Förkroppsligandet av det abstrakta. Lärares syn på religion och materialitet

Abstract

This study inquiries to research if this view of religion is also prominent in upper secondary school teachers teaching religious studies. This study aims to research the attitude of religious studies teachers in Sweden and their choices regarding material culture. Based on the theoretical frameworks of the ramfaktorsteorin and religion-and-materiality. The data was collected through a series of semi-structured interviews with upper secondary school teachers certified to teach religious studies at an upper secondary school level, meaning they have an university level education in religious studies. All of the teachers work in south west Sweden and had been working as religious studies teachers for more than ten years. The results conclude that there are multiple factors to be taken into consideration when using material culture in teaching. Time, schedule, the students, the school’s economics and the teachers themselves are important factors affecting the possibility to use material culture in school. When it is used it is either as a tool for students to understand abstract reasonings or the object itself is of importance.