State, religion and the education of the citizen

Abstract

The obstacles and conflicts between the State and religion and current perspectives on the developments of this relationship with the education of the citizen are analyzed. The paper investigates the foundation of the modern State and its influence on the formation of modern and contemporary societies. It also shows the impact of the separation between religion and State to discuss that the citizen’s education leads towards enlightenment. Further, democratic and republican knowledge of citizens goes through the “rules of public education” (Diderot, 2000, p. 268). In fact, the State should be responsible for education in a constant dialogue with the various segments of society, so that ‘the object of education and the extent of lessons should provide him with plurality’. The central idea is that there may be a space for religious issues within the secular state, but they must be guided by reason that enlightens the citizen and they must be an expression of subjectivity and human freedom. Relationships between the State, Religion and Citizen Education should also include reflections about social inequality and the impact of religion on the maintenance or transformation of unjust social structures.