This article summarises the state of comparative historical research in the field of religious education. After describing a range of purposes to be fulfilled by comparative studies, it categorises a number of studies written in either English, French or German according to their methodological approach and subject focus. As a result, a three-dimensional map of comparative research is drawn. The survey shows that comparative research is of increasing importance within the context of globalisation and the Europeanisation of education policy and pluralism.