The Role of Religious Education in the Face of the Growth of Religious Intolerance in Brazil

Abstract

In this article, the main objective is to analyze the role of Religious Education in the face of the growth of religious intolerance. Being a predominantly Christian country, and knowing that teachers can impose their own points of view in the classroom, the research question asks: how can we prevent this from resulting in proselytizing Religious Education? As a hypothesis, this article argues that the solution lies in better training of Religious Education teachers, who should be based on the Sciences of Religion, ensuring non-confessional teaching. Among the justifications, there is the need to adapt Elementary Education, putting it at the service of a democratic society, free from prejudice and accepting diversity. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that Religious Education remains free from proselytism, integrating itself into the fight against religious intolerance—especially concerning African-based religions. Regarding the methodological procedures, bibliographic and documentary research is highlighted, through which the main concepts and prevailing philosophical principles guiding Brazilian education were sought, as well as legal instruments that assist in combating religious intolerance in Brazil.