Models of Religious Education and the topic of Islam

• Applicants: Professorin Dr. Marie-Luise Raters; Professor Dr. Friedrich Schweitzer
• Subject Area: Protestant Theology ; Practical Philosophy
• Term: since 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 445543398

The relationship between Christians and Muslims is often viewed as a key factor for living together peacefully in present-day Europe. Tolerance and mutual respect are therefore considered core challenges for religious education at school which is expected to promote a constructive approach towards plurality. However, while such questions are often critically discussed in relationship to Muslim Religious Education, Christian education may also fall short of the task of working towards peace and tolerance, especially when it comes to presenting Islam to Christian pupils. How this is done in Christian religious education has in fact never been researched. In addition to Islamic religious education the focus of the contemporary discussion has been more on general questions concerning different models of religion-related education. It has been suggested, for example, that traditional denominational religious education should be replaced by more neutral approaches based on religious studies. Yet again, no research has become available which would allow for comparative evaluations of such models.The overarching research question deals with how the topic of ‘Islam’ is shaped didactically in two models of religion-related education (religious education, religious studies). For methodological reasons the study limits itself to three Germanophone countries (Austria – Germany - Switzerland). The investigation refers to denominational religious education in Germany/Greater Stuttgart and Austria/Greater Vienna on the one hand, and the newly-introduced ‘Religions, Cultures, Ethics’ (or ‘RKE’; formerly called ‘Religion and Culture’) (Switzerland/Greater Zurich) as well as ‘Lifestyle, Ethics, Religious Studies’ (or ‘LER’) (Germany/Greater Berlin/Brandenburg) on the other.Since there are many factors influencing the ways in which Islam is treated in religion-related education, the present study has its focus on the views of the teachers and the pupils as well as their experiences with this teaching. In preparation of the study, the curriculum and teaching materials used in the different regions have been analyzed and first interviews with teachers and pupils were conducted. In terms of the research approach, teachers will be interviewed individually while the pupils will be interviewed in small groups. This implies that the main research question concerning the treatment of the topic of Islam in different forms of religion- related education will be answered in relationship to the teachers‘ and pupils‘ views. In addition to the interviews, selected lessons of the teachers in the study will be observed. The international design of the study allows for multiple comparisons as well as for taking into consideration various contextual factors and influences.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Austria, Switzerland
• Partner Organisation: Schweizerischer Nationalfonds (SNF)
• Cooperation Partners: Professor Dr. Martin Rothgangel; Professor Dr. Thomas Schlag