Research area History of Religions

History of Religions has a broad research profile that includes historical-philological as well as ethnographic-anthropological approaches. This is reflected in our teachings programmes as well.

Through its broad empirical interests, that is not limited by time or space, History of Religions requires that the researchers develop a specialisation, for example in a specific language or cultural area. Simultaneously, historians of religion wish to contribute to the development of theoretical and analytical perspectives within the broader study of religions. This relates to religion in culture and society due to the central role that contextualisation of the empirical material has in the discipline.

Apocalypticism

While apocalypticism today gives associations to cataclysmic doomsday scenarios, the Greek term apokálypsis means “revelation” and refers to a genre of visionary religious texts that were widespread in late-antiquity.

Go to Apocalypticism

Asceticism and Ritual Self-Practices

Asceticism is a concept that originated in ancient Greek culture. The term askêsis originally referred to training and exercises of a more physical and gymnastic nature, but also came to denote the strictly regulated spiritual way of life that distinguished philosophical and religious sects.

Go to Asceticism and Ritual Self-Practices

Gender and Religion

The research area gender and religion explores how gender creates and is created by religious notions and practices. The dynamics between lived, popular religion and religious institutions are central for the gender perspective in ethnographic as well as historical studies.

Go to Gender and Religion

Islamic Studies

Islamic Studies at Stockholm University is a multifaceted discipline in the history of religions. It includes research concerning how Islam has been interpreted and practiced in different historical periods as well as different cultural settings globally, from the beginning of Islam to the present.

Go to Islamic Studies

Lived Religion

Religion as a phenomenon in constant change is a corner stone in the history of religions. In this field of research, lived religion addresses religion as a part of peoples’ everyday life.

Go to Lived Religion

Magic, Mysticism, and Esotericism

As a result of a dominant concept of religion modeled on Protestantism, magic, mysticism, and esotericism have often been seen as marginal and problematic forms of religion in the west.

Go to Magic, Mysticism, and Esotericism

Old Norse Religion

The research profile of Old Norse religion includes an interdisciplinary approach, where several different source categories are studied.

Go to Old Norse Religion

Religion, Diversity and Cultural Heritage

Go to Religion, Diversity and Cultural Heritage

Religion, Politics and Violence

Religion, politics and violence is a broad field of research that includes a multitude of religious traditions in both history and the present.

Go to Religion, Politics and Violence

Religion in Change

Religions are historical objects, shaped by humans in specific historical circumstances. Religions are invented, adapted to new circumstances, and eventually wither away.

Go to Religion in Change

Religions of Antiquity

Religions of antiquity usually refer to the religions that flourished in the Mediterranean from early historical (archaic) times until the beginning of the Middle Ages.

Go to Religions of Antiquity

Cookie settings

By allowing third-party services, you accept their cookies and the use of tracking technologies necessary for them to function properly.