Swedish Gymnasieskolan Curriculum - Religion (Religionskunskap)

Religionskunskap focuses on how religions and life stances are expressed in words and actions, and how individuals formulate and relate to ethical and existential questions. The subject explores the significance of faith and ethics for individuals' experiences of meaning and belonging.

Course Structure

The subject is divided into three courses:

• Religionskunskap 1 (RELREL01): 50 points. Builds upon knowledge from compulsory school.
• Religionskunskap 2 (RELREL02): 50 points. Builds upon Religionskunskap 1.
• Religionskunskap - Specialisering (RELREL0): 100 points. Builds upon Religionskunskap 1.

Religionskunskap 1 (RELREL01)

This course covers the following core content:

• Christianity, other world religions, and various life stances, their characteristics, and how they are expressed by individuals and groups in contemporary society, in Sweden, and globally.
• Different views of humanity and concepts of God within and between religions.
• Religion in relation to gender, socioeconomic background, ethnicity, and sexuality.
• Individual and group identities and how they can be shaped in relation to religion and life stance, based on, for example, religious scriptures, traditions, social media, and historical and contemporary events.
• Different views on the relationship between religion and science in current social debate.
• Interpretation and analysis of different theories and models within normative ethics and how these can be applied. Ethical and other moral concepts of what a good life and a good society can be.
• Analysis of arguments in ethical issues based on Christianity, other world religions, life stances, and students' own positions.

Grading Criteria (RELREL01)

The grading scale uses A-E as passing grades and F as failing. The criteria are based on the student's ability to describe, analyze, and discuss various aspects of religion and ethics, with increasing depth and nuance for higher grades. See the official document for detailed descriptions of each grade level.

Religionskunskap 2 (RELREL02)

This course delves deeper into specific areas, emphasizing ethical concepts and their application:

• New religious movements and trends, their characteristics, and their relationship to world religions.
• Private religiosity. Individual interpretations of, and expressions of, religious beliefs in a diverse society.
• The significance of religions and life stances for people's identity, belonging, community, and views on equality.
• Different views on the relationship between religion and science, how they can be expressed, and what they can mean for an individual's understanding of themselves and their surroundings.
• Ethical concepts, theories, and models. Application of these to issues relevant to the specialization subjects, such as bioethics, animal ethics, environmental ethics, or ethics in interpersonal relationships.

Grading Criteria (RELREL02)

Similar to Religionskunskap 1, the grading criteria assess the student's ability to describe, analyze, and discuss the course content, with higher grades requiring greater depth, nuance, and complexity in their reasoning. See the official document for detailed descriptions of each grade level.

Religionskunskap - Specialisering (RELREL0)

This course allows for specialization within a chosen area of religious studies:

• In-depth study within one or more of the subject's areas of knowledge, such as central ideas, ethical principles, texts, rites, and patterns of action in one or more chosen religions and life stances.
• Concepts, theories, and methods relevant to the area of knowledge.
• Analysis and discussion of the area of knowledge from historical and contemporary perspectives.
• Source-critical method within the area of knowledge. Examination, analysis, and interpretation of texts, images, and other material generated by the chosen area of knowledge, as well as how the chosen area of knowledge is presented in different media and sources.

Grading Criteria (RELREL0)

The grading criteria assess the student's ability to demonstrate in-depth knowledge, critical analysis, and application of relevant theories and methods within their chosen area of specialization. Higher grades require greater depth, nuance, and complexity in their analysis and discussion. See the official document for detailed descriptions of each grade level.