When worldviews become political: politicised Christianity and the limits of pluralism in religious education

This article examines a tension at the heart of contemporary RE in England. The shift towards a religion and worldviews approach has been widely welcomed for its emphasis on plurality, dialogue, and epistemic openness. However, these commitments are not universally shared. In classrooms where beliefs are experienced as authoritative, non-negotiable, and closely tied to political and cultural identity, the assumptions underpinning this framework are placed under strain. Drawing on interdisciplinary literature on religion, nationalism, and ideology, the article conceptualises ‘politicised Christianity’ as a configuration in which religious belief becomes intertwined with political identity, moral order, and cultural authority. It argues that such configurations challenge the framing of RE as a neutral or purely dialogical space. These tensions are analysed through their implications for classroom practice, including the negotiation of knowledge and truth, student voice, teacher positioning, dialogue, and epistemic justice, as well as for teacher education. The article contributes to debates on the purpose of RE by identifying a limitation within the worldviews framework and arguing for a more critical engagement with the intersections of religion, politics, and identity in plural educational contexts.