“I want to raise my child interreligiously.” Approaches towards ‘interreligious’ or ‘religiously open’ parenting in a religiously plural society

Abstract

Religious pluralization is part of contemporary society and embodied in (bi-religious) concepts and constellations of family. This also gives rise to questions about personal approaches to the religious upbringing of one’s own children.
This article takes its starting point from statements made by various parents who advocate for an ‘interreligious’ or ‘religiously open’ upbringing as the basis of discussion. It aims to distil an understanding of what ‘interreligious’ or ‘religiously open’ means in the context of raising children, and the reasons and objectives that underpin such approaches. Potential implications for parenting are discussed by drawing on developmental psychology and its findings on how children adopt and form beliefs. In a step further, the possible effects of ‘interreligious’ or ‘religiously open’ upbringings on children are discussed. Based on this, important prerequisites for parents to implement such parenting approaches are proposed before drawing a final conclusion.
The aim of this article is to offer theoretical insight and a more comprehensive understanding of alternative approaches to religious parenting. It identifies potentials as well as challenges for consideration and further investigation. The co-authors represent different religions and denominations (Protestant, Roman Catholic, Muslim-Sunni), which provides a multi-faceted and complimentary religious perspective on the topic.