Multi-cultural Society and Education Studies 5, 109-137. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of religious education program on the multiculture acceptance of elementary students. To accomplish this, an religious education program was developed from references to domestic and foreign books, studies, and programs. This study was designed by 3 religious education programs for Creative experience activities, Korean, Social studies. The subjects of the study were 20 elementary students in one 3rd grade class of G elementary school located in Busan City. Pre- and post-questionnaire surveys were conducted with these students.
The main contents of this religious education programs are so far beyond religious education centered on religious life, religious conflict, history, content, culture and religious prejudice of various religions.
The effects of the program on the multicultural acceptance of these students were analyzed. Analysis results, Significant changes were observed in all terms of multicultural acceptance: diversity, relationships, universality. In particular, it has had a great effect on reducing stereotypes and discrimination in diversity areas.
Religious education in public education has been taboo so far that it has not known much about other religions, and such ignorance has led to prejudice, rejection and fear. Until now, religious education has been dismissed as an individual's religious life, but religious education in a multicultural society is a necessary education to understand others. Through this religious education, we can foster religious tolerance and achieve multicultural coexistence.
Expecting more religious education programs to be developed, I would like to suggest the following for future research on multicultural acceptance and the development and effectiveness of religious education programs based on the basis of the results of this study.
First, religious education should be conducted more systematically and continuously as a topic of multicultural education.
Second, it is necessary to develop various programs linked to more diverse subjects in follow-up studies.