ABSTRACT
This chapter intentionally brings a German perspective to bear on proposals to reconfigure religions as worldviews and shift the focus of religious education from religions to worldviews. Two main critical questions are raised, the first concerns the concept of worldviews, the second concerns the relationship between the state and religion. The concept of worldview or worldviews goes back to the German Weltanschauung, which was originally used as a philosophical concept but later has come to stand for politically motivated forms of indoctrination. The second question refers to the relationship between religion and the state. In Western history, this relationship has been highly sensitive and very controversial. Among other things, freedom of religion is one of the foremost human rights, which explains why it must also be carefully considered and protected in the context of state-organised schooling. At least in certain ways, religious education can be viewed as a test case for the freedom of religion. How can religious education be institutionalised such that it is in line with – and even more, truly supporting – freedom of religion? What would a turn to worldview education mean in this respect?
