Research programme: Research areas

Empirical-practical studies of religion and theology conduct research in the main fields below. They are approached in various forms of cooperation between specialisations and include both ongoing and initiated research projects for the 2022–2024 period. The research areas below combine and develop theories and methods based on previous research within the sociology of religion, psychology of religion, religious education, studies of world-views and practical theology.

Information under the heading Collaboration includes work conducted by researchers within the area who are part of larger multidisciplinary and/or international projects and networks in which projects will be developed. Information about collaborations with external partners can be found under Cooperation.

Learning about religion: school, congregation and everyday life

This research area focuses on how learning about religion takes place through schools, the media, congregations and everyday life. The research tests new methods for developing teaching and research practice. It draws on previous studies within the sociology of religion and didactics of religion about how religion is depicted and used in different media, teaching and political debate. There is particular focus on agency, identity, learning, complexity and practical knowledge in the meeting with various stakeholders.
Contacts: Malin Löfstedt, Mia Lövheim

Changing conditions and forms for religious practices and meaning making

This research area studies changes in practices and meaning making in faith-based organisations such as Churches and religious communities. Focus is on how crises are managed, how they are interpreted, and which resources people use to address life's fundamental existential concerns. This pertains to individual resources for coping and resilience as well as social networks and faith-based organisations. The studies aim to confirm practices, resources and strategies explored in previous research, as well as to critically review and develop them. Particular attention is paid to questions of power, gender and ethnicity. Central theoretical concepts are ‘existential health’, ‘lived religion’ and ‘lived theology’.
Contacts: Katarina Westerlund, Önver Cetrez

Religion in the media, politics and society

This research area explores the dynamics between the ongoing secularisation and new questions about religion and world-views that are present in the public sphere. Examples of topics addressed include how states interact with religious and social organisations on questions of welfare, democracy and freedom of religion; how religion and values are used by different stakeholders in a new political landscape, and how religion is debated in mass media, popular culture and social media. Focus lies on the negotiations about the borders between the religious and the secular, and on what is considered private and public in society.
Contacts: Mia Lövheim

Changes in values and world-views among youth

This research area explores changes in values and world-views, in particular amongst children and young people. It places them in relation to institutions such as family, faith communities, school and the media. Research builds upon previous quantitative and qualitative studies of young people's religiosity and values within the sociology of religion and research around world-views. Socialisation, social participation, world-views and meaning making are central theories and concepts.
Contacts: Maria Klingenberg, Anders Sjöborg, Katarina Westerlund.