«... bloss für Erwachsene brauchen wir keine Gemeinde zu gründen». Religionspädagogische Themen bei Eduard Herzog (1880–1896)

The first Old Catholic Bishop of Switzerland, Eduard Herzog (1841–1924), was aware of the significance of religious education for parish development and for the religious maturity of young church members. In the article it is assumed that Herzog actively stamped his educational views in respect of ecclesiastical pro- cesses into the formation of an Old Catholic theory of religious education. His approach to religious instruction and the practical problems of its implementation are traced through letters, synod minutes and a report by Herzog. Herzog held moderately enlightened views of education, while at the same time maintaining the catechism as a means of teaching, as was usual in Catholic churches. In this way he was able to integrate conservative and liberal ecclesiastical and pedagog- ical streams of thought. In Old Catholic understanding, religious education should enable active participation in the life of the parish. This implied the formation of people’s wills and judgements in religious matters based on a knowledge of the Bible and of church history.