Tag: religion

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Norwegian parliamentary politicians laughed when they quoted from the Bible

The Bible has been used as a political guiding principle in three Norwegian parliamentary debates, twice for real and once for fun.

Fewer Norwegians than before are members of a religious community

Many Norwegians belong to religious or life stance communities outside the Church of Norway, which last year lost a record number of members.

This is what an ancient Mary and Jesus statue would have looked like 800 years ago

An ancient statue in Norway has been recreated. It shows us how Jesus and Mary may have looked when the statue came to Norway 800 years ago.

Monks had to remain silent whilst they ate, so they invented a sign language

The Cistercian monks lived by strict rules.

How was Easter celebrated in the olden days?

ASK A RESEARCHER: Norwegians have celebrated Easter for almost 1000 years. Easter used to be a solemn holiday, but now it’s evolved into primarily a holiday time, according to two researchers.

Medieval scribes wrote about religion, medicine and magic in the margins

Ildar Garipzanov has gone through several thousand manuscripts from the Middle Ages in search of the smallest texts.

Here’s how the beliefs of Christians and atheists change over a lifetime

One researcher followed 13 people for 22 years. He saw that they became more humble and pragmatic.

European female ISIS supporters feel like strangers in their own country

On the web, they cultivate their sense of exclusion with other like-minded women, according to one researcher’s interpretation of Facebook profiles in Europe.

Religious minority youth between patriarchy and gender equality

Gender roles is a delicate topic for religious minority groups. Many of them accept traditional gender segregation in the religious community, but struggle with prejudices from the greater society, according to researcher.

Our image of ISIS women is incomplete

The ideological conviction was often deeper among the women who joined the ISIS than among the men who did the same, according to researchers.

Discrimination: Thirty-five per cent of Muslim immigrants say they did not get a job they were qualified for

Non-religious immigrants experience discrimination in Norway to the same extent as their more religious counterparts. Muslims seeking work are the exception.

Norwegians are the most critical of the niqab and burka in the Nordics

Norway is more critical of face-covering garments like the niqab and burka than their Nordic neighbours, shows new Pew Research survey.

In conversation with Norway’s home-grown extremists

Siri Høyem Kristiansen from OsloMet has visited Norwegian prisons to interview rebel fighters returned from Syria. She was surprised by what she found.

Faith is a private matter for young Norwegian Muslims

Many young Muslims in Norway take a more relaxed approach to practicing their religion, such as how often they pray each day or attend mosque.

Justifying gender equality through Islam

Young Norwegian Muslims are more liberal than their parents’ generation when it comes to equality and homosexuality, but both groups find support for their view in Islam, according to a new study.

Who reads the Bible in Norway?

A recent report on Bible use provides some answers.

Gender-equality ideals make Muslim women more religious

When gender equality is portrayed as a uniquely Western value, immigrant Muslim women choose to embrace religion as a result, according to a Norwegian researcher.

How Norwegians made sure criminals went to Hell

During the Middle Ages, people were deeply concerned about the fate of bad criminals: Not only was it necessary to punish them on Earth, but every effort had to be made to make certain they went to Hell.

Future features young Muslims and old Buddhists

Buddhists will comprise the religious segment with the largest share of elderly in 2050, predict demographic researchers. Muslims will on average still be the youngest religious population in the world, but the median age of Muslims living in Europe will rise.

Arguments over religious tolerance haven’t progressed in 400 years

You might think that the heated debate over niqabs, burkinis and other expressions of religious beliefs are a sign of the times. But you would be wrong. As early as the 1600s, major European thinkers disagreed over the meaning of free speech and religious tolerance.

Mixed messages in Christian sex education

Christian leaders say they want young people to find the right answers for themselves, but many still believe that there’s only one right answer.

Religious freedom more important than women’s rights

The anti-discrimination legislation is more powerful than ever. Yet freedom of faith and religion is still more important than women’s rights in Norway, according to a new PhD thesis.

Who were the first Norwegian crusaders?

Several thousand Norwegians answered the call of the Pope to undertake the perilous journey to Jerusalem.

"Stop using the term radicalisation"

A Danish researcher thinks the word has become too stigmatised with politics and ideology to be used any more to study youth who might resort to violence and and acts of terror.

Bringing spirituality and religion to elder care

Providing nursing care for patients has long meant more than just changing bandages or giving injections. But how should nurses provide for patients’ spiritual needs, especially at the end of life?

General prosperity is a key to democracy

All of today's countries could become democratic regardless of their present form of government. Prosperity is a greater factor than religion in democratization.

Norway was controlled from the pulpit

Norwegian society was totalitarian during the nearly four centuries that Norway was ruled from Copenhagen. Sermons were closely supervised and controlled by the rulers.

Suffering morphs into cosiness in Easter celebrations

Anyone who wishes to be faithful to old Norwegian Easter traditions should eat salted herring and black pudding on Long Friday.

Islam researcher wins the Holberg Prize

The British historian Michael Cook has been awarded the Holberg Prize 2014 for his contributions to the understanding of Islam’s early stages and expansion, as well as the religion’s ethical and political thinking.

Researchers cooperate with ‘medicine men’

Pregnant women in Mali are dependent on medicine men and women, also called traditional practitioners (TPs) of folk medicine. Researchers are now collaborating with these healers to help improve their practice.

Too much freedom at Norwegian religious schools?

Freedom of religion in Norway offers extensive protection to what can be taught in parochial schools. But do the statutes go too far in protecting religious freedoms to the detriment of other fundamental freedoms?

No dogmas: the new Nordic Christianity

A new version of Christianity is emerging in Nordic countries, replacing church authority and dogma with individual reflection and beliefs.

Oslo Cathedral was a likely focal point for grief

Oslo Cathedral quickly became a national site for expressing bereavement after the terror attack in Norway last year. People return to religion when faced with death and chaos, says researcher.

Faith in a new country

Are faith communities helping immigrants to integrate, or isolating them from their fellow countrymen? It can cut both ways, according to new research.

Secret pay to clergy during WWII

A secret underground system was established during WWII to channel money to pastors who wouldn't work for the Nazis.

The mysterious stone Madonna of the North

Saved from mould and darkness, she’s a source of mysteries – Norway’s one and only painted stone Madonna from the Middle Ages.

Voices from the grave

Early in the 13th century husbands and wives were not always allowed to be buried next to each other in cemeteries. Old Norwegian skeletons reveal long-forgotten burial customs.