ABSTRACT
The assumption behind this title is that ‘ethical and moral debate’ must be open, wideranging and questioning and that Religious Education is incompatible with such an approach. The key issue in this assumption is, of course, what is meant by Religious Education. The question is less open than it might have been as it contrasts Religious Education with ‘ethical and moral debate’: the inclusion of the word ‘debate’ necessitates discussion and evaluation as part of the education process. If the question had been whether Religious Education and ethical and moral education was a contradiction, then the additional question would arise of what ethical and moral education involves as it need not involve debate. However the editors have restricted the discussion and so the focus of this chapter is on the possible tension between ethical and moral debate and Religious Education. Necessarily, much of this chapter will focus on the nature of Religious Education.
