Subject History

Empirical-practical studies of religion and theology combine research, theories and methods from practical theology, the psychology of religion and sociology of religion, in addition to research on lifestances and religious education.

Practical theology

Practical theology at the Faculty of Theology has roots tracing back to educating priests during the 19th century. The subject then developed into a theoretically-based discipline, while practical education was successively taken over by the Church. During Åke Andréns time as professor (1954–1983), practical theology was mainly a historical science, divided into sub-areas that answered to different Church expressions. During Sven-Erik Brodd’s professorship (1993–2016), the subject became anchored in a dogmatic understanding of the Church, and the subject changed its name to Church Science. This was later expanded to include various Christian denominations as well as theological expressions beyond the Christian faith. There are similarities with the empirical world-views research that emerged within systematic theology in the 1990s and beyond, which is now an integrated element of the new subject specialisation. The turn towards qualitative empirical methods that were strengthened under Ninna Edgardh’s time as head of subject (2017–2021) tie in with a growing international interest in studies in theology as it is expressed in everyday practices.

Psychology of religion

1967 saw the establishment of the first professorship in the Psychology of Religion at Uppsala University. This was the first of its kind in the Nordic countries and was held by Hjalmar Sundén. He advocated an empirical approach to the psychology of religion, which has been strengthened and developed into a clear profile. The research subject has taken on the task of mapping religious experience amongst individuals and groups in society, based on theories in psychology and a combination of behavioural science methods. Over the past 20 years, professors Owe Wikström and Valerie DeMarinis together with senior researchers and doctoral students have worked with topics such as ritualisation of meaning making, refugees, migration and acculturation linked to health and identity development, as well as crisis, existential meaning, coping and psychological public health. Context and populations in this research have varied from families and congregations to migrants and school pupils. Research within the psychology of religion is part of multidisciplinary collaborations with psychiatry, medical anthropology, public health science and law.

Sociology of religion

In 1975, sociology of religion became a research subject in Sweden, through the creation of a joint professorship at the faculties of theology at Lund and Uppsala universities. In 1988, Thorleif Pettersson became the first professor at the Faculty of Theology at Uppsala University, followed by Anders Bäckström in 2008 and Mia Lövheim in August 2011. Historically, research within the sociology of religion has focused on Christian Churches and congregations. Since the year 2000, research at Uppsala University has broadened following changes to the relationship between the Church of Sweden and the state, increased religious and cultural diversity and globalisation and mediatisation processes in late-modern societies. Between 2002 and 2020, active contributions to international research have been made in three main areas: Media, religious and cultural change with focus on the portrayal of religion in the daily press and online digital media; Religion in civil society and politics with focus on the role of religious organisations in social and political change, and Religion in young people’s everyday lives: values and learning that focuses on changes to young people’s values and religiosity, particularly in relation to family and school.

Didactics of religion

Didactics of religion has not been an independent research subject at the department. Nevertheless, research within didactics of religion has been conducted for example as part of social sciences of religion.