Published: 2024-12-05

Religion lesson at school in Poland in post-war and contemporary times. Historical outline

Sławomir Kielczyk
Warszawskie Studia Pastoralne
Section: Artykuły
https://doi.org/10.21697/wsp.2022.4.02

Abstract

The aim of the article was to recall how religious education was treated in Polish schools after World War II, during the communist regime and after 1991.
Over the centuries, school religious education in Poland has undergone various transformations depending on the time and the ecclesial and socio- political situation of the country. Despite the difficult political situation, especially during the partitions, teaching the Catholic religion in Poland has always been included in the list of school subjects. The exception is the times after World War II. During the times of the Polish People’s Republic, teaching the Catholic religion was banned from Polish schools. The authorities treated religion instrumentally. When the authorities wanted to achieve specific political goals, religion found a place in schools, but when there was relative stabilization in the perception of the authorities, it was eliminated from Polish schools. This situation occurred several times between 1945 and 1990. This was done in an insidious way, in stages, and referred to selected schools. disregarding the will of parents, children and youth and the clergy, he banned religious education from Polish schools. The loyalty of religious teachers to the people’s authorities, or lack thereof, was also important. The above-mentioned content allows us to draw the thesis that today’s times, in the context of treating religion lessons at school, are reminiscent of post- war times. For now, the validity of teaching religion at school is being questioned using the small-step method.

Keywords:

religion, school teaching of religion, school, catechesis

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Citation rules

Kielczyk, S. (2024). Religion lesson at school in Poland in post-war and contemporary times. Historical outline. Warszawskie Studia Pastoralne, 58(4), 33–76. https://doi.org/10.21697/wsp.2022.4.02

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