How Finnish Muslim Students Perceive and Deal with Religious and
Cultural Difference: Negotiating Religious Tradition with Modern
Liberal and Postmodern Ideals
Table 1
Ways of perceiving and dealing with difference related to the negotiation of liberal ideals.
Difference is not an issue
Difference is a problem-causing matter
A conformist way of dealing with difference
Dealing with difference by concentrating on oneself
(i) Difference is an insignificant fact (ii) Difference is a positive fact
(i) Difference causes difficulties in understanding others (ii) Difference causes difficulties in interacting with others (iii) Difference is a complex issue
(i) Trying to avoid confrontation (ii) Adaptation (iii) Dealing with difference by concentrating on commonality, equality, and togetherness
(i) Adhering to one’s own religion (ii) Representing one’s own religion