Representations of Religious Diversity in the Past and Present: The Need for a Nuanced Approach

It is widely assumed that religion and religious diversity are inextricably linked to trouble, conflict, violence and war. However, not only does this assumption not do justice to a complex reality, but it also ignores the potential that religion can have to connect people and to contribute to peace and toleration. This introductory chapter sketches out the main aim of this book, which is to explore examples of different ways in which societies have dealt with religious diversity in the past. After presenting an overview of the content of this book, this chapter considers how religious diversity and its history are represented in school textbooks, museums, popular culture and political discourses, how young people understand and perceive religious diversity in the past and present, and how a more nuanced understanding of religious diversity can be fostered.