Thinking Theologically about Welfare and Religion

Ekstrand, Thomas

doi:10.4324/9781003063407-4

Cited by 3 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…Hence, we might argue that the institutional role of the Church of Sweden does not hamper its advocacy activities but rather enables them. Furthermore, it is possible that a theological interpretation close to the "Political Model" (Ekstrand 2011) is accepted and supported, thus legitimizing an active role of the Church in advocacy. In addition, the trend "from voice to service" does not seem to affect the advocacy activities of the Church of Sweden, at least not more so than the other CSOs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Is the Church of Sweden an ‘Ordinary’ Civil Society Organization?

Linde¹,

Scaramuzzino²

2018

NJRS

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This article explores the advocacy activities of the Church of Sweden. The historical co-optation of the Church by the state, a Lutheran theological heritage, and a trend from "voice to service" within Swedish civil society might discourage stronger political activism by the Church. The following research questions are answered: How does the extent of the advocacy activities of the Church of Sweden, understood as trying to influence politicians and officials and as achieving changes, differ from that of other civil society organizations (CSOs)? What factors explain differences in advocacy activities between the Church of Sweden and the other types of CSOs? How do the types of issues raised by the Church of Sweden through its influence differ from those of other CSOs? The article draws on a large sample (N = 1,150) from a national survey targeting Swedish civil society organizations. It compares the Church of Sweden with other organizations representing diffuse interests (i.e., religious congregations and solidarity organizations) and organizations representing specific interests (i.e., pensioners' organizations). The analysis shows that the historical position of the Church has granted its organizations strength in terms of resources that make them more active in advocacy than comparable organizations representing diffuse interests. The Church of Sweden of the new millennium hence seems to be able to engage more in politics because of, rather than in spite of, its institutional role.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Berggrav's interpretation represents, then, another ideal-typical model of the two kingdoms doctrine. Ekstrand (2011) calls it "The Political Model. "…”

Section: The Lutheran Theologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Is the Church of Sweden an ‘Ordinary’ Civil Society Organization?

Linde¹,

Scaramuzzino²

2018

NJRS

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“…However, as mentioned above, Lutheran social doctrine allows the church a role not only as an actor that confronts practical social problems, but also as a political or moral voice in society (Ekstrand 2011), and the ELCF has also utilized this role at a national level. When the food bank project of the ELCF started in 1997, it provoked differing views within the church.…”

Section: Fbo's As Actors In the Charity Economymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When it comes to the ELCF, which is the leading agent in the field of food charity provision in Finland, the social teachings of the church concerning its role as a provider of material assistance are not straightforward. However, in short, Lutheran social doctrine allows the church to act both as an agent tackling social problems and as a political or moral voice calling for state responsibility for taking care of those problems (Ekstrand 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Faith-based organisations as actors in the charity economy: a case study of food assistance in Finland

Salonen¹,

Silvasti²

2019

Absolute Poverty in Europe

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This chapter traces the concept of absolute poverty in the developing EU social policy agenda from the beginning in the 1970s up to the EU 2020 process. Thereby it also scrutinizes whether the concept of absolute poverty or closely related concepts of extreme poverty or homelessness do trigger, accompany or frame distinct policy developments for tackling such severe forms of poverty. It shows that the European Commission is a key player in starting and promoting such policies. While the paradigm of relative poverty takes centre stage in most of the related concerns and developments it can be shown that absolute poverty repeatedly surfaces as a complementary concern, be it at the level of discourse, e. g. during the European Year Combatting Poverty and Social Exclusion, or on the level of instruments, like the European Fund for the Most Deprived.

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“…Unlike in Catholic countries, no church-state conflict or cleavage hindered the establishment of the welfare state in the Nordic countries (Manow and van Kersbergen, 2009;Bäckström and Davie, 2010). Theologically, the doctrine of the two kingdoms allowed the Lutheran church to acknowledge the state as collaborator in the kingdom of God, even though it acted in the worldly realm (Ekstrand, 2011). Moreover, values such as autonomy of the individual, equality and social solidarity that are naturally connected to the social democratic welfare state today can easily be found in Lutheran theology (Wallman Lundåsen and Trägårdh, 2012).…”

Section: Seen and Unseen In The Nordic Welfare Statementioning

confidence: 99%

Re-imagining the place of religion in the workplace: The example of Australian social work

Crisp¹

2018

Re-Imagining Religion and Belief

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Thinking Theologically about Welfare and Religion

Cited by 3 publications

References 0 publications

Is the Church of Sweden an ‘Ordinary’ Civil Society Organization?

Is the Church of Sweden an ‘Ordinary’ Civil Society Organization?

Faith-based organisations as actors in the charity economy: a case study of food assistance in Finland

Re-imagining the place of religion in the workplace: The example of Australian social work

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