The purpose of this paper is to explore empirically and to discuss theoretically religious studies teachers understanding of religious diversity. In my study of religious study teachers in Swedish secondary compulsory school I have found two main approaches to understand religious diversity. One is that different religious traditions are expressions of something common for all humans; e.g. a common human need or a universal ethic manifested as a core in all world religions. The other approach is that different religions are developed in different socio-cultural contexts and respond to different cultural needs. In the second part, the religious studies teachers’ approaches to religious diversity are analysed in relation to different consequences for acting as citizens in a plural society. In the last part I will outline some possibilities concerning religious pluralism from the perspective of citizenship education.

Diskutant: Hans-Ingvar Roth, professor i pedagogik, Institutionen för pedagogik och didaktik, Stockholms universitet

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