Publication details

World religions paradigm, legal system and education. The case of the Czech Republic

Authors

HAVLÍČEK Jakub

Year of publication 2018
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source JOURNAL OF BELIEFS & VALUES-STUDIES IN RELIGION & EDUCATION
Citation
Web https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13617672.2018.1433920
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13617672.2018.1433920
Keywords Religions, education, schooling, Czech Republic, World Religions Paradigm, world religions, WRP, legislation
Description The article deals with the concept of religion in the laws which regulate access of religious organisations to public education in the Czech Republic. The analysis of the laws reveals that the World Religions Paradigm (WRP) is applied here. Religious organisations representing ‘important world religions’ have a privileged position in accessing public education. Mostly Christianity-based churches have access to public education through the legal notion of ‘special rights’ granted by the state. The article provides a concise review of the key points of criticism of the WRP. The paradigm is criticised as ethnocentric, inherently theological, developed with colonialism, undefinable in practice, highly abstract, essentialist and ahistorical. Its historical development is related to the process of reification as defined by W.C. Smith. The concluding part relates the criticism of the WRP to the concept of religion in the laws regulating the access of religious organisations to public education in the Czech Republic. The application of the WRP leads to restrictions of religious pluralism.

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