Representation of Religious Minorities in Lithuanian Confessional Education

Abstract

This article analyzes the situation of religious minorities in a Christian dominated sociopolitical environment in Lithuania through the confessional religious education (RE) system. Representation of religious minorities based on confessional model thus raises questions on majority and minority religions’ coexistence, whilst the latter neither legally, nor normatively experience such linkage with the State as majorified religion does. The empirical part of the study, based on content analysis of curricula and teaching aids, reveals that although tolerance of other religions is mentioned, there is also a visible hegemony of the Roman Catholic Church, and of Christianity in general. Non-traditional religious communities that are not recognized by the state are considered as belonging to the new religious movements, which are often associated with the words “dangerous,” “destructive,” etc. Thus, the study reveals legislation shortcomings of RE, dominance of the majority religion, Christian and Catholic normativity both within society as well as the curriculum and teaching aids, and close Church-State relations.