RELIGIOUS EDUCATION DURING THE FIRST CYCLE OF PRIMARY EDUCATION IN SERBIA

Religious education as part of the modern society in Serbia is a subject of numerous interdisciplinary scientific studies. Modern education systems in countries where major socio-economic and political changes take place are undergoing major transformations and reforms. Their goal is to make changes to the education process and integrate it into the developmental trends of society, as well as to succeed in the affirmation of cultural and national values. Therefore, the relationship between religion and education, as a form of human consciousness and the need for a successful and fulfilled life in a given society, is very important. Transition processes in Europe have actualized the issue of religion and religious education as an integral part of the teaching process, and have contributed to a more intensive study of these topics. Christianity is the predominant religion in Serbia, or Orthodoxy, to be more accurate. However, there are other religious communities as well, such as: Islamic, Roman Catholic, Jewish, Protestant, etc. In primary and secondary schools in Serbia, religious education is being taught as an optional subject (students are given a choice between civic education and religious education), which is assessed descriptively and not included in the final grade. During the first cycle of primary education, subjects that teach about a particular religion are the following: Orthodox catechism (religious education), Islamic religious education, Catholic religious education, Evangelical Lutheran religious education of the Slovak Evangelical Church, Religious Education of the Christian Reformed Church, Jewish religious education. In addition to religious education, subjects containing religious topics are also: Serbian language, Nature and Society, Music Education, Visual Arts, Folk Tradition. The correlation and the link among the above-mentioned objects will make religious education more meaningful and more interesting for children. The main goal of teaching religion as an integral part of school subjects during the first cycle of primary education in Serbia is the preservation of religion. Religion is a very old social phenomenon which has not lost its significance and topicality to this day; on the contrary, it is becoming more and more present in people’s lives, and it represents a system of ideas, beliefs and practices, a specific type of behavior towards the world, society, man, nature. As such, it is equally significant as art, science, philosophy, etc. Besides the preservation of religion, another goal of religious education is to familiarize children with a certain religion, to teach them the basic characteristics of that religion, to teach them prayers, the significance of liturgy, and the customs of the religion children are learning about. It is important to emphasize that religious teaching should be in a form of an open and tolerant dialogue, while respecting other people’s religious beliefs, in order for it to be meaningful and worthwhile.