The Theme of Social Cohesion in Religious Education Policies and Practices: An Analysis of England, Japan, and Italy

Since 9/11, religious education (RE) has gained increased importance, particularly in European and American regions, though not exclusively. RE has been assigned a broader role in promoting social cohesion, especially in the context of intercultural and citizenship education. International organizations have actively contributed to this discourse through policy papers, research, and guidelines. This article, adopting a critical RE research perspective grounded in the academic study of religions, examines how the concept of social cohesion is addressed, thematized, and implemented in official documents, educational resources, and scholarly debates across three distinct RE contexts. The study pays special attention to how these processes impact the representations of religions.