Table of Contents

1 Introduction

Manfred L. Pirner

Part A. Public Theology from Diverse Religious and Non-religious Perspectives

2 Contributions of Religions to the Common Good in Pluralistic Societies from a Christian Perspective? Some Critical Remarks

Dirk J. Smit

3 The Contribution of Religions to the Common Good in Pluralistic Societies: A Jewish Perspective, Exemplified by the Concept of Tikkun Olam

Sabrina Worch

4 The Contribution of Religions to the Common Good in Pluralistic Societies: An Islamic Perspective

Abdullah Sahin

5 Islamic Contributions to the Universal Conception of the Common Good in Multi-confessional Societies: Hermeneutical Foundations

Mohammed Nekroumi

6 Towards Enlightenment: Buddhism’s Contribution to Common Good through Establishing Contemplative Culture

Heesoon Bai

7 The Contributions of Religions to the Common Good: Philosophical Perspectives

Manfred L. Pirner

8 Contributions of Religions to the Common Good in a Pluralistic Society: an Empirical Answer from a Sociological Perspective

Gert Pickel & Annette Schnabel

9 Monotheism – Curse or Blessing?

Jan Assmann

Part B. The Challenge of Interreligious Dialogue and Learning

10 Public Theology and Interreligious Dialogue.

Heinrich Bedford-Strohm

11 Public Theology or Religious Studies? Deliberations on the Basis of Multifaith Religious Education

L. Philip Barnes

12 Public Religious Pedagogy and Interreligious Learning

Bernd Schröder

13 The Public Church and Public Religious Education as Forms of ‘Protestant Presence’ – Confessional and Interreligious Perspectives

Thomas Schlag

14 Islamic Education in Europe: An Opportunity for Equal Rights or a Way to Control Islam?

Jenny Berglund

15 The Contribution of Public Religious Education to Promoting Peace: Perspectives from Israel

Zehavit Gross

16 The Contribution of Interreligious NGOs and Interfaith Initiatives to Public Education

Johannes Lähnemann

17 The Spirituality of Mindfulness – a Religious Contribution to Public Education

Werner Haussmann

About the Author

Manfred L. Pirner is Professor, Holder of the Chair of Religious Education, and Director of the Research Unit for Public Religion and Education (RUPRE) at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany.





Johannes Lähnemann is emeritus Professor of Religious Education at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany, and Chairman of the Peace Education Standing Commission of Religions for Peace (RfP).





Werner Haussmann is senior lecturer at the Chair of Religious Education at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany, and Deputy-Director of the Research Unit for Public Religion and Education (RUPRE).





Susanne Schwarz is senior researcher at the Chair of Religious Education at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany, and Coordinator of the Research Unit for Public Religion and Education (RUPRE).