Religious Education and Individual Autonomy: Philosophical Perspective

Abstract

Education, which is one of the first and most basic fields of activity of human beings, has gained a scientific, philosophical and systematic quality when it comes to modern times, as the transfer of knowledge, experience and value. Man wanted to transfer his own experience and knowledge to future generations in a way that would benefit them. With this education, new generations will be able to hold on to life more tightly and adapt better, adapt to the social and physical environment in the best way, and feel the meaning and value of being human on earth more deeply. One of these forms of education is religious education. As Ibn Khaldun and Giambattista Vico pointed out in the context of civilization and social sciences theory, man was personally trained by God as a divine grace, and the rules and criteria of living together were given to him. Accordingly, God is humanity’s first and most essential trainer. In this article, religious education will be discussed in two ways: (1) “education of religious creeds” and (2) “religious culture education”. The education of religious creeds is given around the belief principles of a particular religion, in order to gain the content of that religion. Religious culture education, on the other hand, will be an education that deals with the nature of religion and belief in a philosophical and scientific framework. A course related to this education can be taught as an elective or compulsory course, like other culture courses, as a course that sheds light on the spiritual evolution of man on earth. It would be meaningful to leave the education of religious creeds to the preference of the individual (student and his/her family) as a course that teaches the beliefs and life principles of a particular religion. This will also be in line with the understanding of tolerance and respect for human will, which is the basis of religions. However, religious education as a whole is a lesson that encompasses almost the whole of human life, with dimensions too wide to be limited to the one-hour period to be given in official institutions of the state. This education starts in the family at a very young age and continues for a lifetime.