Corresponding values and colonising discourses: situating ‘Hindu children’ and their values in relation to hegemonic Norwegian discourses about religious education☆

Article based on paper presented at the 10th Nordic Conference of Religious Education, ‘Changing Societies – Values, Religions, and Education’, Umeå University, 9–13 June 2009.

Abstract

This article discusses the relationship between values expressed by ‘Hindu children’ in Norway and hegemonic ‘Norwegian values’. The discussion is based on interviews with children from the Indian Punjabi and the Sri Lankan Tamil traditions and on observations in religious education (RE) lessons. The children emphasise the culture of their parents’ country of origin. When asked what the most significant part of their identity was, being Indian and Tamil turned out to be very important to the children. They also value other religions and talk about the divine in ways that are different from traditional Norwegian conceptions and attitudes, expressing tolerance, respect and openness towards other traditions. This article discusses how ‘Hindu values’ relate to ‘Norwegian discourses’ about RE, exploring the ways the children’s values both correspond to and differ from the values we find in hegemonic Norwegian discourses. Will the children have to adapt to hegemonic discourses in RE, or is it possible to learn from and integrate their values?

Keywords:

• ‘Hindu children’
• religious education
• values
• diversity

Notes

Article based on paper presented at the 10th Nordic Conference of Religious Education, ‘Changing Societies – Values, Religions, and Education’, Umeå University, 9–13 June 2009.

1. Prabhakaran was probably killed by the Sinhalese Army on 17 May 2009.

2. It is difficult to find out what these organizations stand for in the Norwegian context, but the following websites can indicate something: http://www.hssus.org/ http://www.hvk.org/articles/0103/124.html http://www.hssuk.org/assets/ss_08_april_jun.pdf.