Non-Confessional RE in Denmark and Rights to Exemption: A Study-of Religions cum Human Rights Perspective

Abstract

Danish elementary school Religious Education (RE) dates back to the beginning of the Danish public schools in 1814 and remained confessional until 1975. In 1937, an option for exemption for teachers and pupils was introduced. However, the non-confessionalisation of the school subject did not indicate that the exemption was removed. At present, pupils (excluding teachers) may still be exempted. In this study, the authors examine the current situation of the subject, the exemption rules, and related human rights aspects. We analyse the contents and aims of RE, the exemption regulations and the related political, public and educational debates on the option for exemption. The analyses and discussions cover a few key non-Danish and Danish articles and discussions from a human rights and an educational perspective of RE and human rights in Europe. The articles are particularly related to the freedom of religion or belief and include discussions on the requirements for RE to be compulsory and thus have no ‘opt-out’ option for pupils and parents.

Reduction without Reductionism

“…7 Rethinking the relations between ASR and RE inevitably raises questions about how we can represent religion(s) educationally, questions that go beyond what is sometimes (somewhat problematically 8 ) called didactics of RE. The educational representation of religion(s) in schools is made complex by the ongoing tension between the aspiration to be 6 ASR refers to the 'Academic Study of Religion(s)' (Jensen 2016). 7 The question of whether the school subject of RE aligns with one or more academic discipline is complicated.…”