Slipping backwards? State and status of contemporary Scottish religious education (Part 1)

This article examines the state (public esteem) and status (extent of provision) of secondary Religious Education (RE) in contemporary Scotland. In particular, what is reported here are problems related to people's stereotyped perceptions of RE; inadequate provision in schools; ambivalence about its efficacy as a school subject. It concludes that there is need for greater awareness of the problems in contemporary Scottish RE so that appropriate ways can be found to ameliorate the state and status of the subject.