Sweden Year 2 Curriculum - Religion

Subject Overview:

Religion education in Sweden aims to provide students with knowledge about various religions and other life perspectives, fostering an understanding of their role in society and their impact on individuals. The curriculum emphasizes Christianity's influence on Swedish society while promoting openness and respect for diverse beliefs in a pluralistic world. Students are encouraged to critically examine sources, engage in discussions, and develop their own ethical and moral standpoints. The curriculum also explores the relationship between religion and science, including discussions on creation and evolution.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of Year 2, students should be able to:

1. Analyze religions and life perspectives from various viewpoints. 2. Understand human identity in relation to religions and life perspectives. 3. Demonstrate knowledge of different perspectives on the relationship between religion and science. 4. Utilize ethical concepts, theories, and models. 5. Examine and analyze ethical issues related to Christianity, other religions, and life perspectives.

Core Content - Years 1-3 (relevant for Year 2):

This content is taught within the broader context of social studies and includes elements related to religion:

• Living Together: Exploration of life events, relationships, and societal norms, including discussions about good and evil, right and wrong, friendship, gender roles, equality, and relationships. This may include discussions about religious values and practices within families and communities.
• Living in the Neighborhood: Learning about the history of the local area, including the role of Christianity and other religions, and identifying places of worship.
• Living in the World: Introduction to basic human rights, including equality and children's rights, which may be connected to religious teachings on morality and ethics. Learning about ceremonies, symbols, and narratives in Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, including some Bible stories and common psalms. Discussion of environmental issues, which may be linked to religious perspectives on stewardship and responsibility towards nature.

Curriculum Structure:

The curriculum for Religion is structured to build upon knowledge acquired in previous years, culminating in upper-secondary specialized courses. The progression is as follows:

• Religion 1 (50 credits): Covers a broad overview of world religions and life perspectives, their characteristics, and expressions in Sweden and globally. Explores different views of human beings and God, the relationship between religion and identity, and introduces normative ethical theories and models.
• Religion 2 (50 credits): Builds upon Religion 1 with a deeper focus on new religious movements and trends, private religiosity, the relationship between religion and science, and the application of ethical concepts to relevant societal issues.
• Religion - Specialization (100 credits): Allows students to specialize in one or more knowledge areas within the subject, delving into specific religions, ethical principles, texts, rites, and practices. Emphasizes source-critical methods and in-depth analysis.