Homosexualitetsfrågan

Abstract

In this article I discuss homosexuality and Christian faith as a ”rhetorical crisis” in some Swedish churches. I refer mainly to articles from the Christian newspaper Dagen from 2000-2015, with a special focus on an intense debate in the spring of 2015. The study shows that the discussion changes over time, that it moves between different media and that new actors with their agendas affect what could be described as an ongoing struggle for discursive power. Yet there is also a meta-level in the discussion which relates to the theme of “rhetorical crisis” since it concerns communicative issues like how and where one should talk about the subject. The study also shows that the leadership of the Pentecostal movement time and again are challenged to take a stance but that they are reluctant to do so and instead attempt to mold the discussion and position it in the local churches.

Keywords

• homosexuality
• church leadership