Stefan Arvidsson – författare

I boken Draksjukan. Mytiska fantasier hos Tolkien, Wagner och de Vries belyser religionshistorikern Stefan Arvidsson hur författaren J.R.R. Tolkien, kompositören Richard Wagner och konstnären Jan de Vries på olika sätt arbetade med urgamla myter.

Begreppet draksjuka har hämtats från Tolkien, som använde det med betydelsen girighet. I boken analyserar Arvidsson bland annat Tolkiens inspirationskällor i mytens värld och kopplingarna till Wagners verk. Även hos Wagner var girigheten och dess straff ett viktigt motiv, till exempel i operan Nibelungens ring.

I dag har samhällsklimatet förändrats. Genom livsstilsmagasin och påkostad reklam suddas gränsen mellan behov och begär ut. Konsumtion och materiellt självförverkligande är en accepterad och uppmuntrad del av människors livsstil. Vilka konsekvenser får detta för bruket och tolkningen av de uråldriga myterna?

Stefan Arvidsson är docent i religionshistoria vid Lunds universitet och universitetslektor i religionsvetenskap vid Växjö universitet. Draksjukan ingår i det tvärvetenskapliga forskningsprojektet Vägar till midgård nordisk hedendom i långtidsperspektiv vid Lunds universitet.

Socialismen är en politisk rörelse av världshistorisk betydelse. Med argument för bättre arbetsvillkor, jämlikhet och rättvisa har den tilltalat folk världen över i tvåhundra år. Men socialismen har också burit med sig nya idéer om konst, kultur och livsföring, drivkrafterna bakom moderna fenomen såsom avantgardistisk konst, folkbildning, fri kärlek, kvinnoemancipation, nudism, reformpedagogik och vetenskapstro. Genom socialismens, socialdemokratins, kommunismens och anarkismens spridning har dessa innovationer revolutionerat livet på hela vår jord.

Hittills har det saknats ett verk som berättar om de estetiska, etiska och existentiella frågor som har satt socialisternas hjärtan i brand. Om det som har gjort den politiska ideologin till djup övertygelse, till en tro för vilken tusentals människor till och med har offrat sina liv. Men vad för slags tro rör det sig om?

I Röd tro. Socialistisk kultur och livsåskådning under tvåhundra år kartlägger religionshistorikern Stefan Arvidsson hur både socialister själva och rörelsens belackare och fiender liksom akademiska forskare har förstått relationen mellan de politiska övertygelserna och olika existentiella åskådningar. Efter att ha stiftat bekantskap med sekularismens uppkomst och dem som har menat att politik och livsåskådning är två vitt skilda sfärer, möter vi dem som istället hävdat att modern socialism i grund och botten är politisk kristendom, att den är något slags obskyr alternativreligion eller att den är en helt ny form av religion. Vi möter också dem som tvärtom förkunnat att socialismen måste gå hand i hand med humanistiska och ateistiska övertygelser, liksom dem som har hävdat att den bygger på solid vetenskaplig grund. Sist i boken tar sig författaren an den pockande frågan: Vem har rätt?

This book relates some of the major trends within religion and politics to offer a historical framework with which to assess their interactions and a point of departure for studies to come. The study of the interrelationship between contemporary religious practice and modern politics is divided between several scholarly disciplines, all embracing different terminologies as well as multiple theoretical and philosophical premises. Such diversity of perspectives is to be welcomed, but it can inhibit the ability of academics to form a cohesive and coherent dialogue around the subject.

While critically assessing the historic, sociological, political, theological and anthropological aspects of religion and politics, the book demonstrates the crucial importance of recognising the capitalist economy as the framework for understanding their dynamic relationship. Moreover, it claims that humanism is the proper lens through which to critically engage with religion in society and must be the favoured point of departure for any study within the field.

This book offers a unique overarching viewpoint for of all these divergent scholarly trends and traditions. As such, it will be of significant use to academics in religious studies, political science, sociology and anthropology.

This book relates some of the major trends within religion and politics to offer a historical framework with which to assess their interactions and a point of departure for studies to come. The study of the interrelationship between contemporary religious practice and modern politics is divided between several scholarly disciplines, all embracing different terminologies as well as multiple theoretical and philosophical premises. Such diversity of perspectives is to be welcomed, but it can inhibit the ability of academics to form a cohesive and coherent dialogue around the subject.

While critically assessing the historic, sociological, political, theological and anthropological aspects of religion and politics, the book demonstrates the crucial importance of recognising the capitalist economy as the framework for understanding their dynamic relationship. Moreover, it claims that humanism is the proper lens through which to critically engage with religion in society and must be the favoured point of departure for any study within the field.

This book offers a unique overarching viewpoint for of all these divergent scholarly trends and traditions. As such, it will be of significant use to academics in religious studies, political science, sociology and anthropology.

This book explores the various ways in which socialists have understood the relationship between their political beliefs and different religious and philosophical traditions.

Considering the rise of secularism and the view that politics and life stances are two very different spheres, it moves to examine the thought of those who believed that faith and politics are as separate as night and day, those who, on the contrary, believed that socialism rests firmly on a religious foundation, and those who have argued that socialism’s foundations are solidly scientific and therefore atheist. An examination of a range of perspectives on socialism as a political ideology, a deep conviction and even a form of faith, Secularist, Religious, and Scientific Socialism explores the aesthetic, ethical, and existential ideals that have ignited the hearts of socialists, describing in detail how these ideals have been expressed in political activism, cultural forms, and ways of living.

It will therefore appeal to scholars of intellectual history, political theory, political philosophy, and cultural history with interests in socialism and religion.

This book explores the various ways in which socialists have understood the relationship between their political beliefs and different religious and philosophical traditions.

Considering the rise of secularism and the view that politics and life stances are two very different spheres, it moves to examine the thought of those who believed that faith and politics are as separate as night and day, those who, on the contrary, believed that socialism rests firmly on a religious foundation, and those who have argued that socialism’s foundations are solidly scientific and therefore atheist. An examination of a range of perspectives on socialism as a political ideology, a deep conviction and even a form of faith, Secularist, Religious, and Scientific Socialism explores the aesthetic, ethical, and existential ideals that have ignited the hearts of socialists, describing in detail how these ideals have been expressed in political activism, cultural forms, and ways of living.

It will therefore appeal to scholars of intellectual history, political theory, political philosophy, and cultural history with interests in socialism and religion.

This book explores the historical relationships between socialist ideologies and religious or secular beliefs and cultures that shape the modern socialist. Portraying the cultural preferences and existential attitudes of leading Marxists, exploring the British tradition of "the religion of socialism", and excavating the forgotten interwovenness of Wagnerism with social democracy as well as Bolshevism, it brings to the fore how socialists have aspired to revolutionise modern art, culture, and forms of living.

Since the birth of modern socialism in the first decades of the nineteenth century, socialism has been represented by its enemies as an intoxicating, seductive form of religion. The fact that this is an anti-socialist trope does not mean that socialists themselves haven’t given voice to the same idea. This book examines the views of socialists who have held that their political views are grounded in a special view of life and think of this in terms of its being a form of immanent humanism.

Offering an evaluation of the usefulness of terms such as "religion", "myth", and "ritual", Humanist Socialism and the Religion of Socialism explores the history of modern socialist movements. It will therefore appeal to scholars of intellectual history, political theory, political philosophy, and cultural history with interests in varieties of socialism and its connection with "ultimate concerns".

This book explores the historical relationships between socialist ideologies and religious or secular beliefs and cultures that shape the modern socialist. Portraying the cultural preferences and existential attitudes of leading Marxists, exploring the British tradition of "the religion of socialism", and excavating the forgotten interwovenness of Wagnerism with social democracy as well as Bolshevism, it brings to the fore how socialists have aspired to revolutionise modern art, culture, and forms of living.

Since the birth of modern socialism in the first decades of the nineteenth century, socialism has been represented by its enemies as an intoxicating, seductive form of religion. The fact that this is an anti-socialist trope does not mean that socialists themselves haven’t given voice to the same idea. This book examines the views of socialists who have held that their political views are grounded in a special view of life and think of this in terms of its being a form of immanent humanism.

Offering an evaluation of the usefulness of terms such as "religion", "myth", and "ritual", Humanist Socialism and the Religion of Socialism explores the history of modern socialist movements. It will therefore appeal to scholars of intellectual history, political theory, political philosophy, and cultural history with interests in varieties of socialism and its connection with "ultimate concerns".

This volume offers new perspectives on the appeal and profound cultural meaning of socialism over the past two centuries. It brings together scholarship from various disciplines addressing diverse national contexts, including Britain, China, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and the USA. Taken together, the contributions highlight the aesthetic, narrative, and religious dimensions of socialism as it has developed through three broad phases in the modern era: early nineteenth-century beginnings, mass-based political organizations, and the attainment of state power in the twentieth century and beyond. Socialism did not attract millions of people primarily because of logical argument and empirical evidence, important though those were. Rather, it told the most compelling story about the past, present, and future. Refocusing attention on socialism''s imaginative dimensions, this volume aims to revive scholarly interest in one of the modern world¹s most important political orientations.

This volume offers new perspectives on the appeal and profound cultural meaning of socialism over the past two centuries. It brings together scholarship from various disciplines addressing diverse national contexts, including Britain, China, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and the USA. Taken together, the contributions highlight the aesthetic, narrative, and religious dimensions of socialism as it has developed through three broad phases in the modern era: early nineteenth-century beginnings, mass-based political organizations, and the attainment of state power in the twentieth century and beyond. Socialism did not attract millions of people primarily because of logical argument and empirical evidence, important though those were. Rather, it told the most compelling story about the past, present, and future. Refocusing attention on socialism''s imaginative dimensions, this volume aims to revive scholarly interest in one of the modern world¹s most important political orientations.

Arguably no modern ideology has diffused as fast as Socialism. From the mid-nineteenth century to the last quarter of the twentieth socialist ideals played a crucial part not only in the political sphere, but also influenced the way people worked and played, thought and felt, designed and decorated, hoped and yearned. By proposing general observations on the relationship between socialism, imagination, myth and utopia, as well as bringing the late nineteenth century socialist culture – a culture imbued with Biblical narratives, Christian symbols, classic mythology, rituals from freemasonry, Viking romanticism, and utopian speculations – together under the novel term ‘socialist idealism’, The Style and Mythology of Socialism: Socialist Idealism, 1871–1914 draws attention to the symbolic, artistic and rhetorical ways that socialism originally set the hearts of people on fire.

Arguably no modern ideology has diffused as fast as Socialism. From the mid-nineteenth century to the last quarter of the twentieth socialist ideals played a crucial part not only in the political sphere, but also influenced the way people worked and played, thought and felt, designed and decorated, hoped and yearned. By proposing general observations on the relationship between socialism, imagination, myth and utopia, as well as bringing the late nineteenth century socialist culture – a culture imbued with Biblical narratives, Christian symbols, classic mythology, rituals from freemasonry, Viking romanticism, and utopian speculations – together under the novel term ‘socialist idealism’, The Style and Mythology of Socialism: Socialist Idealism, 1871–1914 draws attention to the symbolic, artistic and rhetorical ways that socialism originally set the hearts of people on fire.

Tappar man kompassen får man gå på känn. Rätt ofta innebär det att man låter sig styras av de hinder som råkar komma i ens väg. Följden blir lätt att man irrar omkring. Det är vad vänstern gör idag när frågor om kultur, religion, sexualitet och livsåskådning dyker upp.

I Socialismens själ vill Stefan Arvidsson råda bot på vänsterns velande och staka ut kursen genom att påminna om den socialistiska arbetarrörelsens radikala kulturpolitiska arv. Hur arbetarrörelsen med humanismen som ledstjärna en gång lagt grunden till den sekulära folkliga medborgarkultur som nu hotas av såväl kommersialism som nationalistisk och religiös konservatism.

Stefan Arvidsson är professor i religionshistoria vid Linnéuniversitetet och vänsterdebattör.

Frågor om förhållandet mellan religion och politik har alltmer hamnat i centrum för samhällsdebatten både i Sverige och internationellt. Det är också ett stort forskningsämne med gamla anor i flera skilda discipliner. Men forskningen inom religionsvetenskap, idéhistoria, religionssociologi, antropologi och statsvetenskap har i huvudsak utvecklats för sig inom respektive ämne och det saknas en gemensam förståelse av den omstridda relationen.

I den här boken benar religionshistorikern Stefan Arvidsson ut de olika perspektiven och de missförstånd de ger upphov till. Genom att eftersträva systematik och terminologisk stringens vill han möjliggöra en dialog mellan de olika traditionerna.

Arvidsson tar sin utgångspunkt i humanismen för att hjälpa oss att bättre förstå skillnaderna och relationerna mellan specifikt religiösa, politiska, ekonomiska och kulturella fenomen i moderna kapitalistiska samhällen. Bland annat gör han upp med tendensen att se allting som religion och lyfter istället fram betydelsen av myter, ritualer och folklig massmobilisering inom politiken. Han problematiserar också synen på totalitarism som religion och ifrågasätter en rad vanliga antaganden om vad som är utmärkande för vår sekulära tid.

Boken erbjuder en analys av alla de vetenskapliga trender och traditioner som ryms inom forskningen om religion och politik. Som sådan är den oumbärlig för alla som närmar sig ämnet oavsett disciplintillhörighet.

Stefan Arvidsson (född 1968) disputerade i religionshistoria vid Lunds universitet år 2000 och är numera professor vid Linné­universitetet. Religion och politik under kapitalismen är en omarbetad och delvis utökad översättning av hans bok Religion and Politics under Capitalism som ursprungligen gavs ut på engelska 2019.

Vad har Ground Zero i New York gemensamt med gravar från jägarstenåldern i södra Skåne? Vad har ett träd som stod vid barndomshemmet gemensamt med husgrunder av sten från yngre järnåldern? De till synes väsensskilda företeelserna spelar alla en roll i skapandet av kollektiva minnen. I Minne och myt - konsten att skapa det förflutna diskuterar tio forskare frågor som berör hur ett samhälles historia formas och förmedlas.

I boken får vi möta en rad exempel på hur det förflutna skapats under olika tidsperioder. Vi får följa hur minnen och myter gestaltas i bilder, byggs in i hus eller monument och förmedlas i rituella handlingar. Mångfalden av material och tolkningar ger bidragen i boken en mängd varierande perspektiv. Det centrala temat som återkommer är det förflutnas betydelse för människor, och slutsatsen att det förflutna är ett samhälles gemensamma skapelse.