Textbook representations of religion in Chinese societies: A comparative study

An important goal of education is to teach students about diversity, and textbooks can play a crucial role in achieving this goal. This study analyzes how religion is represented in contemporary social studies textbooks in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. These societies accommodate followers of diverse religious traditions, but they are predominantly secular and their constitutions or basic laws strictly adhere to the principles of separation of church and state. Yet, each society has its trajectory of policy development and orientations toward religion and education. Thus, we comparatively examine how religion is represented in social studies textbooks for senior secondary schools in these societies, and their broader implications for education for religious and cultural diversities in these societies. Copyright © 2023 AERA.