Greek Orthodoxy and Religious Education: ‘Worldly’ Themes and Consideration of Other Religions

Abstract

The first part of this article discusses the character of religious education before the military dictatorship (1967‐74). This is contrasted with developments since 1981 when the socialist government came into office. During the former period there was a strong emphasis on the differences between the spiritual and the material. There was little treatment of social and personal issues and scant regard was paid to other religions, Islam being particularly badly treated. In more recent syllabuses and textbooks the involvement of the Church in social and political issues is to be studied, and world religions are treated in a more detailed and objective manner. This trend towards greater realism and relevance is, however, not yet making much impact on the primary schools.