Research Areas
Ancient religions in the Mediterranean world
The study of Near Eastern and ancient religions extends from Mesopotamia and Iran in the east to Egypt, Greece and Rome in the west. It covers an enormous field both geographically and temporally and may include studies of myth and ritual at all levels of society, from personal religion to official temple cult. In this field there is a rich diversity of sources – texts, iconography, material culture – that require their own specific theoretical and methodological approaches. Within the history of religions, textual studies and philology are of great importance. A significant aspect of study is also reception history in historical and modern times, as well as how this process shaped the view of ancient and ancient cultures throughout history.
Contact persons: Nils Billing
Religions of South and East Asia from the earliest written sources to the present
The many religious and philosophical traditions that arose and developed in South, Southeast and East Asia, including Buddhism and Hinduism, as well as the religious beliefs, practices, rituals, and symbols of these traditions, can be studied from a variety of perspectives and sources. Philological studies of source texts in languages such as Sanskrit, Pali, Tibetan, Japanese, and Chinese form the core of the study of these traditions. This philological and historical focus can be combined with studies of modern developments and other perspectives, including ethnographic studies of contemporary movements.
Contact person: Jens W Borgland, Ernils Larsson and Per-Johan Norelius
Jewish life past and present
Studies of Jewish life past and present can be carried out from historical, linguistic, anthropological, or aesthetic starting points. Throughout history, Jewish tradition has regarded scriptures, religious life and culture as central. The Talmud is the source of religious guidance and is a cultural treasure. The texts of the Hebrew Bible are a common point of reference for Jews, Christians and Muslims where many stories and figures are shared. Researchers in this field work with Judaism in various national contexts, as well as topics related to Jewish source texts such as biblical interpretation and the Pharisaic movement.
Contact person: Håkan Bengtsson
Inter-religious encounters, dialogue, and conversion
Inter-religious encounters, inter-religious dialogues, and conversions between religious traditions can be studied historically as well as from a contemporary perspective. The researchers focus on inter-religious dialogue and inter-religious encounters understood in their historical and societal contexts. Inter-religious encounters and dialogues take place in many different contexts, both in conflict and in peace. Encounters between different religious traditions are multidimensional; it is not only religious ideas that interact with each other, but also spiritual experiences, artistic expressions, and political ideals.
Contact persons: Kajsa Ahlstrand and Håkan Bengtsson
Christianity in Africa, Asia and Latin America (from the 19th century to the present)
There have been Christians in Africa and Asia since the beginning of Christianity, Christianity came to Latin America in the 16th century. In the specialisation World Christianity, the focus is above all on contemporary or relatively recent historical expressions of Christian life. The methods used to study Christian life on different continents are combinations of archival studies and ethnographic methods. Lived religion, artistic expressions, reflective practices, and memory are central concepts in this research area.
Contact person: Kajsa Ahlstrand
Religion and politics
The relationship between religion and politics is a recurring theme in debates. In religious studies research there are various theories and methods through which the present can be interpreted and illuminated from a historical perspective. An important area of research concerns the place, function and form of religions in different societies. Other perspectives focus on how religious leadership or religious beliefs and practices influence involvement in political issues and social movements. How states and civil society view the role of religious groups is another entry into this field.
Contact persons: Kajsa Ahlstrand, Håkan Bengtsson, Jens W Borgland and Ernils Larsson