Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book not only presents a Christian perspective on the contributions of religions to the common good but shows what can be learnt from the Christian public theology discourse so far, namely that religious contributions to society are highly controversial, contested and partly problematic. It focuses on the public role of Islamic education in Europe in the tension between an opportunity for equal rights and a way to control Islam. The book points out the advantages of dealing with interreligious learning in a confessional model of religious education that aims at tolerance and interreligious dialogue from a theological basis. It explores the contribution of public religious education to promoting peace in the Israeli context. The book presents an instructive overview of important statements and activities of interreligious non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on international, national and regional levels.