Religious educators today face the challenge of implementing nationwide, competency-oriented curricula. School-specific curricula need to be developed, and assessment and evaluation procedures for the competencies achieved must be established. Instruction should be designed in such a way that students can acquire competencies in religious education. This book guides readers through the pedagogical and religious educational discussions. Standard and competency-oriented models of religious education are examined. The focus then shifts to competency-oriented practice: What should be considered in planning? How is competency-oriented teaching conducted? How can competencies be assessed? The fourth completely revised and updated edition has been thoroughly reworked in all aspects of the current religious educational debate and also shines visually in a new light.