Religion in Norway - past and present
“I really recommend this course,” says a happy Olga Ryparova. The course, Religion in Norway, was offered this autumn to Erasmus and Norwegian students. One of the things that made the class so interesting, explains Ryparova, was the fact that the students enrolled in the class came from so many different backgrounds.
Just this fall, the students came from Afghanistan, Norway, The Czech Republic, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Spain and Somalia. Ryparova, herself from the Czech Republic, found it fascinating to learn about how religion is treated in other lands. Growing up in the Czech Republic, where religion was forbidden during the communist regime, Ryparova enjoyed learning about multiculturalism and religious tolerance in Norway. The objective of this course was to give the students an overview of the historical development of Christianity in Norway from the Middle Ages to contemporary times. During the course, the students also learned how Norway is currently in a dynamic period of flux, learning how to accommodate and celebrate new religions and new religious practices, while maintaining cherished traditions. In addition, the students were introduced to public debates circling around religious education in public schools and the challenges involved in becoming a multicultural society.
Read more about the course Religion in Norway. The course will also be offered Autumn semester 2012!
