Katarina Westerlund

Professor in practical theology at Department of Theology; Social Sciences of Religion and Practical Theology

Telephone:: +46 18 471 18 69
E-mail:: Katarina.Westerlund@teol.uu.se
Visiting address:: Engelska parken, Thunbergsvägen 3 B
Postal address:: Box 511
751 20 UPPSALA

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Vice-dean at Disciplinary Domain of Humanities and Social Sciences; Faculty of Theology

E-mail:: katarina.westerlund@teol.uu.se
Visiting address:: Dag Hammarskjölds väg 7
Postal address:: Box 256
751 05 UPPSALA

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Short presentation

Professor in Practical Theology and Associate Professor in Systematic Theology with World-View Studies.

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Biography

My main research interests concern practical theology, lived religion and the significance of world-views in the present day, especially in relation to religious organizations and health, spirituality, existential issues, children and family. I have worked with theory and method development of world-view research, in relation to modernity, late modernity and cultural theory, as well as with the empirical and cultural turn of faith and religion.

The thesis The meaning of the context. An empirical study of life views in conceptions of genetic engineering and in stories about childlessness, assisted reproduction and adoption (Uppsala: Acta Upsaliensis 2002) highlights world-views in two specific contexts. It also makes a theoretical contribution to world-view research by highlighting the contextuality of life outlooks. (See abstract below.)

I have also researched the view of children and the parental role in relation to individualization and normality, and discussed the contemporary normality that shapes family life from perspective of world-views and theology.

During the years 2019-2022, I have been leading the multidisciplinary research project Pentecostal Migrants in Sweden, challenges and opportunities. The project, which was funded by the Swedish Research Council, studied congregations that grow through migration. The project focuses on cultural and religious environments with people from different countries and with diverse backgrounds. In this project, I mainly work with lived religion and theology in the international pentecostal environments.