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This essay studies the frequent habit of using Orthodox icons in the Church of Sweden. Over the last 30 years, these icons have become very popular. How come a symbol, traditionally foreign to the Swedish, Lutheran tradition, has become so accepted? Is the use of icons an expression of a shift of religious practice in Sweden today? Interviews were conducted with people employed by the Church, who
This thesis takes on the distribution of influence at the local level of the Church of Sweden from a legitimacy theory perspective. It is argued that the high levels of member resignation could be viewed as a manifested lack of confidence due to the failing legitimacy of the Church of Sweden. In order to continue the academic discussion on the democratic relation between the Church and its members
The Church of Sweden has a long history of social work, and until year 2000 the Church of Sweden was a part of the government. Officially, the divorce between the two has not implied other changes than that each one is now in charge of its own economy. This study was done with a qualitative method in which semi-structured interviews were conducted with three deacons and three social workers. The a
In Sweden today, the participation in children’s activities of the Church of Sweden is increasing, also in relation to the size of the age groups. The number of members in the Church of Sweden is decreasing, as well as participation in baptism and confirmation. Considering these facts the main question of this studie is: Why choose children’s activities arranged by the Church of Sweden today? With
It is often stated that the Gospel is for all people, regardless of age. This essay addresses the issue of children in worshiping communities in Church of Sweden. I examine how children are worshiping, and how they can build understanding and develop through it. I wanted to see how the communities work for the children and how they give them tools and help to guide them into participation. Accordi
How many times have you heard that if children are in church they should be quiet and still? It was common to hear when I was young that children should go out as soon as they started making any noise. It was and is always a pleasure for everyone to hear the cute children singing a pretty song in church but afterwards there should be silence again! What I want is for the congregation to accept the
During the second half of the 20th century, more possibilities of singing Psalms in the common Sunday service arose in Church of Sweden. The aim of this study is to see in what different ways the Psalms are usually sung and where they appear in the different worship books. I am interested in how this has changed over time, from the 1940s until today. A special focus is also on church musicians and
This thesis looks at present-day ecclesial use of the Bible by investigating the reception of narrative parables from the Gospel of Luke, chapters 10–15, in sermon guidelines published 1985–2013 in two periodicals aimed mainly at Church of Sweden clergy. The main problems can be expressed by the words “what”, “how” and “why”: What is received – and what is not received? How is that which is receiv
Saknas
The purpose of this study was to explore and analyse both how the grief groups in the Church of Sweden are organised, as well as how and if the religion is used during the conversations about death. I have also looked at how the group leaders view the grieving process. Semi-structured interviews were held with deacons and clergy that work with leading grief groups within the Church of Sweden. The
