Powerful Knowledge in Religious Education: Exploring Paths to a Knowledge-based Education on Religions

This book unites and explores different approaches to understand and develop knowledge-based religious education. While the importance of methodological issues in RE is understood and acknowledged, the editors and contributors interrogate what kind of knowledge should be explored, how this knowledge is defined and what the consequences would be. Subsequently, the book focuses on the concept of powerful knowledge which transcends students' everyday experiences, and how it can be incorporated into the RE curriculum. Drawing together international research from RE teaching and learning, the book explores various paths to integrate a truly knowledge-based religious education. The book will appeal to students and scholars of religious education, sociology of education and the philosophy of religion.

Olof Franck is Professor of Subject Matter of Education in the Department of Pedagogical, Curricular and Professional Studies at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

Peder Thalén is a professor at the University of Gävle, Sweden.