This book addresses the question of human rights education in a world that is witnessing a resurgence of religion in public life, and a continuation of religion across much of the globe, long after secularization theories predicted its decline. Promoting a universal vision of human rights while acknowledging religious diversity is a challenge for schools. This book starts with the basic premise that human rights are grounded in a belief in the dignity and ultimate worth of the human person. Drawing on key philosophical and theological sources for understanding dignity, it builds a vision of human rights and religious education that seeks to square the impossible circle of universal human rights education in a religiously diverse world.

Bob Bowie is Principal Lecturer in Education at Canterbury Christ Church University. He is a National Teaching Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Chair of the Association of University Lecturers in Religion and Education. He teaches education and ethics, religion and human rights, and carries out research in religious, Christian and human rights education.

CONTENTS: Human rights education and religion – Post-secular human rights education – Human rights in the English curriculum – The primacy of dignity – Cicero – Christianity – Kant – Dignity in human rights education – Exclusive and inclusive approaches to dignity – Recontextualizing human rights education