Beliefs and myths almost gone
Before Christianity took hold, there were many beliefs and myths in Sweden. There was, for example, a very rich Scandinavian folklore, shared by all the Nordic countries and resembling the English and German folklore. These mythologies were very widespread and a whole pantheon of gods was venerated. In the temple of Uppsala, of which nothing remains today, Odin, the supreme god of the Nordic pantheon, Thor, the god of thunder, and Frey, the god of fertility, were venerated. Women and men were buried with their personal objects, sometimes even, for the richest, with their weapons, jewelry and other precious objects. If these beliefs are no longer current, some characters such as trolls, elves or tomtar (who look like little dwarfs) still appear in tales and popular festivals.
On the side of the Sami, in the north of Sweden, it is the shamanism which reigned before a violent and radical evangelization was imposed. The noaidis, Sami shamans, used their drum to summon spirits, give answers and heal the sick. The oval-shaped drum was decorated with symbols representing different animals and deities, as well as the cardinal axes and the center of the world. Most of these drums were destroyed because they were perceived as a threat by the Christians, but a few have survived and can be admired in museums. Although today shamanic practices are no longer widespread among the Sami, certain beliefs persist and certain ancestral knowledge of healing and communication with the afterlife continues to guide the Sami.
A very powerful Lutheran Church
Today, Sweden's main religion is Protestantism, led by the Church of Sweden (Lutheran), which has about 55% of the population in over 2,200 parishes. This religion has imposed itself on the whole country with such force that it was only in 1860 that it became legal to leave the Church of Sweden to convert to another religion, and only in 1951 that it became legal to do so without having to justify it!
However, if this religion has been dominant since the 12th century, its influence has not stopped decreasing. In fact, in the early 2000s, 80% of Swedes were members of the church, compared to only 55% today. It is also important to note that until 2000 the Church of Sweden was the state religion, which means that Sweden is a newly secular country. This separation put an end to the civil servant status of pastors and the automatic confession of children born to Lutheran parents. Nevertheless, it is surprising that a portion of the taxes of the faithful is still automatically paid to the Church of Sweden. And even though this "collection" is not compulsory and can be denounced, it is better to do it if you want to enjoy the church setting on the occasion of your wedding! Since the secularization of the state, there has been a period of transition, marked by the Ministry of Finance displaying the amount collected for the Church of Sweden on the tax form. But this novelty seems to have contributed to definitively discouraging the faithful!
An evolving religious landscape
With the decline of the Church of Sweden, one can see the diversification of religious practices in this country whose constitution ensures the freedom of all religions. The remaining believers are divided between Muslims (1.9 per cent), Orthodox (1.7 per cent), Catholics (1.2 per cent), and Buddhists and Hindus. Eight religious denominations are recognized by the state in addition to the Church of Sweden, which generates revenue from contributions through the national tax system. While many Christian holidays are national holidays, everyone has the right to take holidays that correspond to their religion. On the other hand, the number of people who are not part of a religion or are atheists is growing in Sweden as well, and in 2016 the country opened its first cemetery free of religious symbols in Borlänge, northwest of Stockholm.
