Human rights education as a framework for transmitting religion as cultural heritage

The child’s right to freedom of religion and belief and fundamental principles such as equality and non-discrimination constitute an international frame for religion education (RE). However, these rights might be challenged when RE is allocated a major role in transmitting majority religion as national cultural heritage and national identity. This article will explore and discuss these issues based on an analysis of the transmission of Christianity as cultural heritage in the national curriculum for RE in primary and lower secondary schools in Denmark. The article argues that principles from human rights education could provide a basis for a more pluralistic, objective, and critical approach to RE, thus enabling the classroom to function as a community of disagreement.