The overall aim of this bachelor thesis is to discover the portrayal of atheism in eight textbooks, published by established publishers and authors. And through that see if there is a secularist norm in the textbooks. The eight textbooks are written in accordance with the curriculum for the mandatory, non-confessional school subject Religious education, used in upper secondary schools.

The result of this thesis is tied in to the four different themes of the analysis: 

• Atheism as Marxism, existentialism? 
• A secularist norm? 
• A religious norm? 
• The textbooks discussion and factual issues? Related to the keywords 

The findings of this bachelor thesis indicate that there can be a secularist norm as well a religious norm. This has been presented through the textbooks description of atheism and the relevant keywords. The thesis has also demonstrated that the portrayal of atheism is linked to the description of Marxism and existentialism among other non-religious worldviews, such as humanism and secular humanism. 

The result of this bachelor thesis is also linked to Karin Kittelmann Flensners thesis Religious Education in Contemporary Pluralistic Sweden, especially her secular discourse.