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History and Philosophy of Religions in Orthodox Theological Schools

An Antidote to Religious Radicalization

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Religious Education

Part of the book series: Wiener Beiträge zur Islamforschung ((WSI))

Abstract

The main thesis of my book chapter is that History and Philosophy of Religions as an academic disciple in Romanian Orthodox theological schools plays an important role in de-radicalization and counter-radicalization. Starting from the premises that 1) there is a strong relation between exclusivism in the matter of salvation, fundamentalism, and radicalization in the Romanian context, 2) fundamentalism and radicalism can be influenced by religious education, and 3) both are reversible processes, the first section of my chapter investigates the specific forms in which fundamentalism and radicalism are manifest in Northeast Romania. The second section underscores the role that History and Philosophy of Religions can play in managing exclusivist stances toward salvation in non-Christian religions in order to prevent the radicalization of fundamentalism. By facilitating this role, students of Orthodox Theology, and, through them, as future clergymen and teachers of religion in public schools, Romanian society as a whole, will be better prepared to cope with religious pluralism.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Orthodox Theology, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, Iasi, Romania

    Constantin Iulian Damian

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  1. Constantin Iulian Damian
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Correspondence to Constantin Iulian Damian .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Universität Wien, Wien, Austria

    Ednan Aslan

  2. Lawrence, USA

    Margaret Rausch

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Damian, C.I. (2018). History and Philosophy of Religions in Orthodox Theological Schools. In: Aslan, E., Rausch, M. (eds) Religious Education. Wiener Beiträge zur Islamforschung. Springer VS, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-21677-1_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-21677-1_11

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  • Publisher Name: Springer VS, Wiesbaden

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-658-21676-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-658-21677-1

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