Denmark – a Christian Country?
Discussions of the government’s description of Denmark as a “Christian country” show a renewed focus on cultural war
Minister for Church Affairs, Bertel Haarder.
Which values signify a nation? According to the Danish one-party-government, religion is significant. Thus, Denmark is described as a Christian country in the government platform released when the Liberal Party took over the leading role in June 2015.
Following this announcement, various groups in society and church have questioned this formulation and various groups have defended it. Minister of Culture and Church Affairs, Bertel Haarder explains in a commentary in “Berlingske”: “This is an occasion to talk about the joint knowledge we are about to lose. And what is more: This is not about faith but about knowledge. The government does not intend to missionize. A Danish government cannot do that. But in the rest of the world it is considered a natural thing that society, culture and religion are connected.”
The minister underlines that the sentence “Denmark is a Christian country” is not to be understood as an attempt to fulfil the Great Commission but as a statement of fact.
Critics point out that this could have been worded differently, making the statement less exclusive. Associate professor at the Lutheran School of Theology in Aarhus, Jeppe Bach Nikolajsen, PhD, finds the wording problematic as it does not correspond descriptively with reality: “In Denmark we have more than one hundred recognised faith communities; we have Jews, Muslims, atheist, agnostics. Also historically we have had writers, scientists and politicians who were atheists and who have had a great impact on Danish cultural heritage,” he says to Danmarks Radio, the Danish Broadcasting Corporation. He adds that the statement might be true as a political, normative statement.
To chairperson of Humanistic Society Lone Ree Milkær, the statement is an unnecessary marking of dividing lines. She says to Danmarks Radio, that she doesn’t find the Denmark she lives in a Christian country.
Professor, Dr.theol.h.c. Niels Jørgen Cappelørn explains to The Christian Daily: “only a human being can be Christian. Only a human being can believe. A country cannot believe in anything.”
If the statement was meant as a political statement, the political action in this field still remains to be seen. The only specific action promised is the establishment of a committee, which will look at how to improve procedures and participation in parish council elections. This committee has been established and will present its work in March 2017.
Rebekka Højmark Svenningsen
