Religious belonging in multicultural schools: freedom of expression and citizenship values

By focusing on the basic concepts of religious freedom and citizenship, the Chapter explores youth religious beliefs, spirituality and atheism in a context of “weak secularization” and illustrates how the school can be deemed a public space to test religious plurality. The latter represents a deep challenge to the school, intended as a secular and open place. Religious plurality produces opposite reactions, from neutralization of religion to the promotion of its cultural dimensions. Finally, interreligious and intercultural dialogue are proposed as a training ground for democratic citizenship: issues that were thought to have been secularized –finding a peaceful solution in the differentiation of private, civil and religious spheres– come back in the school debate (e.g.: how protecting the right to freedom of expression, which are the boundary of parental authority over children’s education).