Characteristics of human agency in liberal and Islamic religious education based on the national core curricula of Finland and Iran

Abstract

This article aims to identify and compare the characteristics of human agency in liberal and Islamic religious education, comparing Iran as a religious context influenced by Islamic state ideology with Finland as a liberal context and a secular state ideology. This comparison will be accomplished by document analysis of the national curricula for education in Iran and Finland. Methodologically, a comparative study and a deductive content-analysis approach will be employed. The paper will provide an analytical framework for human agency mainly based on Biesta’s and Halstead’s views as interpreters of liberal perspectives and Bagheri’s view as an Islamic scholar. The comparison will be considered in the light of three categories: the foundation of agency, the requirements of agency and the educational consequences of agency. The results show that in all curriculum documents human agency is always considered but with distinct concepts and emphasis. In Iran, the focus is on spiritual aspects based on wisdom whereas in Finland the focus is on social aspects based on pure reasoning. The study suggests some points about the compatibility of Islam and liberal thought through the concept of human agency.