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500
Antiquity (until the 5th century)
Education in ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Mesopotamia, India, China and Greece was intrinsically linked to religion. The temples were centers of learning. -
Period: 500 to 1500
Middle Ages (5th century - 15th century)
529 AD: Foundation of the first university in the monastery of Monte Cassino by Saint Benedict, marking the beginning of higher education institutions based on the Christian faith. 1179 AD: The Third Lateran Council decrees that cathedrals must have schools for the training of clergy. -
Period: 1500 to
Renaissance (14th century - 17th century)
1517 AD: The Protestant Reformation begins with the 95 theses of Martin Luther, leading to the creation of Protestant schools and the promotion of literacy to read the Bible. -
Enlightenment (18th century)
1789 AD: The French Revolution promotes religious neutrality in education, reducing the influence of the Catholic Church in schools. -
19th century
1857 AD: The Law of Public Instruction of Moyano in Spain establishes compulsory primary education, including the teaching of religion. -
Constitution of 1886 (Colombia)
He established Colombia as a believing state, where the Catholic religion was the official religion of the country.
Education was influenced by the Catholic Church, and religious teaching was an integral part of the curriculum. -
20th century
1944 AD: The Butler Education Act in the United Kingdom requires that all public schools begin the day with an act of collective Christian worship. 1960s-1970s: Deschooling and secularism movements gain strength, promoting secular education and the separation of religion from public education. -
1991 Constitution (Colombia)
It marked the change to a secular state, guaranteeing freedom of worship.
Religious education is still permitted, but not mandatory, and diversity of beliefs must be respected. -
General Education Law (Law 115 of 1994) (Colombia)
It stipulates that education is a process of cultural, ethical and social formation that includes the religious dimension.
It allows religious teaching in educational institutions, as long as the freedom of conscience of the students is respected. -
Sentence T-568 of 1999 (Colombia)
It reinforces the right to conscientious objection and establishes that no one can be forced to receive religious education against their will. -
21st century
2000s onwards: Increased religious and cultural diversity leads to debates about the role of religion in schools, with some promoting the inclusion of multiple religious perspectives and others emphasizing secular education.