Med lust och bävan. Vägen till biskopsstolen inom Svenska kyrkan under 1900-talet.
Thy Will Be Done. The Path to the Office of Bishop in the Church of Sweden during the 20th Century
Abstract
This study focuses on the appointment of bishops within the Church of
Sweden
and analyses the patterns of this group during a period of social change
which affected the station and function of the Church of Sweden in society.
The concepts field, capital, elite, habitus and strategy are employed
as a means
of tying empirical findings to the question of how an elite is formed and how
it maintains its position in a clearly defined sphere. This particular perspective
has not been explored in previous studies of the Church of Sweden
elite,
and new light has thus been shed on patterns and structures. The Church of
Sweden constitutes a field where, as in all fields, competition for the leading
positions exists. The objective is to gain power over the interpretation of the
system of beliefs, the doxa, within the field. In this struggle various strategies
evolve that build on the capital required
for success. Throughout the 20th
century, the scope of this field was affected
by the relationship to the Swedish
state. Several defence strategies evolved to protect the field’s autonomy. These
strategies are evident in the bishop appointment process.
However, a duality in the logic of the Church of Sweden field stands out in
connection with the recruitment of bishops: The office of bishop is a calling
and the individual is unable to affect the outcome of the appointment process.
An important characteristic of the attitudes of bishops toward their position
has been to assume an attitude of humility with regard to their station and
duties.
During most of the 20th century, power within the Church of Sweden was
associated with males in positions of authority demonstrating that homosociality
was an important asset to future bishops. Even though the men were
competitors prior to their appointment, they were supportive in their interactions
and provided each other with validation, thus confirming the hierarchic
order and the gender identification of the role of bishop.
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy
University
Göteborgs universitet. Humanistiska fakulteten
University of Gothenburg. Faculty of Arts
Institution
Department of Historical Studies ; Institutionen för historiska studier
Disputation
Fredagen den 28 maj 2010, kl. 13.00, Lilla hörsalen, Humanisten, Renströmsgatan 6, Göteborg
Date of defence
2010-05-28
ulrika.lagerlof.nilsson@history.gu.se
Date
2010-05-10Author
Lagerlöf Nilsson, Ulrika
Keywords
bishops
Church of Sweden
Publication type
Doctoral thesis
ISBN
978-91-628-8098-9
Language
swe