Faith in Schools? Autonomy, Citizenship, and Religious Education in the Liberal State. By Ian MacMullen

摘要

In this tightly argued, well-organized book entitled Faith in Schools?nAutonomy, Citizenship, and Religious Education in the Liberal State, IannMacMullen explores the issue of state funding for religious schools in liberalnsecular democracies that are characterized by religious pluralism. The author, anpolitical theorist, argues in favor of public funding for religious schools of allnfaiths, provided these schools educate for autonomy or “the capacity forncritical-rational reflection about one’s ethical beliefs and values, includingnthose that are foundational, and the commitment to practice this reflection onnan ongoing basis” (23). The stipulation that autonomy be the governing prin-nciple of education policy enables MacMullen to draw a productive theoreticalndistinction between different types of religious schools and to examine thenstate’s role in educating its citizens, even as he sidesteps questions regardingnthe practical applicability of his ideas.