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Document Details :

Title: The Portrayal of Christianity in Egyptian Textbooks
Author(s): REISS, Wolfram
Journal: Journal of Eastern Christian Studies
Volume: 57    Issue: 1-2   Date: 2005   
Pages: 109-127
DOI: 10.2143/JECS.57.1.2003119

Abstract :
In our “global world” people of different cultures and religions are increasingly bound to live and work together. September 11, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, in former Jugoslavia and in Israel and Palestine, but also the tensions that exist between Muslim and Christian citizens in Western countries, clearly show that there is an urgent need for educating and training younger as well as older generations in managing interreligious and intercultural encounters. Religion and politics simply cannot be separated. Apart from the family and the religious community, the school obviously plays an important role in trying to overcome prejudices, stereotypes and defensiveness and to reach a better mutual understanding. Schoolbooks are a major instrument to promote the essential information and knowledge that is needed. If however this information is wrong, inadequate and biased, these books can be harmful and contribute to uphold all sorts of misunderstandings.