
The Study of Religion in Sweden
Past, Present and Future
Bloomsbury Academic (Publisher)
Published on 30. October 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
296 pages
978-1-350-41332-0 (ISBN)
Description
This book provides a comprehensive examination of the study of religions in Sweden, from the early twentieth century to the present and shows how the intersection of national and social forces shape the study of religion in specific countries and contexts. It traces the establishment of the study of religions as an integrated part of Higher Education in Sweden and it critically examines the development of the most significant disciplines, themes and questions that form Religious Studies in Sweden.
Demonstrating the interconnection between nationality and the formation of the academic study of religion, the book explores how Sweden is often described as the most secularised country in the world, yet the study of religions in Sweden has a long, rich, and diverse history. The book emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of the study of religions, and bring together the voices of 30 scholars.
Demonstrating the interconnection between nationality and the formation of the academic study of religion, the book explores how Sweden is often described as the most secularised country in the world, yet the study of religions in Sweden has a long, rich, and diverse history. The book emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of the study of religions, and bring together the voices of 30 scholars.
Reviews / Votes
'This volume showcases how the study of religion is not universal, but often dependent upon a host of national, political and social concerns about the place and role of religion in specific countries. I hope this excellent collection will inspire others to reflect and write on the study of religion in other national contexts.' * Aaron W. Hughes, University of Rochester, USA and author of From Seminary to University: An Institutional History of the Study of Religion in Canada. * The Study of Religion in Sweden will be an invaluable resource for readers interested in the academic study of religion in a specific, Swedish context. * Nova Religio * The book provides an illuminating showcase of the study of religions in Sweden as a vibrant and internationally visible research landscape. * Numen *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 16 mm
Weight
456 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-350-41332-0 (9781350413320)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
03/2024
1st Edition
Bloomsbury Academic
€31.99
Available for download

E-Book
03/2024
1st Edition
Bloomsbury Academic
€31.99
Available for download
Persons
Henrik Bogdan is Professor in History of Religions at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Goeran Larsson is Professor in the Study of Religions at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Goeran Larsson is Professor in the Study of Religions at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Editor
University of Gothenburg, Sweden
University of Gothenburg, Sweden
Content
List of Figures
List of Contributors
Introduction: The History of the Study of Religion in Sweden, Goeran Larsson & Henrik Bogdan
Goeran Larsson (University of Gothenburg, Sweden) and Henrik Bogdan (University of Gothenburg, Sweden)
Part I: Historical Approaches
1. Ancient Near Eastern Religions, Therese Rodin (Dalarna University, Sweden) and Heike Peter (Halmstad University, Sweden)
2. Old Norse Religion, Olof Sundqvist (Stockholm University, Sweden)
3. Indigenous Religions, Daniel Andersson (University of Gothenburg, Sweden) and Bodil Liljefors-Persson (Malmo University, Sweden)
4. Judaism, Svante Lundgren (Lund University, Sweden) and Martin Lund (Malmo University, Sweden)
5. Islam, Goeran Larsson (Gothenburg University, Sweden), Susanne Olsson (Stockholm University, Sweden) and Simon Sorgenfrei (Soedertoern University)
6. Indian Religions, Kristina Myrvold (Lund University, Sweden), Katarina Plank (Karlstad University, Sweden) and Ferdinando Sardella (Stockholm University)
7. Western Esotericism, Henrik Bogdan (University of Gothenburg, Sweden)
8. New Religious Movements and New Age Spirituality, Peter Akerbaeck (Stockholm University, Sweden) and Sanja Nilsson (Malmo University, Sweden)
Part II: Social Scientific Approaches
9. Psychology of Religion, Goeran Stahle (Soedertoern University, Sweden) and Tomas LIndgren (Umea University, Sweden
10. Sociology of Religion, Magdalena Nordin (University of Gothenburg, Sweden) and Mia Loevheim (Uppsala University, Sweden)
11. Cognitive Studies of Religion, Jonas Svensson (Linnaeus University, Sweden) and Egil Asprem (Stockholm University, Sweden)
12. Religious Education, Olof Frank (University of Gothenburg) and Christina Osbeck (University of Gothenburg)
Part III: Themes in the Study of Religion in Sweden
13.Comparative Studies ,Stefan Arvidsson (Linnaeus University) and Peter Jackson (Stockholm University, Sweden)
14. Ritual Studies, Anne-Christine Hornborg (Lund University, Sweden)
15. Lived Religion, Daniel Enstedt (University of Gothenburg, Sweden) Jessica Moberg (University of Gothenburg) and Katarina Plank (Karlstadt University, Sweden)
16. Gender Studies, Manon Hedenborg White (Karlstadt University, Sweden)
17. Violence, Tomas Lindgren (Umea University, Sweden), Goeran Larsson (University of Gothenburg) and Isak Svensson (Uppsala University, Sweden)
Afterword: Reflections on the Study of Religion in Sweden, Jenny Berglund (Stockholm University, Stockholm) and Tim Jensen(University of Southern Denmark, Denmark)
Index
List of Contributors
Introduction: The History of the Study of Religion in Sweden, Goeran Larsson & Henrik Bogdan
Goeran Larsson (University of Gothenburg, Sweden) and Henrik Bogdan (University of Gothenburg, Sweden)
Part I: Historical Approaches
1. Ancient Near Eastern Religions, Therese Rodin (Dalarna University, Sweden) and Heike Peter (Halmstad University, Sweden)
2. Old Norse Religion, Olof Sundqvist (Stockholm University, Sweden)
3. Indigenous Religions, Daniel Andersson (University of Gothenburg, Sweden) and Bodil Liljefors-Persson (Malmo University, Sweden)
4. Judaism, Svante Lundgren (Lund University, Sweden) and Martin Lund (Malmo University, Sweden)
5. Islam, Goeran Larsson (Gothenburg University, Sweden), Susanne Olsson (Stockholm University, Sweden) and Simon Sorgenfrei (Soedertoern University)
6. Indian Religions, Kristina Myrvold (Lund University, Sweden), Katarina Plank (Karlstad University, Sweden) and Ferdinando Sardella (Stockholm University)
7. Western Esotericism, Henrik Bogdan (University of Gothenburg, Sweden)
8. New Religious Movements and New Age Spirituality, Peter Akerbaeck (Stockholm University, Sweden) and Sanja Nilsson (Malmo University, Sweden)
Part II: Social Scientific Approaches
9. Psychology of Religion, Goeran Stahle (Soedertoern University, Sweden) and Tomas LIndgren (Umea University, Sweden
10. Sociology of Religion, Magdalena Nordin (University of Gothenburg, Sweden) and Mia Loevheim (Uppsala University, Sweden)
11. Cognitive Studies of Religion, Jonas Svensson (Linnaeus University, Sweden) and Egil Asprem (Stockholm University, Sweden)
12. Religious Education, Olof Frank (University of Gothenburg) and Christina Osbeck (University of Gothenburg)
Part III: Themes in the Study of Religion in Sweden
13.Comparative Studies ,Stefan Arvidsson (Linnaeus University) and Peter Jackson (Stockholm University, Sweden)
14. Ritual Studies, Anne-Christine Hornborg (Lund University, Sweden)
15. Lived Religion, Daniel Enstedt (University of Gothenburg, Sweden) Jessica Moberg (University of Gothenburg) and Katarina Plank (Karlstadt University, Sweden)
16. Gender Studies, Manon Hedenborg White (Karlstadt University, Sweden)
17. Violence, Tomas Lindgren (Umea University, Sweden), Goeran Larsson (University of Gothenburg) and Isak Svensson (Uppsala University, Sweden)
Afterword: Reflections on the Study of Religion in Sweden, Jenny Berglund (Stockholm University, Stockholm) and Tim Jensen(University of Southern Denmark, Denmark)
Index