This book provides an encompassing analysis of the position of religion in education in several countries across the globe. It fi rst analyses the wider issues and complexities surrounding the position of freedom of religion or belief in education systems and the need to respect, protect and promote the religious or (non-religious) beliefs of all those involved and participating in education. Various specifi c themes are constantly at the foreground, namely: the religious distinctiveness of private schools, the protection of religious and belief diversity in education, the protection of parental rights and religious freedoms, the protection of children's rights and religious freedoms and managing the dissemination of religious knowledge in public schools. Secondly, this book provides important case studies explaining the various approaches pertaining to the reconciliation of law and state, religion and education and secularism and diversity that exist in the world. A more encyclopedic approach is followed and provides insights, through the country case studies, into the contemporary issues surrounding religious and non-religious schools in these selected jurisdictions.