Universal Journal of Educational Research 8(1): 202-211, 2020 http://www.hrpub.org DOI: 10.13189/ujer.2020.080125 Epistemological Beliefs and Mediating Role of Learning Approaches on Social Attitudes of SHS Students M. Nur Ghufron Institut Agama Islam Negeri Kudus, Indonesia Received September 30, 2019; Revised December 18, 2019; Accepted December 25, 2019 Copyright©2020 by authors, all rights reserved. Authors agree that this article remains permanently open access under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 International License Abstract This study aims to examine the influence of epistemological beliefs which consists of belief in knowledge and belief in learning and mediating role of learning approaches on social attitudes of tolerance. Through multi-stage cluster sampling, there were 177 research respondents in Bae District, Kudus, Central Java, Indonesia. Data collection techniques used in this study were questionnaires in the form of scales. There are three types of scales used in the data collection process, namely the scale of tolerance, the scale of the approach to learning in religious education and the scale of epistemological beliefs. The results showed that belief in knowledge and belief in learning affected the deep and surface approaches. The deep approach can also be a variable of the mediating influence of epistemological beliefs on tolerance. Keywords Epistemological Beliefs, Learning Approaches, Religious Education, Tolerance 1. Introduction The phenomenon that is developing now is that tolerance is something that needs to be taken seriously. In fact, according to the Research and Development Center for Religious Life Research and Training Agency of the Ministry of Religion of the Republic of Indonesia (2010), tolerance is a basic element needed to foster mutual understanding and respect for differences, as well as being an entry point for the establishment of an atmosphere of dialogue and harmony between religious communities in society. To avoid conflicts between religious communities, tolerance must become a collective awareness of all groups of people, from the level of children, adolescents, adults, to parents, both students, employees, bureaucrats and students. More than that, the principles of tolerance must really work to regulate the life of the community effectively. One of the important sub-elements of the community in order to maintain the operation of the principles of tolerance is the SHS students. Religious education in high school is one of the most important subject matter in instilling religious studies in the country of Indonesia. Religious education is the study of how to prepare students in believing, understanding, living and practicing religion through guidance, teaching, and/or training activities by paying attention to the demands to respect other religions in harmony relations between religious communities in the community whose main purpose is to realize national unity (Sabri, 1999). Through tolerance, it will be able to preserve the unity and integrity of the nation, support and succeed development, and eliminate inequalities. Tolerance enables people to treat others with respect and dignity, separating others from their beliefs and practices insofar as they are treated with impartiality, and individuals are valued as fellow human beings. This study aims to examine the model of the influence of epistemological beliefs which consists of belief in knowledge and belief in learning with the role of mediating the learning approach on student tolerance. 2. Theoretical Basis 2.1. Epistemological Belief Epistemological beliefs, etymologically, epistemology comes from the Greek from the combination of the words "episteme" and "logos". Episteme means knowledge (Zerin, 1995), whereas logos usually shows theory or knowledge systemically. Research on epistemology suggests what is the source of knowledge, what is the reason? how do you determine the truth of that knowledge? and how to get knowledge? According to Schommer (1994) epistemology in educational psychology focuses on how individual beliefs about the nature of knowledge and the effect of knowing on cognitive processes. In this study, epistemological beliefs are generally CITE THIS PAPER [1] M. Nur Ghufron , "Epistemological Beliefs and Mediating Role of Learning Approaches on Social Attitudes of SHS Students," Universal Journal of Educational Research, Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 202 - 211, 2020. DOI: 10.13189/ujer.2020.080125.