mestrado em relações interculturais - Universidade Aberta

RELIGIÃO, ELEMENTO FUNDAMENTAL NA IDENTIDADE DO GRUPO DOS ALUNOS DO COLÉGIO ISLÂMICO DE
PALMELA
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ABSTRACT
In a globalized word, trying to preserve and pass on religious identidy, turns out to be a very
dificult task.
This research is based on an analysis of eight muslin studens, which attend the Islamic
School in Palmela.
The study tryed, as its main aim, to determine how deep the students’ religious identidy
influences their lives, once that they live in a mainly catholic portuguese society.
In this study, we studied four main themes: religion/islamism, islam historical background,
group and identity. We made a wide theorical revision touching the principles, the practices, the
two main divisions in Islam ( Sunitas and Xiitas), the islamic historial background and the
muslin presence in Portugal.
At last, we worked the groups and social identity issue in what religious identity is
concerned.
After the teorical frame, we clarified our methodological options. We chose a qualitative
method, based on documental analysis and structured interviews. These were the basis for our
research.
We tried to collect important data on family, religion, friends, school and colleagues, trying
to examine the impact of such influences on the student’s identities. The interviews werw
treated according to the content’s analysis.
After analysing the information of the main theme: “ Religion as the main element
identifying the group of students at the Islamic School in Palmela”, we got four categories. The
most important one is Identity/ Group, in which we can see a wide range of characteristics
religious, intelectual, emotional, behaviour, values and etics. On the second topic
Relationships/ Experiencies, we can see aspects concerning family, friends and partners.In
other words relationships develop with muslin and non- muslin children, the socialization
process. The third The school’s profile image, import aspect came out concerning the religious
and academical development. The students is their relationsship with teachers. The last group
Professional projects, the students revealed their future dreams.
UNIVERSIDADE ABERTA DISSERTAÇÃO iv