The Bloomsbury Reader in Religion and Childhood

Divided into five thematic parts, this provides both classic and contemporary readings from a range of perspectives, including the social-scientific, theological, and historical. Case studies range from Augustine's description of childhood in Confessions, the contemporary psychology of religion and childhood, to religion in children's literature, and Islamic education.

- Religious traditions covered include Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism, in the UK and Europe, USA and South Asia
- An introduction situates each thematic part, and each reading is contextualised by the editors
- Guidance on further reading and study questions are provided, and links to further resources can be found on the book's webpage

Contemporary debates about the place of religion and secularity in society are often particularly intense when these concern children. From recent sex abuse scandals in the Roman Catholic Church, to arguments about faith schools and religious indoctrination, children's involvement and non-involvement in religion raises strong feelings. Childhood has often been a particular site of struggle for negotiating the location and future of religion in public and everyday social life. Many of these debates are related to wider questions about the distinctiveness of childhood and its religious dimensions in historical perspective. The Bloomsbury Reader in Religion and Childhood provides a rich resource for students of this interdisciplinary field.

Anna Strhan is a Leverhulme Early Career Fellow in Religious Studies at the University of Kent, UK.

Stephen Parker is Professor of the History of Religion and Education at the University of Worcester, UK.

Susan Ridgley is Associate Professor of American Religions at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, USA.