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Julia Kuhlin is a Research Fellow in digital humanities at Humlab, Umeå University, leading research on Swedish Free Churches' visual communication on Instagram and religious digital creatives. Her work bridges religious studies and digital media analysis. Research focuses on: Digital religion and social media engagement Lived religion in Pentecostal communities Interreligious relations and gender aspects World Christianity with regional focus on India and Sweden Publications demonstrate consistent focus on religious adaptation to digital platforms and ethnographic studies of Christian communities. Recent work emphasizes deconstruction of religious narratives through new media formats like podcasts.

• Digital Religion
• Lived Religion
• World Christianity
• +3 more

Fredrik Fällman is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Languages and Literatures, University of Gothenburg. His academic background includes a PhD from Stockholm University (2004) and extensive research in China, including visiting roles at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Renmin University of China. He has held adjunct positions, such as Distinguished Adjunct Researcher at Renmin University (2010-2014), and served as co-ordinator at the Nordic Confucius Institute in Stockholm (2005-2006). His research focuses on religion in modern China, propaganda language, and cultural exchange between China and the West. Notable interests include the role of Christian communities among Chinese intellectuals, Uyghur cultural history, and the sinicization of religious practices. He has published widely on topics ranging from missionary history to contemporary religious policies. Fällman teaches Chinese language, history, and cultural studies at all academic levels. He has been recognized as a Member of The Royal Society of Arts and Sciences in Gothenburg (2022). His work often bridges historical analysis with contemporary socio-political dynamics, including panel discussions on Hong Kong and invited lectures at institutions like SOAS, University of London.

• Sinology
• Religious Studies in China
• Cultural Christianity
• +4 more

Stefan Gelfgren is Associate Professor of Sociology of Religion and Senior Lecturer in Didactics of Religion at Umeå University's Department of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies. He holds a PhD in History of Ideas (Umeå University), MPhil in History of Christianity (Birmingham University), and BA in Construction Engineering. His research examines: Social/technical/religious transformations throughout history Digital media's impact on Christian institutions Digital humanities methodologies Surveillance in everyday life Religious geography and mapping Recent publications (2020-2025) focus on digital religion, surveillance ethics, Swedish revivalism, and geospatial humanities. Key trends include institutional adaptation to digitalization and historical continuities in religious media. Awards include the 2022 Erik Allardt Fellowship at Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies. He leads multiple research initiatives: Wallenberg-funded DINO project on digital privacy/social benefit (Co-investigator) Nordic Places of Worship Map (Project Leader) iAccept: Soft Surveillance (Principal Investigator 2017-2021) As former Director of Humlab (2015-2020), he developed digital humanities infrastructure. He chairs the Swedish Association for Sociology of Religion and serves on Umeå University's Faculty Board.

• Sociology of Religion
• Digital Media and Religion
• Digital Humanities
• +3 more

Charlotta Krispinsson is a Senior Lecturer in Art History at Umeå University, Sweden. She specializes in 17th-century art and visual culture with a focus on copying practices, portraiture, and the use of prints in Northern Europe. Previously, she held positions at Södertörn University, Uppsala University, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Humboldt University in Berlin funded by the Swedish Research Council. Her educational background includes a PhD in Art History from Stockholm University (2016) with a dissertation on national portrait collections and late 19th- and early 20th-century art historical writings on early modern portraiture. She has also been a research fellow at the Rubenianum in Antwerp (2023). Krispinsson's research centers on how prints functioned as vehicles for artistic transmission in 17th-century Sweden and Norway, examining how painters like Gottfried Hendtzschel and Elias Fiigenschoug used prints after Rubens' designs for church commissions. Her work challenges traditional art historical narratives by highlighting the importance of copying practices rather than originality in peripheral European contexts. Her recent publications demonstrate a clear trajectory from her doctoral work on portrait collections toward increasingly specific studies of copying practices in Northern European art. She examines how prints after Rubens were used as templates for religious paintings in Norwegian churches, revealing how artistic production functioned in regions distant from major artistic centers. Postdoctoral Fellowship funded by Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet) Krispinsson has presented her research at numerous international conferences including NORDIK meetings across Scandinavia. She teaches art history at multiple Swedish universities and has been actively involved in conference organization, particularly sessions on pre-modern art histories of migration and exchange. Her current research continues to explore the widespread use of prints as models for painting in seventeenth-century Sweden.

• 17th-century Art History
• Visual Culture in Sweden
• Image Theory
• +7 more

Lars Berglund is Professor of Musicology at Uppsala University's Department of Musicology, where he serves as Director of Studies for the doctoral program. He earned his PhD from Uppsala in 2002 with a thesis on German musician Christian Geist and has held progressive academic positions since 2003, becoming Professor in 2015. Berglund chaired the department from 2012-2018 and currently leads the Swedish Research Council's Humanities and Social Sciences Subject Council (2025-2027). He is a board member of HERA (Humanities in the European Research Area) and holds memberships in the Royal Swedish Academy of Letters and Royal Swedish Academy of Music. His research specializes in 17th-century music history, combining philology, music analysis, and reception studies with focus on: Italian-Scandinavian cultural exchange Court and church music patronage systems Performance theory and vocal traditions Scandinavian modernist music Recent publications (2019-2025) demonstrate strong emphasis on transnational music transfer, archival reconstruction of Baroque repertoires (particularly the Düben Collection), and ceremonial music analysis. Key themes include royal patronage networks, contrafactum techniques, and music's role in early modern diplomacy. Awards & Honors: Member, Royal Swedish Academy of Letters Member, Royal Swedish Academy of Music Major Funded Projects: "Translatio musicae: French and Italian Music in Northern Europe" (Riksbankens Jubileumsfond 2019-2023) Swedish Church Music History monograph (2020-2024) Digitization of court/university music (Riksbankens Jubileumsfond 2020-2025) STINT network on Early Modern musical exchange (2012-2016) He supervises doctoral candidates and teaches advanced courses in historical musicology and analysis.

• Music History
• Early Modern Music
• Reception History
• +7 more

Per Hammarström is an Associate Professor in History at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Mid Sweden University, based on the Sundsvall campus (Room M413). He holds a PhD in History from Uppsala University (2007) and has been affiliated with Mid Sweden University since 2010. Education : PhD in History, Uppsala University (2007) Primary Research Areas : Jewish history, minority integration, nationalism, missionary history, religious encounters, anti-Semitism, Jewish-Christian relations, migration studies His work explores Jewish integration in Sweden (1870–1940), Jewish converts to Christianity (19th–early 20th centuries), anti-Semitic and anti-Judaic discourse in Swedish religious movements (e.g., Swedish Israel Mission, Unitarians, low-church revival), and broader themes like racism, minority history, and religious didactics. Recent publications analyze Jewish communities in Gothenburg, conversion narratives, and theological debates in 19th-century Sweden. Hammarström teaches courses on racism history, minority studies, antisemitism, Islamophobia, antigypsyism, and religious didactics within teacher training programs. He has participated in international conferences including the 17th World Congress of Jewish Studies (2017) and Greifswald University's antisemitism studies symposium (2018).

• Jewish History
• Minority Integration
• Nationalism
• +5 more

Erik Sidenvall is a Professor of Practical Theology at Lund University's Centre for Theology and Religious Studies (Faculty of Humanities and Theology) since autumn 2024. His research bridges historical and contemporary analyses of religious spatiality, materiality, and existential sustainability. Key projects: Room for Ageing (Kamprad Foundation, €500k) and Cemeteries of the Future (PI). Editor-in-Chief of Swedish Theological Quarterly . Active in Cold War research networks (ReCoNet) and existential sustainability initiatives. His recent publications focus on interdisciplinary existential resilience, vision interpretation in early modern Sweden, and theology-church collaboration. Awards include the Kungliga humanistiska vetenskapssamfundet election (2023) and Hallenblad Award (2022). He supervises PhD students across Lund and Glasgow Universities.

• Spatiality and Religion
• Religious Materiality of Everyday Life
• Church Organization
• +8 more

Thomas O'dell is a Professor of Ethnology at Lund University's Department of Arts and Cultural Sciences within the Faculty of Humanities and Theology. Based at Helgonavägen 3 in Lund (Room LUX:C416), he maintains an active research profile focusing on the intersection of cultural and economic processes. His work spans three primary research domains: the cultural economy (particularly tourism and heritage institutions), mobility in modern society, and transnational cultural flows with emphasis on American influence in Sweden. His research demonstrates consistent engagement with cultural economy dynamics, examining how heritage institutions navigate hybrid markets where public missions intersect with private-sector business models. Recent projects like Understanding the Conditions Facing Heritage in a Hybrid Market (2017-2018) and Hip Heritage and Museum Practices (2023) employ ethnographic methods to analyze institutional adaptation strategies. His scholarship reveals growing emphasis on sustainability and community engagement , evident in works examining DIY repair cultures, sustainable living practices, and democratic participation in religious spaces. O'Dell's publication record shows strong thematic continuity since his 1997 doctoral dissertation on Americanization in Sweden, while progressively incorporating contemporary concerns like marketization of heritage and sustainable transitions. His collaborations with Lizette Gradén represent a significant research partnership spanning multiple projects funded by entities including the Swedish National Heritage Board and the Church of Sweden. Current activities include examining heritage practices through traditional crafts like thatching and analyzing how budget constraints affect cultural prioritization in museums.

• Cultural Economy
• Ethnography
• Mobility Studies
• +4 more

Thomas Arentzen is an Associate Professor (Reader) in Church History at Lund University, affiliated with the Centre for Theology and Religious Studies within the Faculty of Humanities and Theology. He received his PhD from Lund University in 2014 and became a Reader (docent) in Church History there in 2018. Arentzen has held research positions at the University of Oslo, Brown University (as a visiting scholar in spring 2016), and Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection (as a Research Fellow in Byzantine Studies during 2018-2019). Currently, he leads the research project "Beyond the Garden: An Ecocritical Approach to Early Byzantine Christianity," funded by the Swedish Research Council. Dr. Arentzen's educational background includes: Doctor of Theology (PhD), Lund University, 2014 Cand.philol. (Master's equivalent), University of Oslo, 2005 Cand.mag. (Bachelor's equivalent), University of Oslo, 2001 Thomas Arentzen's research primarily focuses on Byzantine Christianity and ecology, exploring the intersection of religious traditions with environmental concerns. His work demonstrates how early Christian communities interacted with the natural world, challenging modern assumptions about Christianity's relationship with nature. Arentzen has made significant contributions to the study of Byzantine hymnography, particularly the works of Romanos the Melodist, and has examined representations of the Virgin Mary in late ancient poetry. His monograph "The Virgin in Song" (2017) represents a key contribution to this field. Arentzen also investigates popular piety and literary expressions of Christian faith across different historical periods and cultural contexts. The trajectory of Arentzen's recent publications reveals a growing emphasis on ecocritical approaches to early Christian studies. His works increasingly explore the relationship between religious traditions and ecological thinking, examining how trees, landscapes, and natural elements function within Byzantine religious texts and practices. This focus culminated in his co-authored book "Byzantine Tree Life" and his current research project "Beyond the Garden." While maintaining his expertise in traditional areas of Byzantine studies like hymnography and Mariology, Arentzen has expanded his research to include gender studies, particularly through his involvement in projects addressing "Orthodox Tradition and Human Sexuality" and "Gender and Sexuality in Orthodox Christianity." Dr. Arentzen has received notable recognition for his scholarly work, including: Vetenskapssocieteten i Lunds pris ur Insamlingsstiftelsen Näringslivets fond för humanistisk forskning (2015) Throughout his career, Arentzen has secured significant research funding from major institutions. He led the Norwegian Research Council-funded project "Bodies in Motion: Religion and Corporeality in Late Antiquity" (2015-2019) and received a fellowship from Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection for "Reading between the Limbs: Holy Week and Byzantine Bodies" (2018-2019). Currently, he directs the Swedish Research Council-funded project "Beyond the Garden: An Ecocritical Approach to Early Byzantine Christianity" (2019-2023). Additionally, Arentzen has led international projects funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including "New Directions in Orthodox Christian Thought and Practice: Gender and Sexuality in Orthodox Christianity" (2016-2018) and the follow-up project "Democracy and the Church in Orthodox Christianity." Thomas Arentzen is actively involved in several academic communities and research groups. He serves as praeses of Collegium Patristicum Lundense and is a council member of l'Association Internationale d'Études Patristiques (AIEP/IAPS). He also participates in the Society of Oriental Liturgy and serves as article-editor for Patristica Nordica Annuaria. Arentzen is a member of the Research Collegium at the Swedish Research Institute in Istanbul and contributes to the Oslo Coalition's International Expert Committee for the "New Directions in Orthodox Thought and Practice" project.

• Byzantine Christianity
• Ecology and Religion
• Patristics
• +5 more

Alexander Maurits (born 1978) is Associate Professor of Church History at Lund University's Centre for Theology and Religious Studies. He currently serves as Dean of the Faculty of Theology and Vice-Dean for postgraduate studies at the Joint Faculties of Humanities and Theology for the period 2024-2026. Previously (2015-2023), he was Head of Department at the Centre for Theology and Religious Studies. In fall 2022, he was a visiting professor at University of California Berkeley through a STINT fellowship. His research focuses on European church history of the 19th and 20th centuries, with particular interest in Christian gender ideals, secularization processes, and the relationship between religion and modern society. He has developed significant expertise in the areas of religion and sports, having organized two international conferences on this theme (2013, 2015), and in the history of women's ordination in the Church of Sweden, co-authoring the book "Calling and Recognition: Perspectives on the First Ordained Women in the Swedish Church" with Frida Mannerfelt. Maurits' publication portfolio demonstrates a consistent trajectory examining how religious institutions navigate modernity, with recent work addressing contemporary issues like the #MeToo movement's impact on religious institutions and the place of religion in increasingly secular Scandinavian societies. His research shows particular strength in connecting historical analysis with contemporary religious challenges. Scientific Awards: Nils Karleby Prize (50,000 SEK) in 2012 for his doctoral thesis STINT Teaching Sabbatical in 2021 enabling his visit to UC Berkeley Maurits has held numerous administrative roles including serving on the Faculty Board, chairing the Doctoral Education Committee, and participating in national educational assessments. He has initiated interdisciplinary courses such as "Religion and Sports" (first offered spring 2014) and "After MeToo - Struggle for Recognition in History and Present" (first offered 2019). His collaborative work extends internationally, particularly with historians at Katholieke Universiteit in Leuven. As Head of Department, Maurits was responsible for academic staff, department finances, and quality assurance in education and research. His current deanship roles expand these responsibilities to the broader faculty level, reflecting his significant standing within Lund University's academic community.

• Church History
• European Church History
• 19th and 20th Century Religious History
• +7 more

Ulf Bjereld is a Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Gothenburg. His research spans international politics, digital democracy, political cleavages, and gender and politics . He led the research program 'Sweden and the Cold War,' a multidisciplinary initiative funded by The Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation. Head of Scientific Council for Humanities and Social Sciences, Swedish Research Council (2016–2018) Head of Department of Political Science, University of Gothenburg (2006–2012) Chair of Swedish Political Science Association (SWEPSA) (1999–2001) His recent publications focus on Nordic security, NATO membership debates, political solidarity movements, and critiques of identity politics . He has contributed to analyses of Swedish defense policy, media influence on democracy, and the interplay between individualism and nationalism in crisis contexts. Contact: ulf.bjereld@pol.gu.se

• International Politics
• Digital Democracy
• Political Cleavages
• +5 more

Frida Mannerfelt is an Associate Professor in Practical Theology at Lund University's Centre for Theology and Religious Studies , where she works as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Scripture and Secularism research project. Her work examines how biblical interpretations in public discourse shape secular concepts, while maintaining active research in digital theology and church leadership. Academic title: Associate Professor Institution: Centre for Theology and Religious Studies (Lund University) Research focus: Bible, politics, digital culture Email: frida.mannerfelt@ctr.lu.se Her research on Digital Theology explores AI integration in sermon preparation, digital worship environments, and the evolution of preaching practices in online spaces. Current projects analyze algorithmic communication's theological implications and digitalization's impact on religious authority. Key Church Leadership studies include historical ordination of Swedish female clergy and contemporary digital leadership challenges. With 17 research outputs since 2019, her work spans articles, book chapters, and edited volumes on topics like digital homiletics, eucharistic adaptations post-pandemic, and theological responses to secularism. As Co-Principal Investigator for Scripture and Secularism (2022–2027), she collaborates with international scholars on biblical public discourse analysis. Previous research includes ordination history (2018–2020) and digital church presence frameworks. Teaching roles include advanced courses in Church and Mission Studies (KRMB27, KRMR12) and Religious Communication. She contributes to academic discourse through 35 recorded activities, including invited talks on AI theology, panel discussions about biblical politics, and presentations on digital worship practices.

• Practical Theology
• Digital Theology
• Biblical Studies in Public Debate
• +4 more

Martin Berntson is a Professor at the Department of Literature, History of Ideas, and Religion at the University of Gothenburg, specializing in religious studies and church history. His research primarily centers on the Church history of the Early Modern era in Sweden and the Nordic countries. His scholarly interests include: Reformation history and its impact on Nordic societies Monastic life and dissolution during the Reformation period Religious practices and popular belief in historical contexts Church-state relations in Nordic history Religious syncretism and cultural transformation History of religious education in Sweden Professor Berntson's publications demonstrate a consistent focus on how religious institutions and practices evolved during pivotal historical periods, particularly examining the Swedish Reformation and its long-term cultural consequences. His recent work shows an expanding interest in the intersection of religious history with food culture, as seen in publications about pilgrimage cuisine and the cultural significance of beverages like Pommac. His scholarly output spans multiple languages including Swedish, English, French, and German, reflecting his international academic engagement. Berntson has contributed to numerous edited volumes and academic journals, with recent publications covering topics from monastic dissolution to contemporary religious education debates. As an active scholar, Berntson engages with contemporary discussions about religious education and the role of religious history in modern society, as indicated by his co-authored opinion pieces advocating for critical approaches to religious education in Swedish schools.

• Religious Studies
• Church History
• Reformation Era
• +4 more

Alexandra Herlitz is an Associate Professor in Art History and Visual Studies at the Department of Cultural Sciences, University of Gothenburg. She also serves as a museum educator at Gothenburg Museum of Art since 2006. Doctoral degree in Art History (2013), University of Gothenburg Academic training at University of Stuttgart, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, and University of Hamburg Her research focuses on 19th-century Scandinavian art historiography , artists' colonies , artistic national identity , and transnational art networks between Scandinavia and Germany. She explores these themes through publications, podcast episodes, and archival research. Recent publications highlight Nordic rural artists' communities , gender dynamics in art history , and critical analysis of art forgery . Her work spans from 17th-century Scandinavian art to contemporary feminist perspectives , with particular attention to under-documented networks and alternative historiographies. Herlitz co-hosts the art history podcast Konsthistoriepodden , covering topics from medieval religious art to modernist movements , demonstrating her commitment to public art education and multimedia scholarship .

• Critical historiography
• Scandinavian art history
• Sociology of art
• +4 more

Karin Lagergren is Associate Professor in Musicology at the Department of Music and Art, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Linnaeus University, and a Research Associate at the Alamire Foundation, Leuven University. Her academic career spans teaching and research in music history, ethnomusicology, and early music, with particular expertise in Gregorian chant and the musical traditions of the Birgittine Order from the 14th century to the present day. Dr. Lagergren's research primarily focuses on early music and Gregorian chant, with special attention to the musical traditions of the Birgittine Order founded by Saint Birgitta of Sweden. She examines how these traditions have evolved through centuries, challenging the notion that Gregorian chant is solely a medieval phenomenon. Her work combines music historical and musicological approaches with field studies to understand the transmission and adaptation of liturgical music across time. Her publication record demonstrates sustained scholarly engagement with Birgittine liturgical music, particularly chant repertoires and manuscript sources. Recent work increasingly incorporates interdisciplinary methods, including acoustic analysis and multisensory studies of medieval religious spaces. This scholarly trajectory reflects both deep historical inquiry and contemporary relevance, showing how medieval traditions continue to inform modern religious music practice. Dr. Lagergren was elected to the Royal Swedish Academy of Music in 2024 (member 1056), recognizing her significant contributions to musicology and Swedish musical culture, particularly her work on the Birgittine Order's musical traditions. She has supervised numerous theses and degree projects focusing on music historical questions, field studies, and interviews. Her research has been supported by major grants including a Swedish Research Council international postdoc (2013-2015) on 'The Transmission of the Cantus Sororoum in the Low Countries,' a Swedish Foundation for Humanities and Social Sciences project (2016-2020) on 'The Musical World of the Birgittine Order,' and participation in the Swedish Research Council's interdisciplinary project 'Multisensory Vadstena in the Late Middle Ages' (2017-2020). Dr. Lagergren co-founded Medeltidsforum Linné, a multidisciplinary network connecting researchers and students interested in the medieval period. She serves on the board of Cantus Planus, a study group within the International Musicological Society dedicated to sacred song research. Additionally, she founded the vocal ensemble Gemma in 2006, which specializes in performing medieval church music from Scandinavian sources, including the album 'Maria! Maria! 400 Years of Chant in the Birgittine Order' (2018).

• Early Music
• Gregorian Chant
• Medieval Music
• +6 more