By Catherine Pepinster, Religion Media Centre
The study of religion is in danger of being erased in Wales, with the nation’s last remaining full theology department facing closure and increasing numbers of schools cutting religious education.
Cardiff University’s announcement that it is considering cutting its theology department, has caused alarm across the churches, and in an open letter to Welsh vice-chancellors and Welsh Assembly political leaders, Churches Together in Wales (Cytûn) expressed “deep concern” at the possible closure, repeating a warning from the renowned theology professor, D. Densil Morgan, that it would be a “disaster” if closure goes ahead.
Meanwhile the directors of the National Centre for Religious Education have said religious education in Welsh schools is becoming marginalised following recent curriculum changes, with disillusioned RE teachers quitting, including some abandoning the profession altogether and others crossing the Severn Bridge to work in England.
Gethin Rhys, Cytûn’s policy officer, said: “There will be no serious study of theology in Wales if Cardiff University goes ahead with its plans. Theology will have come to an end here. This is a watershed moment”.
Cytûn is urging a rethink on Cardiff’s plans, with its open letter saying: “We firmly believe that a good understanding of religion is extremely important in terms of fostering mutual understanding from the local level to the global level, and academic studies in all areas of theology and religious studies are essential to create such an understanding.”