Islam und Ich. Lebensweltliche Debatten im Open Space. Ein Praxisbericht

In: Journal für Konflikt- und Gewaltforschung: Journal of conflict and violence research, Band 7, Heft 1, S. 147-158

Abstract

What does Islam mean for the life-worlds of both Muslim & non-Muslim children & young people in Germany? To explore this question, in 2003/4 the initiative Schule ohne Rassismus-Schule mit Courage (School without Racism-School with Courage) set up five open spaces involving approx. seven hundred students from Berlin, Dortmund, Cologne, & Neinkirchen. Participants included students aged twelve to twenty-one from all types of schools excepting primary schools & special schools. In the course of the open space debates it became clear that young people are far less interested in the theological issues of Islam than in issues more closely related to their immediate life-world. Sexuality, friendship, family, & worries about the future were a frequent topic, but Jews, Israel, Palestinians, & the Middle East conflict were also the subject of heated debate. It also transpired that teachers frequently do not know how to deal with Islamist anti-Semitism & have too little information about the historical, socioeconomic, & religious roots of gender roles & images. Adapted from the source document.