Public Servants on Public Religion: Attitudes among Swedish Teachers of Religious Education

This study investigates the attitudes of Swedish religious education (RE) teachers towards public religion and religious symbols, and compares their views to the general population. In secularized and diverse Sweden, the presence of religious symbols in public spaces is contentious. Data from a survey among Swedish teachers of RE is compared with survey data from a representative population sample and complemented with teacher interviews. The study reveals that the Swedish teachers of RE are generally more accepting of public religion than the broader population. However, teachers show differing levels of acceptance for religious symbols: about half support smaller symbols like a cross or Star of David, but there is less acceptance for more visible symbols such as the veil or turban. This ambivalence stems from teachers’ emphasis on neutrality and objectivity in their professional roles. The study underscores the complexity of public religion in secular societies and the need for ongoing discussion about religious symbols in education.