A Study on the Types and Prospects of Religious Education from the Perspective of Theology of Religions: Focusing on Knitter’s Mutuality Model

ABSTRACT

[Objective] This paper aims to explore a desirable form of religious education, focusing on Paul Knitter’s ‘Mutuality Model’ within theologies of religions. [Contents] To accomplish this purpose, the study evaluates the attitudes that religious educators should adopt towards other religions by examining Knitter’s four models: the Replacement Model, the Fulfillment Model, the Mutuality Model, and the Acceptance Model. These four models are then applied to analyze the three types of religious education: confessional religious education, religious education as religious studies, and education for religiousness. [Conclusions] Education for religiousness is well-suited to the Mutuality Model and is considered appropriate for the following reasons: 1) its goals align with both the Ministry of Education's curriculum and the mission of religiously-affiliated schools, 2) it can mitigate conflicts associated with traditional confessional religious education, and 3) by recognizing religiousness as a shared foundation among religions, it promotes interreligious dialogue, unity, and cooperation in the classroom.