In light of the noticeably increasing distance from the Christian religion, new curricula and innovative teaching methods alone are hardly sufficient. It is only through a courageous engagement with existential questions and experiences that religious education becomes not only interesting for young people but also helps them understand what religion is all about. Religion is a symbolic interpretation of life, and it must be taught as such: as life themes that are symbolized, communicated, and only in the next step connected to religious tradition. The concept of a subject-oriented religious education addresses a recognizable trend in the field and takes a clear step beyond both the common problem orientation and the more tradition-bound performative religious didactics. Initial practical experiences show: subject-oriented.