Religion in Scotland and Norway

Abstract

Religion has played a key part in the development of both Scotland and Norway, in terms of local governance and the organisation of social structure and hierarchies, identity and popular history, yet both countries are now largely secularised. This chapter explores religious denominations and affiliations: Norway’s history of compulsory affiliation with the Lutheran Church, and Scotland’s religious pluralism, where political affiliations often served to reduce religious tensions. The markedly different relationship between Church and State; Scotland’s Reformation being a largely populist movement with conflict and open protest continuing for two centuries contrasting with Norway where few tensions arose and religion and state remained closely interwoven. Monarchical and political union had an impact on religious practise in both countries, with differing levels of ideological and administrative control being negotiated by Church authorities over education systems and welfare in local communities. The chapter touches upon the route of both countries out of and beyond Protestantism towards increasing secularisation, facilitated by the continuing renegotiation of the relationship between Church and State in both countries and the lessening of Church influence on areas such as education.