Interreligious learning with biographies

"Role models" between non-specific integration and specific strangeness

Abstract

Although the concept of biographical learning no longer exclusively focuses on Christian role models today, there is no explicit discussion about the possible interreligious dimension of this approach. Therefore, the article explores the possibility of transferring this concept to non-Christian personalities. The key question is: How can biographical sequences provide not only moral, but also religious orientation to students with other religious or non-religious backgrounds? Two options will be discussed, one by analyzing a chapter of a German school book, using principles of interreligious learning; the other by referring to new theoretical insights in the field of inter­religious learning. The examples cover a wide range of possible role models: The contemporary story of Malala Yousafzai and the classical legend of Siddharta’s four sights show possibilities of interreligious biographical learn­ing, generated by conscious balancing non-specific and therefore integrative aspects on the one side, specifically alien aspects on the other side.