Knowing about religions is a foundation for all sorts of learning

Removing religious instruction from schools altogether makes no sense when so much culture and literature refers to world religions, argues Dr Peter Admirand

Although updates have been underway in RE as a Junior and Leaving Cert subject, such reform is of diminished value if schools don’t offer the subject or deem it less important than others. File picture

As traditional Catholic belonging continues to dim in Ireland — fuelled by Church scandals, growing religious diversity, and secularisation — some call for removing the teaching of religions from primary and post-primary schools in Ireland. 

As the numbers identifying as atheist or of no religion have dramatically increased, this call, on the surface, seems reasonable, especially if Christian identity becomes linked in some circles to corruptive ethno-nationalist stirrings.