In religious education we can distinguish between different models what resemble also countries’ geo-political, religious and educational tradition. Estonia situates in the crossroads of east and west and its turbulent history has influenced also its religious education (RE). During last hundred years political and religious landscape of the country has altered, also RE in schools has undergone several cataclysms. How could RE in today’s Estonia be classified?

The article explores the historical developments in religious landscape of Estonia by outlining its most significant changes in last hundred years and focusing more on religious outlook of Estonian people today. The fourth wave of European Values Study (2008-2009) provides comparative data for Nordic countries (Finland, Sweden, Norway), Estonia and its neighbours with shared past from south and east (Russia, Latvia and Lithuania).

Estonian tradition of RE will be explored in its historical context. Then the changes in the concepts, aims and contents of RE during the last 23 years will be investigated by analysing RE syllabi of 1997 and 2010 and changes in the legislation. The results answer the question, is there shift from post-socialist model of RE to Nordic one in Estonian RE?