Religious Education in Public Schools: Alienation or Liberation?

The aim of this Final Course Work was to investigate how Religious Education is applied in public schools in Marituba. Whether the content taught complies with the National Curriculum Parameters and whether it is in line with the Brazilian Federal Constitution, which in its article 210 specifies the minimum objectives for primary education, in order to ensure common basic education and respect for cultural and regional values. And whether it complies with the Law on the Guidelines and Bases of National Education, which in its article 33 ensures that 'Religious Education, which is optional, is an integral part of the basic education of citizens and is a subject on the normal timetable of public primary schools, and respects the cultural and religious diversity of Brazil'. Our central problem was to critically analyse whether this religious teaching in public schools is confessional-catechetical, serving as an instrument of alienation.