The Church of Sweden encounter with Islam
An account of the responses to an enquiry, January 1997
by
Payandé Ahlbäck
Jonas Alwall
Table of Contents
Introduction
The result of the parish enquiry
Question 1. The population of the parish. Percent of the total. (N=162)
Question 2. What proportion of the population of the parish do you consider has a foreign background? (N=160)
Question 3. Are there Muslims in your parish? (N=159)
Question 4. a) If yes: Where do the Muslims in the parish come from? (N=97)
Question 4. b) Total figures: Muslims in the parish fromnumber of regions (as per table 4 a; N=162)
Question 5. Are these Muslims organized (as a congregation, cultural centre etc)? (N=95)
Question 6. Have you in the course of your work come into contact with Muslims in your parish? (N=108)
Question 7. Have you in the parish come into contact with inter-religious marriages where one of the partners is a Muslim? (N=92)
Question 8. a) Have Muslims come to the Church of Sweden...? No. of yes-responses (N=92)
Question 8. b) Number of types of pastoral contacts with Muslims? (N=86)
Question 9. Does religious dialogue between the Church of Sweden and Muslims occur in the parish? (N=92)
Question 10. If not: Is there a wish for such dialogue? (N=68)
Question 11-12. As far as you know, has it occurred that Muslims have carried out mission work among Christians in the parish, or that Christians have carried out mission work among Muslims in the parish?
Question 13. Do you know if it has occurred in your parish that Christians have converted to Islam, or that Muslims have converted to Christianity? (N=88)
Question 14. Do you feel that you need to know more about...? Responses as percentages (N=92)
Question 15. Would you wish that the Church of Sweden arranges courses and seminars on Islam, for example at diocesan level? (N=148)
Question 16. Do you normally ask for assistance from Church House in Uppsala or your diocesan office in matters relating to Islam and Muslims in Sweden? (N=136)
Question 17. Have you participated in any courses on Islam arranged by anyone besides the Church (of Sweden)? (N=133)
Question 18. Have you made use of any printed material, video, TV, radio, colour slides etc. in order to learn more about Islam? (N=162)
Question 19. Do you consider that there is a need of supplemanetary material which can be used in the congregation? (N=144)
Question 20. Other views and comments.
Comparison with the enquiry sent to the delegates of the Church of Sweden Mission
Mission delegates in respective dioceses. (N=172)
Question 8. a) have Muslims approached the Church of Sweden...? Number of yes-responses:
Question 14. Do you feel that you would need to know more about...? Responses in percent.
Summary
1. The social situation in the parishes.
2. The Church of Sweden network of contacts with Muslim inhabitants in the parishes.
3. The need of training and knowledge regarding Islam.
Conclusion
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