METHODOLOGICAL NOTES ABOUT THE RESEARCH IN THE SPHERE OF RELIGIOUS COMPETENCE AND LITERACY FROM THE POIN OF VIEW OF THE MODERN EDUCATION SYSTEM OF UKRAINE

Abstract

The article deepens the concept and socio-professional necessity of forming a broad profile of religious studies competence and literacy among future specialists. The authors update this topic by referring to examples of recent sociological research, observations, and taking into account general global trends. Religious studies competence is considered from two positions: as religious studies literacy and as competence based on the processing of scientific research on the topic of the article, taking into account regulatory and legislative documents, etc.definitions of these concepts are highlighted. Thus, “religious studies literacy (awareness)” and “religious studies competence” are synonymous concepts with slightly different accents in definitions: the former is more generalized, more broadly addresses the general social context and value component, and the latter is more methodological, addressing the education system and its place in it. Taking into account the insufficient theoretical understanding of this problem in the scientific community, the authors propose criteria for the levels of formation of religious studies competence, casually highlighting the main ways to acquire them. There are five such levels, and they cover the range from a complete lack of religious studies competence to its professional level. As a result, the authors make a reasonable conclusion that the formation of religious studies competence is one of the keys to successful professional activity and social communication in general. It is worth noting that its extremely low level is a problem not only for Ukraine, but professional higher education institutions are engaged in the formation of competence on its basis. The main ways of forming non-professional levels are also outlined. Thus, the authors come to conclusions about the need to conduct a sociological study to determine the existing levels of religious literacy and competence in modern Ukrainian society in order to further form recommendations for improving the effectiveness of its formation, which is an urgent, although little – known, public requirement of the present, and therefore education as a reflection of the needs of society.