Is it possible to describe the diversity of hinduism in religious textbooks? : The changes in the representation of the diversity of hinduism in textbooks from 1968–2012

This study is about the changes in the representation of the diversity in hinduism in textbooks between the years 1968 and 2012. The theory builds on Robert Jacksons interpretive didacitcs of religion, it is about how individuals, groups and religions in generall are represented in religious education and it is being used here as a way of highlighting diversitey. By using a content analysis on four textbooks published between the years 1968–2012 two questions have been answerd. The first question deals with how the representation of the diversity in hinduism is represented through the interpretative didactics of religion and the second is about the changes in the representation with a connection to the different curriculums. The study comes to a conclusion that the textbooks differs from each other when it comes to representing diversity and some historic changes can be seen. For example only influential indivinduals are being represented and the oldest textbook brings up a variety but the youngest only a few. When it comes to groups only the two youngest ones highligts different trends connected to gods and godesses. The generall religion is being represented in different scopes in the books, when it comes to history for example the two oldest goes a bit deeper in to it then the last, the third does not mention to any extent. In the two oldest books they use the word ”strange” and here there is a change in the use of language. Another change is the representation of women, in the three younger textbooks women are being represented but with a focus on negative aspects about being a woman. Finally, the connection between the textbooks and the curriculas differ, wich may depend on the scope of the different curricula