This one-day course is built around lectures and group discussions. It can be given over a single day or divided into two half days. Our focus is on conveying the knowledge surrounding these sometimes deeply concerning issues in a way that is not only substantial and grounded in research, but which also remains accessible and undramatic. Our aim is for participants to feel inspired and recognised as professionals; their ideas and experiences are utilised in the discussions. It is important that we create an environment in which any questions or thoughts can be aired and discussed.

Session 1: From Christian unitary state to Europe’s most secular country

This introductory session explains how Sweden’s unique situation has arisen, clarifying its development from a unitary state dominated by Lutheranism as the state religion, to contemporary secularity and multireligiosity. Questions about the importance of the heritage of the Swedish church and secularisation for Swedes’ self-image and religious attitudes are discussed, as well as what this background entails for religious minorities. The differences between majority Swedes’ self-understanding and newcomers’ expectations of Sweden are particularly emphasised. The final part of the session is dedicated to reflection and discussion.

Session 2: Swedish legislation on religion

This session presents Swedish legislation on issues relating to religion. After a brief historical overview of the development of religious legislation, Sweden’s modern statutes are discussed. What does the freedom of religion really mean? What aspects of life fall under the freedom of religion? What should public authorities do when traditions and beliefs conflict with human rights or societal expectations? There is special emphasis on the particularities of Swedish religious legislation and how it differs from that of the main immigration countries. The session ends with exercises on actual cases in which the legislation was tested.

Session 3: Europe’s most multireligious country

This session presents Sweden’s multifaith landscape. How did this diversity come about and when did Jews, Muslims and other religious minorities become established in Sweden? Which religions are established in Sweden today and what knowledge do the providers of public information need? The session also discusses how the state has chosen to manage its relations with religious groups. Many of the people who have sought asylum here have been escaping religious conflicts in their home countries. How can these conflicts also be expressed in Sweden? What are the challenges and opportunities of religious diversity?? There is a special emphasis on the importance of religion for people of different faiths who have recently arrived in Sweden. The session ends with actual cases, reflection and discussion.

Session 4: Concluding discussion

This final session focuses on the participants’ own experiences. Small group discussions on the religion-related challenges faced by the participants in their professional roles are followed by a closing session that summarises and brings together the threads of the day’s sessions. The focus is always on the participants’ tasks, professional roles and working environment.

If you are interested or would like more information, please email ims@sh.se

Islam is now Sweden’s second largest religion. There are many questions and many opinions about the role of Islam and Muslims in society. On this course, participants will learn about the history of Islam and the life of Muslims in Sweden based on up-to-date empirical research.

Session 1: Islam’s establishment and organisation – the relationship between the state and Muslims

When did Muslims arrive in Sweden, how have they established and organised themselves, and how has the relationship between the state and Muslim organisations been established and developed over time. Which Muslim groups are established in Sweden and what is the relationship between them? Are there secular Muslims? How do they relate to Islam?

Session 2: Mosques and Sharia law

Many municipalities have concerns about mosques. In this session we discuss the function of mosques for Swedish Muslims. What approach can we take to the foreign funding of mosques? Another element around which there are many questions is Sharia law. What actually is Sharia and what function does Sharia fulfil for Swedish Muslims? The session also leaves space for the participants’ questions.

Session 3: Islamism and Salafism in Sweden

Since 11 September 2001 and the formation of the Islamic State a decade later, issues surrounding Islamism and Salafism have been hotly debated. What exactly are Islamism and Salafism? Are they the same thing or are they different? Are Islamism and Salafism established in Sweden?

Session 4: Islamophobia and discrimination against Muslims

Sociological surveys show that Islam is the religion with which most Swedes, around 50 per cent, have the most negative associations. Other studies show that Muslims face discrimination in the housing and labour markets; reported Islamophobic hate crimes have doubled in a decade. What do we know about Islamophobia in Sweden? How to critically discuss how is Islam is expressed without this becoming Islamophobia?

If you are interested or would like more information, please email ims@sh.se

Sweden is Europe’s most secularised country. At the same time, the migration of recent decades also means that it is now Europe’s most multireligious country. Is it a paradox, or could secularity be a precondition of multireligiosity?

Session 1: What does secularisation mean and what is specific to secular Sweden?

As a word, secularisation is often used in discussions and debates as if its meaning were self-evident. But is it really? This session presents different ways of understanding the concept. To what extent is secularisation tied to cultural and religious contexts? Sweden is often described as the world’s most secularised country, but is this true? How did Sweden become secularised, how did this occur and what can be said to be characteristic of Swedish secularisation?

Session 2: What does Swedish legislation on religious freedom entail?

The session provides an overview of how Swedish legislation on religious freedom has developed and its current formulation. It is not always clear what Swedish legislation on the freedom of religious actually protects, and there is no legal definition of “religion” in Swedish law. In recent years, high-profile issues related to religious practice have been both discussed in the media and tested legally, such as prayer calls, religious slaughter, clothing or social relations, for example. Often, these phenomena have fallen within the scope of other legislation than the act on freedom of religion. Several well-publicised cases have also shown how different pieces of legislation appear to contradict each other. For example, when the right of children to choose and shape their own faith and identity collides with parents’ rights to raise their children in accordance with their own religion.

Session 3: How did Sweden become Europe’s most multireligious country?

In just a few decades, Sweden has undergone dramatic demographic changes, transforming from an ethnically and religiously homogeneous country to now being described as Europe’s most multireligious country. What has this process been, which religions are now established in Sweden and what is the relationship between these different religious groups, the majority society and the Swedish state?

Session 4: What challenges and opportunities are presented by the relationship between the secular state and the multireligious society?

In this final session, we discuss individual cases in which the pluralism that now characterises Swedish society has tested the secular state and its framework. We discuss apparently conflicting legislation on religious freedom, anti-religious hate crimes, clan and honour issues.

We can also provide focus days and lectures on the following themes:

• Jews and Judaism in Sweden
• Christian minorities in Sweden
• Hinduism and Buddhism in Sweden
• New religious minorities in Sweden
• Honour-based problems
• Clan structures
• What does Sharia law actually mean, what role does Sharia play in Sweden today?
• Radicalisation and violent extremism
• Salafism and Islamism
• Islamophobia and discrimination against Muslims
• Inter-Muslim tensions and conflicts in contemporary Sweden
• Anti-Semitism and the vulnerability of Jews in Sweden
• Christophobia and the vulnerability of Christians in contemporary Sweden
• Anti-religious attitudes and discriminatory attitudes
• Religious communities as actors in civil society – a challenge or a resource?