REVIEW ARTICLE Religion, Politics and Civic Education

The proper role and influence of religion in the public sphere continues to be contested and has important implications for civic education in a liberal democracy. Paul Weithman and Michael Perry argue that religion makes valuable contributions to civic participation and that religiously grounded beliefs should be fully welcome in political decision-making. In response, this paper strives for a middle ground of preparing citizens to engage thoughtfully with a wide range of moral perspectives, religious and otherwise, while promoting a civic virtue that still honours a commitment to public reason. To what extent, and in what ways, should religious conviction inform the exercise of political power? While the predominant theoretical response to this question advocates strong limits on the role of religion in political decision-making, some thoughtful voices continue to disagree. Two recent expressions of dissent are offered by Paul Weithman and Michael Perry. The implications of their arguments, though they do not completely succeed, are substantial and important for civic education. While addressed specifically to the civic and political context of the United States—especially the American tradition of separating church and state— these arguments have purchase in any liberal democratic society that grapples with how to incorporate religiously motivated citizens into the public sphere. Whether measured by the contents of civics standards, textbooks or standardised assessments, the relative inattention of school