Abstract:
This paper reflects on the processes currently being undertaken in researching the past 25 years of religious education in Australia. It explores the contexts, both educational and social, in which the various arguments about the nature and purpose of religious education have been presented. It examines these contexts as a source of content as well as the framework for the various discussions. It argues that the changes in religious education reflect the various social, cultural and religious forces impacting on the educators and the students as well as various theological and educational developments. It presents the importance of researching the human dimensions of oral history as well as the curriculum and theoretical documents of any period of education if a true picture is to emerge which can inform and effect decision making for the future.