TTEAPT011U Valgfag: Christianity and Secularism in Denmark with special reference to N.F.S. Grundtvig

Christianity and Secularism in Denmark with special reference to
N.F.S. Grundtvig

Denmark is among the most secular countries in the world. American sociologist Phil Zuckerman has labeled our country "Society without God". Religion is, however, not without significance in Denmark. 90 % of the population is members of religious communities, almost 80 % of the National (Evangelical-Lutheran) Church. Atheists in Denmark are often "Lutheran Atheists". In the background of a brief introduction to Danish History, in particular Church History, this course will explore the special Danish form of secular religion combined with religious secularism which was part of the background of the Cartoon Crises sparked off from Denmark in 2006. The second part of the course is an introduction to the theology of N.F.S. Grundtvig, who is considered the modern father of Church and State in Denmark. Thus we will have a theological point of reference for the historical and sociological parts of the course.

Course Books:
Hans Raun Iversen: Church, Society and Mission. Selected Texts in English (electronic versions)
Martin Schwartz: A Church History of Denmark, Ashgate 2002
Peter Gundelach, Hans Raun Iversen and Margit Warburg: At the Heart of Denmark. Institutions and Mentalities (2008, electronic version). 
A. M. Allchin: N. F. S. Grundtvig. An Introduction to his Life and Work, Aarhus University Press
N.F.S Grundtvig 2015. Living Well-Springs. Hymns, Songs and Poems. Aarhus University Press

(electronic versions)
Martin Schwartz: A Church History of Denmark, Ashgate 2002
Peter Gundelach, Hans Raun Iversen and Margit Warburg: At the Heart of Denmark. Institutions and Mentalities (2008, electronic version). 
A. M. Allchin: N. F. S. Grundtvig. An Introduction to his Life and Work, Aarhus University Press
N.F.S Grundtvig 2015. Living Well-Springs. Hymns, Songs and Poems. Aarhus University Press