Education has a real role in religions. In Judaism studying is one of the major commandements of God. To the same extend it is noticeable that education is going through discussion for the Talmud. It is the same approach in Islam ; this vision is showing that education, knowledge is an important religious approach.
Christianity is going the same way. In fact the parabole of Marie and Marthe is showing this vision. It looks that Jesus prefers Marie who is listening to his message to Marthe who is preparing dishes. This parabole is revolutionary : it is stressing the importance of education for women. The fact the adulterian woman Marie Madeleine is having access to a lot of the teaching of Jesus, and had an access to the resurrected Christ is showing this approach. Misfortunately the Church forgot the role of women during centuries, before Martin Luther began the first of history to educate massively women. The approach of dialog which is inferred has also been forgotten : for example it took centuries for Thomas of Aquinas to comment Aristotle works, which was an act of courage at his time.
The paradox is that religions have often been reluctant to progress. In the Middle Ages theology was the only field that had the right to be taught. The emancipation of science towards theology was a process that created a lot of controversy. The fact religion became part of the private sector, which is called laicity, was necessary to create a space of peace to put religions in the right place in the society. But defending a “pure” interpretation of text is often for me a synonym of obscurantism.
That it is the reason why, today, it is necessary to engage in the fight against communautarism. Advocating dialog, and a curse for knowledge against obscurantism is necessary. For instance radical islam is spreading everywhere, and is benefiting for worsening social conditions. For these reasons it is necessary to promote more knowledge, to stress the importance of nuance and dialog. Studying and learning more and more is also a demeanor that has to be encouraged. In suburban riots, in France some years ago, libraries have been burnt. On the contrary it looks detrimental to build libraries, to promote books and knowledge, in every place there are these social problems, and to engage to encourage and motivate people to read and learn more and more. In my opinion it can be an efficient way in the long run to fight communautarism and religious (among others) intolerance which is spreading everywhere.
The observer 