Tomas Sundnes Drønen (research group leader)
Associate professor (intercultural studies), PhD
+47 51516215
tomas.sundnes.dronen@mhs.no

Project: “Globalization and pentecostalism in sub-Saharan Africa”

This post. doc. project is entitled “Globalization and Pentecostalism in Sub-Saharan Africa: Christianity Locally Negotiated in Cameroon and Uganda”. Through field studies in Ngaoundéré, Cameroon, and Kampala, Uganda, the study aims at shedding light on the fast growing charismatic movement in Africa. By investigating the Francophone tradition in West-Africa and the Anglophone tradition in East-Africa the influence of global Pentecostalism will be compared to the impact of local entrepreneurs. Is the growth of this ‘New African Christianity’ based on adoption of the ‘prosperity-gospel’ of American TV-evangelists, or is it a locally negotiated Christianity largely influenced by African traditional religion?

Gerd Marie Ådna
Associate professor (science of religion), dr.art.
+47 51516229
gerd.marie.aadna@mhs.no

Project: “Muslim immigrants in Berlin and Stavanger”

This project deals with Muslim immigrants in Berlin and in Stavanger. How do they understand the histories of the Islamic Prophets in a European urban context, and to what extent are these religious and ethical ideals passed on to children who grow up in a double reality. The main question is how adults interpret Muslim tradition in societies dominated by secularization and modern, western Christianity. Through a qualitative approach, the project will seek to answer how narratives and traditions face spatial and temporal challenges, and how young and old Muslims create meaning through negotiating conservation and change, and thereby linking Quranic and traditional narratives to religious and moral lives in a secular setting.

Marianne Skjortnes
Associate professor (social anthropology), mag.art.
+47 51516269
marianne.skjortnes@mhs.no

Project: "Religion and development."

This project deals with how Christian churches across the world have long engaged in what we today term development. Faith-based organizations (FBO) have been deeply involved in humanitarian assistance and diaconal work. Christian churches believe that all human beings are created in the image of God as equals with the same basic rights and obligations. All humans, regardless of religion, gender, culture, ethnic origin or traditions, belong to the global community, and live in mutual dependence. It is the position of FBO that their development work aims at upholding human dignity. Christian churches are challenged, in praxis and in theory, to be part of a global trend and a modern professionalized language in dealing with development work. However, faith based organizations provide a distinct added value to the secular development project. How can we define this ‘added value’? How can a Christian identity stimulate the desire for a good life and a counter-story to the events and processes of everyday reality? How can religion provide meanings and resources for a dignified life?

Kristin Fjelde Tjelle
Research fellow (Church and mission history), cand.philol.
+47 51516246
kristin.fjelde.tjelle@mhs.no

Project: “Missionaries and masculinity constructions”

This Ph. D.-project is a historical study of Norwegian male missionaries who represented the Lutheran mission Norwegian Mission Society, and who lived and worked among the ethnic group of Zulu in South Africa in the period 1870-1940. Through empirical research on historical, textual souces, and through the lenses of current theoretical perspectives on gender, men and masculinities, the ideology and praxis of the missionaries are analysed. In a frontier-milieu, with constant conflicts and rivalry between Zulu nationalism, Boer expansionism and British imperialism, how was the constructs of Norwegian, Lutheran missionary masculinity negotiated?

Thor Strandenæs
Professor (missiology), teol.dr.
+47 51516232
thor.strandenaes@mhs.no

Project: “Mission and diaconia”

This project is entitled ”Mission and Diaconia: Identification and Critical Analysis of Values, Strategies and Means in Diaconic Ministries in Africa and Asia, and Their Contribution to Empowerment, Advocacy and Sustainable Development.” The project consists of both historical and contemporary studies of diaconia in churches in Africa and Asia where the Norwegian Mission Society has been actively involved and is presently engaged through partnership in mission. The aim is to identify and analyse critically the historical and contemporary models, methods and means of diaconic ministries, focusing on whether and how related strategies, goals and values (including theological) contribute to transformation and sustainable development in society by promoting empowerment and engaging in advocacy. Of particular interest are the implications of such diaconic ministries for gender issues and marginalised groups.

Jan Opsal
Professor (science of religion), cand.theol.
+47 51516234
jan.opsal@mhs.no

Project: “Three Norwegian-Pakistani Mosques in Oslo”

This project focuses on the first three purpose-built mosques in Norway, all three of them built by congregations dominated by Norwegian-Pakistanis and located in the Eastern part of downtown Oslo. The project will investigate how different ideals and concerns, both universal and local ones, have been negotiated and resulting in three different architectural and esthetical expressions in downtown Oslo. The relationship to the Pakistani heritage as well as to the immediate surroundings in Oslo will be discussed, also taking the influence of the architects and the local government into consideration.