My proposal will discuss the scope of neutrality and objectivity in the context of non-confessional integrative RE in the Swedish pluralistic classroom-practice. In the classrooms, individuals who identify with diverse religious and non-religious outlooks of life, with different understanding of what religion and being religious might mean, meet. How does this influence the construction of RE in the classroom-practice? What discourses of religion becomes hegemonic in the classrooms? The proposal is based on findings from participant observation of RE-lessons at three upper secondary schools. Discourse analyses (Howarth, 2000; Laclau & Mouffe, 2001) is used as theoretical and analytical approach. The findings indicates a hegemonic western secular discourse in the classrooms, which influenced the classroom-practice and the talk of religion, specific religious traditions and believers of different faiths. Simultaneously there were a spiritual and a nationalistic discourse of religion that in some respect challenged the hegemonic discourse, but also enforced it.

Howarth, D. (2000). Discourse. Buckingham: Open University Press.

Laclau, E., & Mouffe, C. (2001). Hegemony and socialist strategy : towards a radical democratic politics. London: Verso.