| Summary: | Abstract This essay has grown out of an interest for the subject of religion and religious education for upper secondary pupils in Sweden. Our society is characterized by cultural, religious and secular diversity, which also reflects in the classroom where individuals with different religious preferences share space and participate in discussions. One of my aims is that this essay can be a contribution for future studies in the religious field. Previous research has shown that Swedish pupils increasingly lose interest in the subject of religion (on a personal level but also more in general). There is a possibility that this picture might have changed since these studies where done, and that is what I want to investigate in this essay. I have done a qualitative study with two main focus groups with 11 participants in each group. The results from the pupils reasoning where analyzed from different theoretical viewpoints. The theories I used were postcolonial theory and secularization theory (and relevant critique of these). The main questions that were raised revolved around what pupils think religion is, what they think of other religions in the secular society and also what the subject of religion fills for purpose. The results of the interviews showed that the pupils distinguished religion in two ways. Some of the participants had a very strong relation to religion and religion functioned as guidance. Others considered religion less important. When it came to the pupils’ viewpoints on religions in the secular society, there were scattered opinions. Some participants considered religions to be violent and dangerous, a source to conflict and war. They showed stereotypical preconceptions, mainly targeted against Muslims/Islam in the society. When it came to the purpose of the religious education, the participants agreed that the subject is important and creates a platform to understand other people in the society and different religious traditions. It also appeared that the participants had a great interest and commitment for the topic, and that they understood the importance of the religious education. Nyckelord: Religionskunskapsämnet, Elever, Religion/religiositet, Postkolonialteori, Sekulariseringsteori.
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