The inclusion of religion(s) in school curricula has traditionally been centered in denominational religious education. Consequently, religious pedagogy, in addressing religion in schools, has largely focused on the didactics of denominational religious education. However, with the introduction of ethics as an alternative subject, there has been an increased engagement with how religion is addressed within ethics classes. This includes considerations related to religious studies (Alberts et al. 2023, Feichtinger 2023) and philosophy didactics (Reuter 2014, Petermann 2022, Torkler/Tiedemann 2023).

Beyond this, religion, religions, and religious themes also are incorporated in other school subjects. For example, history classes often address the historical development and influence of churches and religions. Central works of music or visual art are also deeply intertwined with religious themes, making them part of music or art didactics. Philosophy classes engage with religion both historically and discursively, particularly through philosophy of religion and criticism of religion. Latin classes, too, may explore religious texts (Freund 2020), including not only classical works but also Bible translations and medieval Latin texts such as the Legenda Aurea or writings on Christian-Islamic encounters that remain surprisingly relevant today (Niedermayr 2020).

Religious issues also emerge in biology classes (e.g., the relationship between evolutionary theory and creationist beliefs or discussions on sexual ethics), psychology classes (e.g., criticism of religion), and political education. Students themselves may introduce these topics into discussions.

Focus of the Publication

This issue aims to explore questions and concepts of religion and its didactics beyond denominational religious education. It seeks to examine how the topic of religion(s) becomes the subject of subject-specific analyses and concepts. Cooperative contributions combining religious didactics with other subject didactics are explicitly welcomed.

Possible focal points include:

• Fundamental considerations about religion(s) as a topic in school education beyond denominational religious education
• Religion(s) in ethics classes from a perspective of religious-studies
• Considerations for a subject on religious studies/religions
• Philosophy of religion and criticism of religion in ethics and/or philosophy classes
• Religion in history didactics, such as Christianity in the Roman Empire, early Muslim conquests, the role of the Church in the Middle Ages, Reformation, colonialism, or contemporary issues
• Biology didactics in addressing religious influences among students (e.g., evolutionary vs. creationist beliefs, sexual education)
• Didactic approaches to religious texts in Latin classes, including their relevance for contemporary issues
• Representation of religion and religious concepts in music or art classes
• Religion and religiosity as topics in psychology classes

Contributions may address either theoretical concepts and considerations, gaps in current knowledge, or concrete teaching examples, including reflections and evaluations of those examples. Submissions focusing on professionalization concepts related to "Religion in schools beyond denominational religious education" or that connect to general didactic questions are also welcome.

We warmly invite contributions to this topic for the upcoming issue of ÖRF, set to be published in spring 2026.

Submission Guidelines

Please send proposals (abstracts) for contributions to the issue, as well as additional scholarly texts (for publication under "other scientific contributions"), to the following email: oerf.redaktion@uni-graz.at. Following a preliminary review, we will provide feedback. Once positively evaluated, you may upload your completed contribution directly to our website to initiate the peer review process: http://oerf-journal.eu/.

We also encourage submissions of recent publications for review and brief descriptions of outstanding academic works in religious pedagogy (master's theses, dissertations, etc.).

All submission details and formatting guidelines can be found on our website: http://oerf-journal.eu/.

Please strictly adhere to the manuscript guidelines.

Editors Responsible for the Content of This Issue

Univ.-Doz. DDr. Christian Feichtinger, University of Graz

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Weirer, University of Graz

 

Timeline

Submission of proposals: October 17, 2025

Submission of full contributions for peer review: January 15, 2026

Submission of reviews and qualifying works: February 16, 2026

Publication date: Spring 2026