Religious studies in Brazilian public universities: models of implementation and its challenges

Abstract

This article explores the introduction of religious studies within Brazilian public universities. It aims to answer the question of how this insertion occurred and the consequences for the courses profile and challenges faced by them. When analyzing the set of courses, we find two main paths to the beginning of religious studies in public universities. The first undergraduate courses arose from the substantial practical demand for religious education in public school, with pedagogical emphases, and in-state universities. The other model is constituted by the initiative of teachers of other areas of knowledge who work in federal universities and who struggle to implement the courses. These factors gave rise to courses with an emphasis on interdisciplinary character and the challenge of highlighting the importance of the study of religion in the academic field.