Christianity and Islam in Sweden: Challenges and Acceptance

1. Religion

2. Religion Sweden's position at the vs.Each country is on the “The WVS Cultural Map of the World” positioned according to its people’s values. The map measures how traditional or secular-rational its values are, and also if these are survival or self-expression values. Sweden is positioned as the country with highest self-expression values, and is after Japan also counted as the most secular-rational country in the world.

3. How it feels being a Christian in Sweden? There are about 150,000 practicing Catholics in Sweden and there are roughly 6, 4 million members in the Swedish church. Growing up as a Christian in general, Catholics and Protestants in a secular society is often very frustrating. Christians get usually mixed up with Christian extremists. Atheists think that these Christians are unbevelivebly ignorant about life and how it was created. Christians get blamed of all the bad things that happen in the name of religion. ”Where is this God?” The atheists believe that Christians have faith in some old man by the clouds. How this God created us, they ask. They think that Christians are ignorant by the cause of not believing in Big Bang. Believing in Big Bang is against the bible. Sometimes Christians get discriminated during conversations about life theories or manifestations. The norm in Sweden is about being secular therefor the people that have beliefs are often singled out and maybe feel misplaced. Prostentanism has been the main religion in Sweden for centuries and has become a part of the Swedish culture. Some of the Christian celebrations are celebrated for example: Christmas. Christmas get celebrated by secular people and people that have other beliefs as a family celebration. They celebrate with gifts and food but they have not the religious purpose in minds, but in Christianity it celebrates the birth of Jesus. These holidays affect schooldays and work schedules by having days to celebrate and people generally don't celebrate it. In conclusion the Swedish society is more accepting with Christianity than other religions. Even though it exists bullying in schools and other places because of the religion. The churches in Sweden are often white and big. One church in Odenplan, Stockholm is big and well accessorized. The church has paintings on its ceiling and walls. There is a cross with Jesus on it in the front of the church and a podium. There are benches lined towards the podium and there is a bowl where people often kids get baptized.

4. Islam/Adhan Islam is the second biggest in Sweden today, which has gotten quite a lot of attention in media the past years due to clashes between cultures. Sweden is a very secular country nowadays and the amount religious Christians has increased since the beginning of the 20th century, but a lot of Swedes still consider the way that Muslim culture has started to extend in Sweden something bad. One example that created a huge debate in Sweden is adhan, or mosques’ daily exclamation of prayer. A lot of Swedes, both Christian and Atheists, claim that it intrudes on their private lives and that Muslims are projecting their religious beliefs onto them. Some religious Christians also think that adhan goes against good Swedish, Christian values. It has been a slight commotion regarding the clothing that is associated with Islam. The most common example is the Hijab, more known as the headscarf, which can be seen by Muslims in most countries. While these can create some attention they are nowadays fairly accepted in Western society, Sweden included. However, the burqa which fully covers the body as well as the niqab that is more or less the same excluding the covering of the eyes, have caused a serious debate. They are very warm but one cannot identify the person behind it. (Ninja?) A thing that been discussed much in the Swedish society is Halal slaughter. In Sweden, Halal slaughter is allowed as long as it follows the animal protection laws, for example it is forbidden to not use anesthesia before slaughter. Sweden is the only country in EU where kosher slaughter is forbidden?

5. How is it to live as a Jew and a Muslim in Sweden? The Jewish culture in Sweden is not very religious, there are more liberal Jews in Sweden than there are orthodox Jews that can also be because Sweden is a very secular country in general. And since Sweden is such a secular country, it makes it easier for both Jews and Muslims to live like they believe is best for them and according to their religion. Although, just like in the rest of the world, there is this current discrimination that in some cases can be hard on very religious Jews or Muslims. Although the swedes are usually an extremely tolerant people, there are many prejudices that revolve around the appearance of people. Overall both Jews and Muslims can live and do what they want but it’s only the cases were people have been discriminated that is being enlightened by media. There are many different organizations for Jews in Sweden such as Bnei Akiva, which is an orthodox organization that allows people in all ages to join. In Bnei Akiva it is not just rules and going to the synagogue just because that won’t get the youngest attention and interest but it is more focused on throwing small parties were everyone can participate despite how religious they are.

6. Humanisterna “Humanisterna” is a group of people who care about the secular society and to separate religion and politics. They want the human rights to stand over all religious norms and values. Today “Humanisterna” is a nonprofit fundraising foundation and 2008 the organization donated over 1 million Swedish seek for people living in oppression. This organization act and spread their ideas through media, but also they have meetings which you can attend to as a member. According to the Humanists, number of members are approximately 5200. “Humanisterna” is a clear example on big secularity is in Sweden. Being an atheist in Sweden is more common than being religious. Instead it’s being religious that’s strange. Therefore, we believe many people keep their religious thoughts to themselves. Religion is something that rarely is discussed loudly among swedes, maybe because your own personal belief is something very private. Many disagree with the concept of religion and therefore consider themselves atheists. Most people respect other people’s beliefs and accept them as long as they keep their beliefs to themselves. However, most people in Sweden agree with “The humanists” and think that religion and politics should be separate.

7. Immigration Sweden is a country that in many ways has been affected by immigrants from different countries and cultures around the world. After World War II, groups of people from Norway, Denmark, Italy, Greece, Yugoslavia and Turkey moved there as labor immigrants. During the 70’s the requirements for applying for asylum were regulated and the demands for getting a residence permit became more strict. These laws were changed again when later a new wave of immigrants from countries like Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey and Eritrea applied for asylum and the regulations had to be reconsidered. Since Sweden in 1995 became a member of the European Union, the immigration has increased gradually and still does today.