Cuius regio (?). How Religion Shaped the Modern Histories of Norway and Greece

In the wake of the secularization processes that followed the end of the Middle Ages in Western Europe, religion gradually lost its central role in public life, often being relegated to the private sphere. Nevertheless, scholars widely recognize that religion and society remain deeply intertwined, with religious traditions exerting lasting influence even in secularized modern contexts — a relationship famously articulated by Max Weber in his “Protestant Ethic” thesis.

Norway and Greece provide compelling case studies of this dynamic. Despite their geographical distance and distinct socio-cultural contexts, both countries maintain strong institutional ties between state and church. While these ties reflect religion’s enduring social significance, the confessional differences between the Lutheran Church of Norway and the Orthodox Church of Greece have contributed to divergent historical trajectories.

This first workshop in the NIA's Religious Studies Series takes an exploratory approach, aiming to assess scholarly interest in how religion has shaped the modern histories of Norway and Greece. By bringing together researchers from diverse fields, the workshop seeks to deepen our understanding of how different confessional traditions have influenced social ethics, political structures, and national development.

Format and Keynote Lecture

The workshop will be hybrid and closed to the public, fostering focused academic discussion among invited participants.

An open keynote lecture will be delivered by Dr. Sven Thore Kloster (Head of Research, Director at KIFO – Institute for Church, Religion, and Worldview Research, Oslo) on 12 November at 18:00 at the Norwegian Institute at Athens.

Workshop Aims

Religion has long been a subject of intellectual inquiry, but its systematic academic study emerged in the 19th century through a wide range of disciplines, including theology, history, sociology, political science, law, and anthropology. Notably, the nation- and state-building processes in both Norway and Greece unfolded during this same period, closely intertwined with their respective national churches.

The workshop aims to:

• Explore points of convergence and divergence between the Lutheran and Orthodox Churches.

• Investigate their role and influence within broader societal contexts.

• Contribute to a more nuanced understanding of religion’s impact on modern societies.

Indicative Themes

• Histories of the study of religion

• Disciplinary and methodological approaches

• Protestantism and Orthodoxy

• Statecraft and church-building

• National churches and religious pluralism

• Religion, politics, and economy

• Religion and education

• Religion and national identity

Future Perspectives

The Norwegian Institute at Athens envisions this workshop as the foundation of a Religious Studies Series that will foster a research network focused on the mutual influences between religion and society in Protestant and Orthodox contexts. Future events aim to expand the comparative scope to include other Nordic and Orthodox countries, contributing to a broader understanding of religion’s role in shaping modern societies.

Scientific and Organizing Committee

• Costas Polyzos – PhD Candidate, Sociology Department, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens; Graduate Assistant, NIA

• Delia Tzortzaki – Museum Studies; Leader of the NIA in Greece and UiB Representative

• Sven Thore Kloster – Director, KIFO (Institute for Church, Religion, and Worldview Research)

• Christian Lomsdalen – PhD Candidate (Religious Studies, University of Bergen)

Scientific Chair:

• Costas Polyzos – PhD Candidate, Sociology Department, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens; Graduate Assistant, NIA