Human rights and religion in the English secondary RE curriculum

Abstract

The relationship between religion and human rights is an ambiguous and complex one, but there are academic, moral and political arguments for the inclusion of human rights in religious education (RE). The Universal Declaration of Human Rights advocates education in human rights and the English school curriculum aims to encourage a commitment to human rights. This article examines the arguments for the inclusion of human rights in RE. It explores whether English secondary RE curricula encourage the study of human rights and the link with religion. This is perceived through a post secular context, one which is marked by the continuing presence of religion in the modern world. The article suggests that there are compelling arguments for the inclusion of human rights in RE, but identifies a questionable variability among local agreed syllabi and GCSE specifications which makes RE an inconsistent ally for the national and international human rights education movement.