In Sweden secular life deeply entrenched in the religious
past. How did it happened ?
some of the points below will be elaborated
Church’s “husförhör”
(house inspections) and state
surveillance, which created a culture of
obedience and conformity, rather than
trust in
the modern democratic sense.
"Jantelagen" (the
Law of Jante) — a cultural norm that
discourages standing out or questioning
the collectiv
In Sweden, belonging to institutions is deeply
tied to identity. Therefore, mocking
institutions or leaders can feel like
mocking the collective itself
Swedish society shows how secular rituals and
institutional belonging can replace
traditional religious faith while maintaining
a sense of collective identity
these are the hard facts
some background facts
1.2 millions use psychoactive drugs
about 1 000 000 visits to the BUP (child
and adolescent psychiatry)
highest drug related death in the EU
1860 – The first steps toward religious freedom
were introduced when Swedish citizens were
allowed to leave the Church of Sweden to join
other Christian denominations. However, atheism
or leaving religion entirely was not an option
at this point.
1951 – The Freedom of Religion Act allowed
Swedish citizens to officially leave the Church
of Sweden without joining another denomination.
This law was significant because it removed the
expectation that state employees must be church
members. For the first time, public officials
could be non-believers.
2000 – The Church of Sweden was officially
separated from the state, marking a significant
shift toward secularism in Swedish public life.
After this point, the state no longer had any
formal ties to the Church of Sweden, and
religious affiliation was no longer a
requirement for any public office.
Prior to 1951, leaving
the Church of Sweden came with serious social
consequences. Non-believers or those who left
the church could face social exclusion and
limitations in career opportunities, especially
in public service.
After 1951, it became increasingly common for
atheists and agnostics to hold public office in
Sweden. By the time of the church-state
separation in 2000, Sweden had become one of the
most secular countries in the world.