Two doctoral students in the history of religion from Södertörn University, Douglas Mattsson and Vera Ericson von Bahr, will present their projects.
Douglas Mattsson, Södertörn University
’We Despite the Crescent’: black metal and blasphemy in Turkey
Black metal, one of the most extreme subgenres of metal, have been a part of Turkish underground culture since the early 1990’s. Since the genre’s inception in Europe during the 1980’s and particularly the 1990’s in Norway, it’s esthetical and lyrical focus have revolved around blasphemy, satanism, violence, and a critical stance towards Abrahamitic faiths. Despite this, it was not until the mid 2000’s that references to Islam started to emerge within the Turkish black metal scene cultural production.
Based on years of fieldwork in the Turkish black metal scene, this project aims to answer questions such as; which references to Islam are utilized by the Turkish black metal scene, how are these composed in lyrics, artworks, or audio? Why have these started to occur now? What are the scenes relationship and thoughts of religion? And what can it tell us about modern Turkey and its complex religious and political environment?
Vera Ericsson von Bahr, Södertörn University
Occupying Sacred Space: Church and Mosque Sheltering in Germany
This dissertation project, which began in September 2021, explores how Christian and Muslim actors in Germany have used their religious spaces to protect migrants, a practice here referred to as “church and mosque sheltering”. The study analyzes cases of church and mosque sheltering that have occurred during two time periods; the years around the end of the Cold war, and the time around what is known as the “refugee crisis” in 2015. During these times, debates about migration and asylum have been heated in Germany. Among those who have become involved in challenging restrictive asylum policies are religious actors, that have let migrants fearing deportation or arrest find shelter in their religious space.
Based on archival material and interviews with congregation representatives, the study aims to analyze how church and mosque sheltering can be understood in relation to political development, state actors, and the congregations’ geographical locations. Further, the project explores if and how church and mosque sheltering provides religious actors with an opportunity to expand their influence in the public sphere.