Symposium: National Christianities in the Nordic Region: Past and Present

Christianity has long been a part of nation-building and societal change in Sweden and other Nordic countries. However, the process of creating “imagined national communities” has not always been smooth since the emergence of nationalism since the 19th century. Ethnic, racial, cultural, political, and geographic boundaries usually associated with various forms of nationalism have clashed with the universal claims of the Christian faith. Similarly, different visualizations of the content and role of Christian faith and practices in the modern democratic welfare states have included tensions between lingering ideals of confessionalism and visions of religious freedom.

The aim of the symposium is to bring Nordic scholars together to explore the multifaceted relationship between Nordic welfare states and Christian faith, practice and theology as an important element in Nordic nation-building.

Participants from Sweden, Norway and Finland will present original research on the following themes:

- Christianity and conflict: war, polarization, tolerance and intolerance
- Relations between Christian majority culture and racism: national and religious minorities
- Christianity and history: the meaning of national narratives; nation, religion and education in a historical perspective
- Christianity and democracy: the development of democracy, legislation and anti-democratic ideas
- Christianity and state agencies: school, society and religious communities
- Christianity and equality: religion, nationalism and gender from an intersectional perspective

The presentations will be held in English.

If you wish to attend, we ask that you register through this link to be able to get some “fika” in the breaks or get access to a Zoom link if you will not attend physically.

Registration (deadline May 3): https://doit.medfarm.uu.se/bin/kurt3/kurt/87925

Additional information

programme-11-12-may_christianity.pdf