2024

Jarlert, Anders; Tammela, Joonas

In this chapter, we analyze tendencies in the nineteenth- and twentieth-century historiography of the Swedish and Finnish early modern church history, i.e., the period between the Reformation and the split of the realm in 1809. Besides the modern discipline of church history, we take into account the long-lasting contribution of practical theologians and the significance of historians, especially from the later twentieth century onward. We explore different perspectives and emphases, from source positivism, theological tendencies, institutional church history, and spiritual life to the widened nuances in the studies of religious themes. The start of critical research built on solid archival studies in the mid-nineteenth century laid a new foundation for ecclesiastical historical analysis. During the early twentieth century, the source centralism in church history was combined with source criticism. Besides the strong emphasis on institutional and political church history, even perspectives on religious life and revivals have taken varying forms in studies from the late nineteenth century onward. Also, the interpretation of historical phenomena in terms of remarkable individuals was popular for a long time. During the later twentieth century, studies were increasingly influenced by general trends in academic history writing and approaches to early modern religious history extended rapidly into new areas.