Kristendomens särställning i religionsläroböcker
en komparativ studie av hur kristendomen och dess tre inriktningar framställs i religionsläroböcker anpassade till Lpo 94 och Lgr 11
Christianity has for a long time played a significant role in the Swedish school system, which can be seen in the syllabus of the course religion in 2011 where Christianity got a special status and the Christian alignments were explicit named. The aim of this essay was to see whether, and if so how, Christianity and its three alignments ? Catholicism, Orthodoxy and Protestantism ? had developed a greater impact in religion textbooks for grades 7?9 adapted to Lgr 11 compared to Lpo 94 and partly to see if there had been any changes and to what extent. The main question concerned whether Christianity had a greater impact in religion textbooks adapted to Lgr 11 than Lpo 94 and how Christianity could be seen as culture-religion. The sub-questions concerned whether there was any differences in what Christianity is and to what extent Christianity were represented in religion textbooks, but also if any difference to what range the three alignments where represented. The study consisted of six religion textbooks for grades 7?9, where three were adapted to Lpo 94 and three to Lgr 11. The study had a quantitative and a deductive approach. Frequency analysis and quantitative content analysis were used to study how Christianity was represented, and to what degree. The deductive approach was based on the National Agency for Education statement (1996, 2002, 2011) on what Christianity consists of in the syllabus of religion education. The textbooks were studied based on seven categories. Linda Woodheads concept of religion as culture and Nicholas Jay Demerath III:s concept of culture-religion were used as theoretical point. The conclusion was that Christianity did not have a greater impact in religion textbooks tailored to Lgr 11 than those adapted to Lpo 94, however the Christian alignments impact had increased. Christianity?s range went from 37 to 27 percent during the time period studied. Christian alignments had the greatest range, thereafter the New Testament and Jesus while Religious communities on Christian principles had the least range for both curriculum intervals. Of the Christian alignments Protestantism had the greatest range followed by Catholicism and Orthodoxy. The analysis showed that Christianity overall is something historical and that Protestantism can be seen as the Swedish history and culture.