ENSINO RELIGIOSO E LAICIDADE NOS ANOS INICIAIS DO ENSINO FUNDAMENTAL DA REDE MUNICIPAL DE ENSINO DE VILA VELHA

Abstract

Religion has presented itself as a paradox, because it helps people to live better lives and at the same time divides groups into processes of exclusion. Religious Education, on the other hand, takes place in a field of power struggles between the religions that operate in Brazil. This study sought to answer the problem question: how is secularism worked into Religious Education in the curriculum matrix of the early years of the Vila Velha-ES Municipal Network? The hypothesis was that secularism is not addressed in the curriculum of the early years of primary school in the Vila Velha Municipal Education Network. The general objective was to propose an Ordinance on the inclusion of the secularity of the Brazilian State in Religious Education, in an ethical manner in the curriculum of the initial years of Primary Education, in the Municipal Education Network of Vila Velha-ES. And, specific objectives: to describe secularism in Religious Education in the Early Years of Primary Education in Brazil; to describe ethics in education geared towards secularism; and to propose a Plan for the Insertion (PI) of secular RE in the early years of the researched Education Network. The theoretical framework included scholars such as Júlio Adam, Michael Apple, Marion Brepohl, Patrícia Corsino, Carlos Jamil Cury, Luigi Ferrajoli, Sérgio Junqueira, Tomaz Tadeu da Silva, among others. The study was carried out by means of bibliographical and documentary research, in a qualitative manner. Results: Although Brazil has the legal guarantee of being a secular state, secularism still faces challenges, especially in the educational sphere, where religious issues sometimes mix with political issues; that education, when it is conducted with respect for diversity and democratic principles, can be an important tool for building a fairer and more egalitarian society, hence the suggestion to insert secular RE at the stage of Basic Education studied.