With a view to strengthening social cohesion in a society characterised by religious and ideological diversity, and to promoting democratic skills through a reflective engagement with religion, BaFID launched the pilot project “Religions for Democracy” on 1 June 2026. The project is funded by the Federal Agency for Civic Education (bpb).
The project: Religion as a democratic resource
Democratic societies thrive on shared values such as human dignity, freedom, and solidarity. Religious traditions can underpin and strengthen these values—yet they also carry the risk of being exploited for anti-pluralist purposes.
This is where the “Religions for Democracy” project comes in: we are investigating the ambivalence of religious traditions and systematically analyzing the potential that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam hold for strengthening our democracy. The project sees itself as an innovative contribution to political education and to the prevention of religiously motivated extremism.
Our approach: interfaith dialogue skills
The focus is not on examining individual religions in isolation, but on the interrelationship between the three monotheistic religions and their contribution to a pluralistic society.
Two key concepts guide our work:
- Interreligious discursive competence: The ability to understand religious traditions in context, to reflect on them critically, and to translate religious interpretations into a shared, democratic framework of understanding.
- Religious Literacy: Promoting a sound understanding of religious traditions and their significance in society in an increasingly secular and pluralistic world.
Digital learning formats: videos and resources
At the heart of the pilot project is the production of up to nine scientifically grounded short videos (each lasting 2–4 minutes). The videos address key topics at the intersection of religion and democracy, including:
- Freedom of religion and religious pluralism
- Authority, legitimacy, and equality
- Religious affiliation and the relationship between religion and politics
Additional resources: To complement the videos, we produce in-depth background texts, teaching materials designed for educational purposes, and social media content. To ensure we reach international and migration-related target audiences as effectively as possible, the videos are provided with English and Arabic subtitles.
Target groups, practical application, and synergies
The materials are aimed at schools (pupils and teachers) as well as key figures in political education, integration work, adult education, and public institutions.
- Quality assurance: All materials are trialed at project schools and educational institutions in various federal states and are continuously evaluated. Workshops, training courses, and public discussions support the implementation.
- BaFID synergies: The project is closely integrated with existing BaFID formats. In particular, the lecture series ‘Bavarian Interreligious College’ and the video and book series ‘Key Concepts in Interreligious Discourses’ (KCID) are systematically incorporated.
Our aim: ‘Religions for Democracy’ brings together religious studies, theology, democratic theory and political education. We present religious diversity not as a challenge, but as a democratic resource – for the sustainable strengthening of social cohesion and our democratic resilience.
📣 Invitation to collaborate: Become a partner school!
The BaFID project “Religions for Democracy” (funded by the bpb) is looking for schools that would like to trial and help develop new digital teaching materials on Judaism, Christianity and Islam in the classroom.
What you bring to the role:
- Use of the videos and materials in the classroom
- Feedback from teachers and pupils on their practical applicability
Here’s what you stand to gain: recognition as a pioneering school, mention in publications and high visibility on social media.
