Equipping Educators to Teach Religious Literacy: Lessons from a Teacher Education Program in the American South (Routledge Research in Religion and Education)

"This volume provides a detailed evaluation of a unique education program implemented in secondary schools in Georgia to enhance teachers' religious literacy and their ability to promote this in schools and classrooms. The text demonstrates that religious literacy can be proactively taught to students, whilst also highlighting key considerations and tensions around religious liberty in the American South. Spanning rural, urban, and suburban Georgia, the text presents an original approach to the growing field of religious literacy by foregrounding community voices and perspectives. Using rich empirical data and qualitative interviews with religious and political leaders, scholars, teachers, parents, and students, the book evaluates the challenges, efficacy, and benefits of the program in view of rising political polarization. In doing so, the text tackles historical and contemporary issues around race and religion, and considers tensions between religious and non-religious groups in the US. Ultimately, the book presents a significant contribution to the dialogue around fostering religious literacy in schools. This text will benefit researchers, academics, and educators with an interest in religious education, teacher education, and religious literacy more broadly. Those interested in the sociology of education, as well as diversity and religion in America, will also benefit from this volume. Emile Lester is Professor in the Department of Political Science and International Affairs, University of Mary Washington, USA. W. Y. Alice Chan completed her PhD at McGill University, Montreal, Canada. She is Executive Director and co-founder of the Centre for Civic Religious Literacy (CCRL), Canada"-- Provided by publisher. This volume provides a detailed evaluation of a unique education program implemented in secondary schools in Georgia to enhance teachers’ religious literacy and their ability to promote this in schools and classrooms. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Series Page 3 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 List of Figures 10 List of Tables 11 Series Editor Foreword 12 About the Authors 16 Acknowledgments 17 1. A Changing Context: The Challenges of Religious Diversity in Georgia 20 2. Theoretical Perspectives on Religious Literacy and Religious Liberty 31 3. The Georgia 3Rs Program 43 4. Conducting Qualitative Research in Urban, Rural, and Suburban Communities 51 5. Religion and the 3Rs: Navigating Conservative, Non-Religious, and Non-Christian Religions 65 6. Race and the 3Rs: Engaging with Majority-Minority Populations 80 7. Success in the Suburbs: Gwinnett, Fayette, and Cobb Counties 88 8. Can Rural Be a Fourth R? The 3Rs in Bleckley County 107 9. Alternate Forms of Education: Exploring Beyond Traditional Education Settings 120 10. Outcomes and Implications for the United States 135 11. International Implications 145 Index 158 Religious,literacy;,Religious,liberty;,Religious,freedom;,Religious,worldviews;,Religious,diversity;,Religious-bias;,Religious,identities;,Religious,difference;,Religious,recognition;,Sociology,of,religion;,Secularism;,Social-ecological,framework;,Georgia,3Rs;,Rights;,Responsibility;,and,Respect;,Religious,Freedom,Center;,RFC;,Freedom,Forum,Institute;,Georgia;,American,South;,American,Bible,Belt Religious literacy,Religious liberty,Religious freedom,Religious worldviews,Religious diversity,Religious-bias,Religious identities,Religious difference,Religious recognition,Sociology of religion,Secularism,Social-ecological framework,Georgia 3Rs,Rights,Responsibility,and Respect,Religious Freedom Center,RFC,Freedom Forum Institute,Georgia,American South,American Bible Belt