The Burning Qur’an and the Benign Bible

Representation of Scripture(s) in the Swedish Media Debate on the Qur’an Burnings

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/post.32955

Keywords:

biblical reception, Qur’an burnings, politicization of religion, critical discourse analysis

Abstract

In this article, we examine the way the (Christian) Bible and the Qur’an are represented in Swedish press in the wake of the Qur’an burnings that took place in Sweden 2020–23. Through critical discourse analysis we investigate debate articles and identify prominent discourses that stress the Bible as benign and the Qur’an as malign for Swedish society. The Bible is framed as harmonizing with Swedish values, including freedom of speech, while the Qur’an is framed as non-compatible with a modern, secular society. The result is then related to biblical reception studies on various notions of Bibles in the public sphere and the theory of the politicization of religion as applied in sociology of religion. Ultimately, we argue that an increasing politicization of the Bible risks reinforcing problematic notions of the religious Other, through framing sacred scriptures as contrasting symbols for groups of people, even in the world’s most secularized country. 

Author Biographies

  • Linnea Jensdotter, Lund university

    Linnea Jensdotter is a postdoctoral researcher in sociology of religion at the Center of Theology and Religious studies, Lund University. Her research examines the role of religion in various public arenas, such as traditional and social media, political communication and policymaking. 

  • Hanna Liljefors, Lund University

    Hanna Liljefors is a postdoctoral researcher in biblical studies within the project 'Scripture and Secularism: Mapping the Impact of the Bible on the Secular World' at the Center of Theology and Religious studies, Lund University. Her research interests focus on biblical reception in various parts of the public sphere, such as in politics, news media, or on social media.

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Published

2025-03-05

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How to Cite

Jensdotter, L., & Liljefors, H. (2025). The Burning Qur’an and the Benign Bible: Representation of Scripture(s) in the Swedish Media Debate on the Qur’an Burnings. Postscripts: The Journal of Sacred Texts, Cultural Histories, and Contemporary Contexts, 15(2), 151-177. https://doi.org/10.1558/post.32955