding
Funding of denominational religious education in schools is regulated by the Religious Education Act, Federal Law of July 13, 1949, Federal Law Gazette (BGBl) No. 190 pertaining to religious education in schools.

Products

  • Results of the accompanying research in publications of the KPH Wien/Krems
  • Info brochure dk:RU
  • Symposium Okt 2021
  • Theses on the dk:RU of the Catholic-Theological Faculty (synopsis of the curricula):
    • Mathias Steiner: Dialogisch-konfessioneller Religionsunterricht in der Volksschule. Eine Lehrplansynopse und ein Praxismodul zum Thema Schöpfung (working title)
    • Katrin Zahradnik: Dialogisch-konfessioneller Religionsunterricht in der Sekundarstufe I. Eine Lehrplansynopse und ein Praxismodul zum Thema Maria (working title)
    • Florian Mayrhofer: Dialogisch-konfessioneller Religionsunterricht an Berufsbildenden Höheren Schulen Eine Lehrplansynopse und ein Praxismodul zum Thema Taufe (working title)
  • Interviews with religious education teachers in the dk:RU (Protestant-Theological Faculty)

Website | Social Media | Contact
Schulamt (Catholic Board of Education): https://www.schulamt.at/ueber-uns/
The concept: https://www.schulamt.at/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Das-Konzept-von-dkRU.pdf

 

editor: as / update: ts / jk 2022