Problematizing the secular/religion divide : Religion as the Other in contemporary discourses on LGBTQIA+ rights in Sweden
Liinason, Mia LU and Lundell, Elin LU
(2025)
In Journal of Gender Studies
- Abstract
- This article conducts a multi-scalar analysis of the dynamics between secularism and religion in contemporary Sweden and highlights a growing divide between them, in the wake of neoliberal reconfigurations of the welfare state and a stronger religious pluralism in public space. Through an analysis of the public debate around conversion attempts and state funding for religious organizations, we explore, at first, how a stronger culturalization and politicization of religion result in a growing secular/religion divide, resulting from authority struggles around the impact of religion in society, national identity, and state authority. Within these struggles, we illustrate, religion is shaped as the Other and as the opposite of secularity,... (More)
- This article conducts a multi-scalar analysis of the dynamics between secularism and religion in contemporary Sweden and highlights a growing divide between them, in the wake of neoliberal reconfigurations of the welfare state and a stronger religious pluralism in public space. Through an analysis of the public debate around conversion attempts and state funding for religious organizations, we explore, at first, how a stronger culturalization and politicization of religion result in a growing secular/religion divide, resulting from authority struggles around the impact of religion in society, national identity, and state authority. Within these struggles, we illustrate, religion is shaped as the Other and as the opposite of secularity, which, in return, becomes equated with values of equality and freedom. In the second part of the analysis, we highlight how such a secular/religion divide functions to conceal the cis-heteronormativity that exists in overall society, by constructing religion as the main problem of religious queer people. Drawing on an analysis of the lived experiences of trans and queer people from Muslim, Jewish, and Christian traditions, we challenge this divide, by highlighting problems of cis-heteronormativity in society as well as in family relationships and by recognizing the existence of anti-religious forms of racism in society overall and in secular queer communities more specifically. Ultimately, we propose that there is a need for more spaces that are both queer inclusive and religiously affirmative, rather than stronger state regulation and limitation of religious spaces, and we present some routes ahead for further research in response to the challenges and vulnerabilities detected. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/827385cb-b46f-4393-9047-69aaccf2a013
- author
- Liinason, Mia
LU
and Lundell, Elin
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-04-28
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- epub
- subject
- keywords
- queer religion, secular/religion divide, conversion attempts, religious practice, religion as the Other, normative secularism
- in
- Journal of Gender Studies
- publisher
- Routledge
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105003868845
- ISSN
- 0958-9236
- DOI
- 10.1080/09589236.2025.2493262
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 827385cb-b46f-4393-9047-69aaccf2a013
- date added to LUP
- 2025-04-18 16:38:59
- date last changed
- 2025-06-07 04:01:27
@article{827385cb-b46f-4393-9047-69aaccf2a013,
abstract = {{This article conducts a multi-scalar analysis of the dynamics between secularism and religion in contemporary Sweden and highlights a growing divide between them, in the wake of neoliberal reconfigurations of the welfare state and a stronger religious pluralism in public space. Through an analysis of the public debate around conversion attempts and state funding for religious organizations, we explore, at first, how a stronger culturalization and politicization of religion result in a growing secular/religion divide, resulting from authority struggles around the impact of religion in society, national identity, and state authority. Within these struggles, we illustrate, religion is shaped as the Other and as the opposite of secularity, which, in return, becomes equated with values of equality and freedom. In the second part of the analysis, we highlight how such a secular/religion divide functions to conceal the cis-heteronormativity that exists in overall society, by constructing religion as the main problem of religious queer people. Drawing on an analysis of the lived experiences of trans and queer people from Muslim, Jewish, and Christian traditions, we challenge this divide, by highlighting problems of cis-heteronormativity in society as well as in family relationships and by recognizing the existence of anti-religious forms of racism in society overall and in secular queer communities more specifically. Ultimately, we propose that there is a need for more spaces that are both queer inclusive and religiously affirmative, rather than stronger state regulation and limitation of religious spaces, and we present some routes ahead for further research in response to the challenges and vulnerabilities detected.}},
author = {{Liinason, Mia and Lundell, Elin}},
issn = {{0958-9236}},
keywords = {{queer religion; secular/religion divide; conversion attempts; religious practice; religion as the Other; normative secularism}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{04}},
publisher = {{Routledge}},
series = {{Journal of Gender Studies}},
title = {{Problematizing the secular/religion divide : Religion as the Other in contemporary discourses on LGBTQIA+ rights in Sweden}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09589236.2025.2493262}},
doi = {{10.1080/09589236.2025.2493262}},
year = {{2025}},
}