Hjalmar Sundén
Encyclopedia
Hjalmar Sundén was a Swedish
psychologist
, known for his contributions to the psychology of religion
and for his development of "role theory
".
Sundén's role theory states that as people learn from sacred texts, they identify with certain roles in these texts, so that they may begin to ordinary experience as a religious experience
. Sundén studied in Paris, where he interviewed the French philosopher Henri Bergson
. Bergson's philosophy of religion
was to become the subject of Sunden's doctorate, after he had studied theology at the University of Uppsala (he received his doctorate in 1940). After receiving his doctorate, Sundén, unable to obtain a university post for some time, taught psychology and religion at various schools in the Stockholm
region. In 1959, Sunden published details of his role theory in Religionen och rollen. This book helped Sundén to obtain a university chair. He was the first person to occupy a Chair in the Psychology of Religion at the University of Uppsala and first person to hold such a post in any Nordic country. This chair was later held by Owe Wikström.
Sundén's role theory as applied to mystical experience is discussed by Wulff (2000). Wulff notes a study by Lars (1987), in which people were undergoing Zen training were more likely to report a mystical experience if they had a religious frame of reference. Wulff also notes criticisms of Sunden's role theory, noting how it fails to explain how mystical experience arises in the first place.
In 1987, the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion
launched a special issue on Sundén's role theory. An account of his work in the English language was prepared by his Finnish supporters, Holm and Belzen (1995). His role theory may be considered a social constructivist approach to religious experience, in contrast to the perennial psychology of Robert K.C. Forman
.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
psychologist
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
, known for his contributions to the psychology of religion
Psychology of religion
Psychology of religion consists of the application of psychological methods and interpretive frameworks to religious traditions, as well as to both religious and irreligious individuals. The science attempts to accurately describe the details, origins, and uses of religious beliefs and behaviours...
and for his development of "role theory
Role theory
Role theory is a perspective in sociology and in social psychology that considers most of everyday activity to be the acting out of socially defined categories . Each social role is a set of rights, duties, expectations, norms and behaviour a person has to face and to fulfill...
".
Sundén's role theory states that as people learn from sacred texts, they identify with certain roles in these texts, so that they may begin to ordinary experience as a religious experience
Religious experience
Religious experience is a subjective experience in which an individual reports contact with a transcendent reality, an encounter or union with the divine....
. Sundén studied in Paris, where he interviewed the French philosopher Henri Bergson
Henri Bergson
Henri-Louis Bergson was a major French philosopher, influential especially in the first half of the 20th century. Bergson convinced many thinkers that immediate experience and intuition are more significant than rationalism and science for understanding reality.He was awarded the 1927 Nobel Prize...
. Bergson's philosophy of religion
Philosophy of religion
Philosophy of religion is a branch of philosophy concerned with questions regarding religion, including the nature and existence of God, the examination of religious experience, analysis of religious language and texts, and the relationship of religion and science...
was to become the subject of Sunden's doctorate, after he had studied theology at the University of Uppsala (he received his doctorate in 1940). After receiving his doctorate, Sundén, unable to obtain a university post for some time, taught psychology and religion at various schools in the Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
region. In 1959, Sunden published details of his role theory in Religionen och rollen. This book helped Sundén to obtain a university chair. He was the first person to occupy a Chair in the Psychology of Religion at the University of Uppsala and first person to hold such a post in any Nordic country. This chair was later held by Owe Wikström.
Sundén's role theory as applied to mystical experience is discussed by Wulff (2000). Wulff notes a study by Lars (1987), in which people were undergoing Zen training were more likely to report a mystical experience if they had a religious frame of reference. Wulff also notes criticisms of Sunden's role theory, noting how it fails to explain how mystical experience arises in the first place.
In 1987, the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion
Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion
The Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion is a peer-reviewed journal, published by Wiley-Blackwell in the United States of America under the auspices of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, dedicated to publishing scholarly articles in the social sciences, including psychology,...
launched a special issue on Sundén's role theory. An account of his work in the English language was prepared by his Finnish supporters, Holm and Belzen (1995). His role theory may be considered a social constructivist approach to religious experience, in contrast to the perennial psychology of Robert K.C. Forman
Robert K.C. Forman
Robert K.C. Forman has worked as professor of religion at Hunter's College, C.U.N.Y., and is Founding Executive Director of The Forge Institute for Spirituality and Social Change. His books include The Problems of Pure Consciousness and The Innate Capacity...
.
Writings (selection)
- Gud - ödet - slumpen 1947
- Personligheten och det gemensamma bästa / Jacques Maritain 1949
- Rudolf Steiner. En bok om antroposofin 1962
- Religionen och rollerna: ett psykologiskt studium av fromheten 1959
- Kristusmeditationer i Dag Hammarskjölds Vägmärken 1966
- Älgskyttar, helgon och exegeter: några religionspsykologiska essäer 1969
- Den heliga Birgitta: ormungens moder som blev Kristi brud 1973
- Religionspsykologi: problem och metoder, with: Gustaf Ståhlberg 1974
- Mora-prosten mäster Jacob Boëthius' syndabekännelse av år 1707: med en kort levernesbeskrivning och kommentar.
- "Om synd och nåd, medveten strävan och omedvetet motstånd": ett fromhetsdokument från stormaktstiden 1977
- Persona och anima: en tillämpning av C. G. Jungs psykologi på sex författare: Karlfeldt, Strindberg, Camus, Lagerkvist, Heliga Birgitta, Moraprosten Jacob Boethius 1981
- Konungen och riket: om den gudomliga världsstyrelsen 1983
- "Glöm inte bort vad du har": religion - auktoritet: indiskt eller kristet? 1985
- Zen: historik, analys och betydelse 1995