Religionsläromedel för lågstadiet - stereotyper eller mångfald? : En innehållsanalys av religionsläromedel för lågstadiet

Sammanfattning: The aim of the study is to investigate various aspects of representation in textbooks for teaching religion in Swedish primary school. Three different textbooks in their digital form published after the newest curriculum that was put to use in 2022 have been analyzed. The study aims to establish how the textbooks in question present the five biggest world religions and to what extent the textbooks offer the reader room for interpretation. The method used for this study is a combined qualitative and quantitative content analysis. The theory used in the study is based on Robert Jackson´s interpretive approach. The research questions for which this study departs are; ´To what extent are the five world religions made visible in the teaching materials and their sacred texts?´, ´To what extent do the teaching materials make diversity within the religions visible and in what way?´ and ´What religious content within the five world religions is conveyed in the teaching materials and in what way?´ The result of the study shows that the teaching materials are showing diversity and variation to a point but are otherwise quite generalizing towards world religions and include normative content, which can angle the readers opinions towards certain religions and not be that inclusive. The study shows that the responsibility to teach a diverse religious education land on the teacher and not the teaching materials. An effect of this could be that the religious education can vary depending on the teacher, the teacher's knowledge and interest in the subject.