A secular state, many religions

Chapter 12 covers freedom of religion and which religions are practised in Sweden. It spans pages 42–44 and contains a few dates that are central.

What a secular state means

Sweden being a secular state means the state is religiously neutral — it neither takes sides for nor discriminates against any religion. The state guarantees everyone the right to decide for themselves whether they want to belong to a religion or not.

Under the Instrument of Government, one of the constitutional laws, everyone has the right to practise their religion, and no one may be discriminated against because of their faith or religious views.

Secular, then, does not mean hostile to religion. It means the state stays neutral.

The road to religious freedom

For a long time, the Protestant Lutheran church was the only religion permitted in Sweden. Three dates mark the change:

• 1860 — it became legal for Swedes to leave the Church of Sweden, but only if they joined another Christian denomination.
• 1951 — the Freedom of Religion Act, the final breakthrough for religious freedom. It now became possible to freely choose any religion, or to belong to no religion at all.
• 2000 — the state and the Church of Sweden were separated. The Church of Sweden became one of several faith communities in society, but remains the largest Christian denomination in Sweden.

Religious education in school

Religious education in Swedish schools is meant to give students a broad understanding of different religions, beliefs, and worldviews from around the world. The goal is to promote understanding, tolerance, and respect for differences.

The role of religion today

Christianity has shaped Sweden through the centuries and left many cultural traces. Membership in the Church of Sweden is declining, but many Swedes still celebrate Christian holidays such as Christmas and Easter without seeing themselves as religious. Religious rituals such as baptism, church weddings, and Christian funerals are still common, even among members who do not describe themselves as believers.

The role of religion in society has diminished — while at the same time religion and religious questions have received more attention in recent years. As immigration has increased, so has the number of religions practised in Sweden, and today almost all the world’s religions are represented.

Christianity

Christianity is today the world’s largest religion. Sweden has many Christian denominations with different traditions, including Christianity’s three main branches: Orthodox churches, the Catholic Church, and various Protestant churches.

The Church of Sweden has around five million members and has historical roots in the Lutheran, Protestant tradition, founded in the 1500s. Before the Reformation, during the Middle Ages, Sweden was a Catholic country. About 3,000 medieval churches still remain around the country.

Judaism

The history of Judaism in Sweden can be traced back to the 1700s, when Jews were first given the right to live and practise their religion in the country. Antisemitism was long widespread across Europe, and it was only in 1870 that Jews gained full civil rights in Sweden.

Judaism is the smallest of the world religions. Today’s Sweden has several Jewish congregations and synagogues that offer different ways to practise Jewish faith and culture and play an important role in preserving Jewish tradition and community.

Hinduism and Buddhism

Contact with Hindus and Buddhists in Sweden began mainly during the 1900s, including through travel to Asia and growing interest in meditation and yoga.

Today, Buddhists and Hindus in Sweden are found mainly among immigrants from countries where these religions are widespread. There are both Buddhist and Hindu congregations and temples in various places around the country, where prayers, rituals, and religious festivals are held.

Islam

At the start of the 1900s there were only a small number of Muslims in Sweden. It was only after the Second World War that the number grew through immigration. Sweden’s first mosques were built during the 1970s, and the Stockholm Mosque was inaugurated in 2000.

Islam is now the second-largest religion in Sweden. There are mosques and prayer facilities across the country. Sweden’s Muslim congregations and organisations reflect several different strands and traditions within Islam, such as Sunni and Shia. The congregations offer prayer, teaching, and community.

Dates in the chapter

Year	Event
1500s	The Reformation; Sweden becomes Protestant
1700s	Jews gain the right to live and practise their religion
1860	Legal to leave the Church of Sweden — if joining another Christian denomination
1870	Jews gain full civil rights
1951	The Freedom of Religion Act — free to choose any religion or none at all
1970s	Sweden’s first mosques are built
2000	The state and the Church of Sweden separate; the Stockholm Mosque is inaugurated