Der Religionsunterricht an berufsbildenden Schulen im Horizont entschiedener Indifferenz

Abstract

RE in vocational schools in Germany is considered as a model which enables youths and young adults to participate in a denominational religious education for one hour a week. This denominational model is offered for students and trainees of all beliefs. Therefore many students of other beliefs participate as guests. Learning groups in this model are highly heterogeneous. Both in their religious backgrounds and their performance – this also varies according to their level of education. The essay suggests to deal with this situation in the context of “focused indifference“. In this case the term “focused“ means that teachers represent authentic views through their denomination and their religious standpoints. However, teachers should also be able to be “indifferent“ at the same time – “indifferent“ (in the sense of Ignatius von Loyola) means that teachers are open and unbiased concerning religious attitudes, statements and practices of students and trainees.