Att spegla det gudomliga : En kvalitativ textanalys av läroböckers representation av gudssynen i de abrahamitiska religionerna

Sammanfattning

Most of the knowledge about religion is learned in school. That comes with a responsibility to know how the religious education represents the religions. The purpose of this study is to investigate how different textbooks used in religious education in Swedish high schools represent the concept of God in the Abrahamic religions. The study is based on representation using the interpretative approach of theory. The focus is to examine the representations of the religion's concepts of God. The method used in this study to analyze is a qualitative text analysis. It's based on the various aspects of the definition of God concepts. They are God’s revelation, persona, and the relationship between God and humanity. The study concludes that there are large similarities between how the books represent the religions. All three religions are described to perceive God as one, bigger, and with no gender. They are also described to perceive God as an almighty maker, good and a just judge who rewards and punishes. They also write that the religions think that God has given humankind free will, with which they can choose good or bad, and that God also has given humans the task of caring for the world and other humans. How each religion differs from each other is described almost the same in all the textbooks. However, the literature gives more of a divided view when it comes to the description within each religion. There are different perspectives, and the books sometimes are even at risk to over-simplify. This shows the teacher's importance and ability to know when the books are not enough or more perspectives should be explained. By doing that the school, and teachers, can not only counteract religious students feeling misunderstood and excluded, but also prevent misconceptions among students that, eventually, can help reduce prejudice in society.