MODERATE SECULARISM - CONSTRUCTING A LANGUAGE OF POSSIBILITY FOR RELIGION IN PUBLIC-EDUCATION

People often resist that which they fear or misunderstand. When this r esistance precludes the reflection and compromise needed to promote so cietal well-being, it becomes a legitimate focus of social education. Nowhere has the fear been greater or the resistance more rigid than in the debate over religion in public education. This article examines t he current status of religion in education and considers the implicati ons for policy making and practice. A brief history of religion in edu cation and two recent cases challenging educational policy are used to frame the discussion. The article concludes with a proposal for a ''m oderate secularism,'' an alternative approach to policy and practice b ased on a language of possibility for addressing religion in public ed ucation.