Secularization as National Heritage? Empirical Research on Religious Education in Eastern Germany

Abstract

This chapter presents the results of three comprehensive empirical research projects that have been conducted in the Faculty of Religious Education at the University of Jena. These investigations reflect diverse viewpoints: the first project explores the differences between baptized and unbaptized students who attend Protestant Religious Education at state schools in Thuringia, the second project focuses on non-religious students and teachers at faith schools in Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt and the third project reflects upon the religious socialisation and religiosity of university students of Protestant theology in both Eastern and Western Germany. As these research projects offer an insight into the unique relationship between religious identity and national heritage in the territory of the former GDR, they contribute to the process of coming to terms with the political and ideological past. Keywords:Eastern Germany; national heritage; religious education; secularization