The Disputes over the Concept of Education for Democratic Citizenship as a Challenge for Christian Education
Abstract
Education for democratic citizenship is one of the neglected areas in Christian and ethical education nowadays, which is partly caused by a historical competition between traditional (especially catholic) religious education and the state mandated 'common schools' in the 19th century. However, a 20th century American philosophical debate between 'liberals and communitarians' has also resulted in seeking appropriate concept of public (civic) education for democracy.
The paper presents eight typological models of education for democratic citizenship taking the degree of political unity and personal autonomy/cultural or religious plurality as its gauge. These models are used as a starting-point for refl ection on a revived relationship between liberal civic and open-minded Christian education that are a challenge to each other.