{"title":"‘We don’t have blasphemy laws in England.’ What does this mean for RE?","authors":"","doi":"10.1007/s40839-024-00224-5","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<h3>Abstract</h3> <p>The protection and regulation of religious expression present complex challenges. Blasphemy laws, which criminalize acts deemed disrespectful to religious beliefs, have been abolished in England, allowing for broader freedom of expression. However, concerns and discussions about blasphemy persist. The Home Secretary, Suella Braverman (2023), has emphasized that there are no blasphemy laws in Great Britain and no obligation to show reverence towards any religion. Religious Education (RE) plays a crucial role in fostering understanding and tolerance of diverse religious traditions. It provides students with opportunities to develop critical thinking skills and engage in meaningful dialogue. However, certain aspects of critical thinking within RE may be perceived as provocative or blasphemous. This paper explores the ongoing debate on blasphemy laws in England, considering the evolving religious landscape and its implications for the teaching of RE. It aims to shed light on the complex dimensions of this discourse.</p>","PeriodicalId":30871,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Religious Education","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1000,"publicationDate":"2024-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Religious Education","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40839-024-00224-5","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"0","JCRName":"RELIGION","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The protection and regulation of religious expression present complex challenges. Blasphemy laws, which criminalize acts deemed disrespectful to religious beliefs, have been abolished in England, allowing for broader freedom of expression. However, concerns and discussions about blasphemy persist. The Home Secretary, Suella Braverman (2023), has emphasized that there are no blasphemy laws in Great Britain and no obligation to show reverence towards any religion. Religious Education (RE) plays a crucial role in fostering understanding and tolerance of diverse religious traditions. It provides students with opportunities to develop critical thinking skills and engage in meaningful dialogue. However, certain aspects of critical thinking within RE may be perceived as provocative or blasphemous. This paper explores the ongoing debate on blasphemy laws in England, considering the evolving religious landscape and its implications for the teaching of RE. It aims to shed light on the complex dimensions of this discourse.
期刊介绍：
Journal of Religious Education is a refereed publication for the academic exploration of the task of religious education in modern society. The journal helps disseminate original writings and research in religious education and catechesis - particularly as it relates to the faith formation of children and young people. Articles for publication on religious education in various contexts and on related areas, as well as book reviews are welcome.
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