Transforming Faith-based Education in the Church of Norway: Mediation of Religious Traditions and Practices in Digital Environments

The mediated life-world of children and youth in contemporary, mediarich societies raises challenges for Christian education. The specific ‘digital environments’ of communication and social interaction with digital devices on digital networks make a critical context as well as new opportunities for religious education. In 2003 the parliament in Norway decided upon a reform of religious education outside the schools. The Christian churches, other religious communities and organised humanists were invited to make their own training programmes, to be funded by the government. In the white book to the parliament the government stated that use of digital technology and the Internet would be ‘a natural part’ of the new faith-based education reform in the country. Digital environments challenge and transform the faith-based education. However, this new programme itself transforms religious education in Norway.