„Wie ist das heute bei euch im Islam?“: Empirische Einblicke in religionsbezogene Interaktionen in der Schule

Empirical insights into religion-related interactions at school

Abstract

Muslim students represent a diverse and increasingly visible group in Austrian schools. Their religion and religious beliefs are not only a topic in denominational religious education classes, but are also present in other lessons. This article examines the role of religion—with a particular focus on Islam—in subjects such as social studies, history, political education, and BFU, and the opportunities and areas of tension that this creates for different school stakeholders. The analysis is based on excerpts from group discussions in a 4th grade middle school class, which were collected as part of my dissertation.

The analysis shows that religion is often implicitly discussed in the context of the aforementioned subjects, for example in discussions about norms and values as well as belonging. This creates opportunities for intercultural or interreligious understanding as well as moments of uncertainty and differentiation. Teachers are torn between the desire to address religious topics openly and the concern that this might overwhelm Muslim students.

The article highlights how school practices contribute to the negotiation of religious differences and what pedagogical considerations are necessary in order to design individual subjects as spaces for dialogue and discrimination-sensitive educational processes.