Research Information System
Amasya İlahiyat Dergisi, vol.0, no.13, pp.323-355, 2019 (Peer-Reviewed Journal)
In France, where religion and state are strictly separated from each other with its
own sense of secularism, the education system is structured in line with this
understanding, and accordingly religion and beliefs are not included in the public
education system. Alsace-Moselle in France, however, is an exception. Although
located within the borders of France today, Alsace-Moselle differs, because of its
own specific political and religious history, from other regions of France in terms
of religious educational approaches and practices. In this study which data were
collected through a literature review, we have investigated the reasons for the
privilege in favor of religious education in the public schools of Alsace-Moselle,
the legal basis of religious education and teaching, the approaches or models of
religious education, and the status of members of various religion and beliefs,
particularly of Muslims, in terms of rights and freedoms in the context of religious
education. The article concludes that religious education in public schools is
confessional and compulsory in a way that includes the right to an exemption
under certain circumstances. General organization and financing of religious
education are being provided by the state. The privileges in religious education
are limited to the statutory cults (cultes statutaire), not included Islam and the
other religions and beliefs, due to the historical legacy of the region and the
existing legal rights and limitations.