Heike Peter

Heike Peter serves as Senior Lecturer at Halmstad University within the School of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences. Her academic profile demonstrates sustained engagement with historical religious traditions through research and teaching.

Research focuses on Ancient Near Eastern Religions with specialized expertise in Hittite ritual practices, polytheistic frameworks, and material culture of religion. Her work bridges historical analysis with contemporary religious education, examining how ancient traditions inform modern pedagogical approaches. Notable research trajectories include ritualization of nature in crisis contexts (2024), domestic religious practices through Matron cults (2012-2016), and critical analysis of religious education frameworks in Swedish curricula (2010, 2021).

Recent publications reveal evolving scholarly interests from foundational Hittite studies (1998, 2006) toward contemporary applications in religious education and migration contexts. The 2022-2024 works particularly emphasize policy implementation challenges in educational settings and innovative approaches to teaching 'dead religions' through material sources.

Academic contributions span multiple publication formats including book chapters, conference papers, journal articles, and doctoral thesis ("Götter auf Erden : Hethitische Rituale aus Sicht historischer Religionsanthropologie", 2004).

Professional activities demonstrate commitment to both specialized religious scholarship and practical educational challenges, particularly regarding curriculum development, teacher training, and integration of migrant students within Swedish educational frameworks.