A theoretical model of religious change is developed, according to which a study of secularization at the individual level should take into account not only the extent to which individuals adhere to certain religious beliefs, but also their personal commitment to these beliefs. Data from two empirical studies are analyzed; a nationwide panel survey made in 1955 and 1970, the data from which had not previously been studied at the individual level, and a nationwide survey of world-views and value systems among the Swedish population, carried out in 1986. traditional religious beliefs that took place in Sweden during the period studied was due not only to a successive decline in religious beliefs from older birth cohorts to younger, probably connected with differences in religious socialization, but also to a decline in religious beliefs within given birth cohorts, a decline most pronounced in the younger age strata. Both surveys gave a picture of Sweden as a highly secularized country, in the sense that low shares of the population adhere to the Christian faith or attend public worship. religion or private religion, may have emerged instead. While the results indicated that the Christian faith has to some extent been replaced by a rather vague belief in a transcendent power and that certain other beliefs, e.g. belief in reincarnation, may have gained ground, they did not suggest that a large part of the population could be described in such categories. They indicate, rather, the presence of widely diffused sets of beliefs, heterogene and vague, that from strict substantial criteria can hardly be undertood as religion.

A theoretical model of religious change is developed, according to which a study of secularization at the individual level should take into account not only the extent to which individuals adhere to certain religious beliefs, but also their personal commitment to these beliefs. Data from two empirical studies are analyzed; a nationwide panel survey made in 1955 and 1970, the data from which had not previously been studied at the individual level, and a nationwide survey of world-views and value systems among the Swedish population, carried out in 1986. traditional religious beliefs that took place in Sweden during the period studied was due not only to a successive decline in religious beliefs from older birth cohorts to younger, probably connected with differences in religious socialization, but also to a decline in religious beliefs within given birth cohorts, a decline most pronounced in the younger age strata. Both surveys gave a picture of Sweden as a highly secularized country, in the sense that low shares of the population adhere to the Christian faith or attend public worship. religion or private religion, may have emerged instead. While the results indicated that the Christian faith has to some extent been replaced by a rather vague belief in a transcendent power and that certain other beliefs, e.g. belief in reincarnation, may have gained ground, they did not suggest that a large part of the population could be described in such categories. They indicate, rather, the presence of widely diffused sets of beliefs, heterogene and vague, that from strict substantial criteria can hardly be undertood as religion.

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.

Christendom lasted for over a thousand years in Western Europe, and we are still living in its shadow. For over two centuries this social and religious order has been in decline. Enforced religious unity has given way to increasing pluralism, and since 1960 this process has spectacularly accelerated. In this 2003 book, historians, sociologists and theologians from six countries answer two central questions: what is the religious condition of Western Europe at the start of the twenty-first century, and how and why did Christendom decline? Beginning by overviewing the more recent situation, the authors then go back into the past, tracing the course of events in England, Ireland, France, Germany and the Netherlands, and showing how the fate of Christendom is reflected in changing attitudes to death and to technology, and in the evolution of religious language. They reveal a pattern more complex and ambiguous than many of the conventional narratives will admit.

Once part of the Kalmar Union-along with Denmark and Norway-the Kingdom of Sweden broke free in order to govern itself in the early 1500s, and for more than a century afterwards it was a force to be reckoned with. At its peak, it was twice the size that it is today, but with the secession of Finland in 1809 and the rise of Russia, Sweden changed its path and instead turned toward neutrality and a peaceful existence. Today, Sweden boasts a healthy economy, and it is an important member of the European Union, as well a major contributor to international activities. The A to Z of Sweden relates the history of Sweden through a chronology, a list of acronyms and abbreviations, an introductory essay, a bibliography, appendixes, and hundreds of cross-referenced dictionary entries on significant persons, events, and institutions, this dictionary provides information ranging from politics to economics, from education to religion, and from music to literature.

While Church attendance in the West is often cited as being in decline, it is argued that this applies primarily to the older established forms of Christianity. Other expressions of the faith are, in fact, stable or even growing. This volume provides multidisciplinary interpretations of and responses to one of the most complicated and controversial issues regarding the global transformation of Christianity today: the decline of "established Christianity" in the Western world. It also addresses the future of Christianity in the West after the decline. Drawing upon historical research, sociology, religious studies, philosophy and theology, an international panel of contributors provide new theoretical frameworks for understanding this decline and offer creative suggestions for responding to it. "Established Christianity" is conceptualized as historically, culturally, socially and politically embedded religion (with or without official established status). This is a dynamic volume that gives fresh perspective on one of the great social changes taking place in the West today. As such, it will be of great interest to scholars of religious sociology, history and anthropology, as well as theologians.

This book presents new conceptual and methodological approaches to studying religiosity in Europe. From her unique background of working with the Church of Sweden statistics and official statistics on the increasing religious diversity in Sweden, Willander illustrates how previous and current methods of analysing religiosity overlook substantial aspects in patterns of affiliation, belief and practice. Unity, Division and the Religious Mainstream in Sweden draws on the sociological imagination in the sociology of religion to offer a new and empirically-driven analytical framework that shifts the focus to religious change in general, and will contribute greatly to ongoing discussions about majority forms of religiosity and their social relevance in contemporary times. It will be of use to students and scholars with a focus on the sociology of religion, as well as sociology, political science, epistemology and media studies.