Christianity was introduced in Norway about 1000 years ago. In 1319 Norway lost its independence and entered into a union with Denmark in 1380. This union lasted for about four centuries, until Denmark ceded Norway to Sweden in 1814.

Until the Reformation in 1537, when Protestantism was adopted by Royal Decree, Norway was Roman Catholic. At the same time the Church of Norway was established. From the early 1600s on, Lutheran Orthodoxy was supreme and no other religion was permitted. During the 1700s Norway was strongly influenced by Pietism, an individually-oriented Lutheran revivalist movement from Germany. In the 1800s lay preachers began to preach the Bible without the approval of official religious circles. There was a ban on lay preaching, which was lifted in 1842. The Roman Catholic Church was re-established in 1850. The 1900s were characterised by tensions between conservative and liberal believers. In 1905 Norway regained independence from Sweden.

II. Religious affiliation today

About 88 % of the population belong to the Church of Norway. 5.9 % of the population are members of other religious communities, e.g. Norwegian Humanist Association, Islam, the free Pentecostal Movement, the Roman Catholic Church, the Evangelical-Lutheran Free Church and Methodists. About 6.2 % of the population do not belong to any religious community.

III. Basic Categories of the System

There is no separation between State and Church. However, all inhabitants have the right to exercise their religion freely.

The king is the head of the Church of Norway, which is a Protestant state church.

The Parliament of Norway is in charge of adopting church-related legislation and budgets. The highest ecclesiastical body is the General Synod.

IV. Cultural and societal exercise of functions

In 1997 the obligatory subject of “Christianity, religion and life stance” was established in Norway. This subject replaced religious and ethics lessons, in the way of combining theses subjects. Religious communities and associations have the right to establish schools.

V. Legal foundations

According to an amendment to the Constitution in 1964, free exercise of religion is guaranteed. Art 2 of the Constitution declares Protestantism as religion of the State and the “Norske Kirke” (Church of Norway) as state church.

A further amendment in 1969 lead to greater diversity and tolerance in society, by introducing a scheme for state allocations to all registered religious and life stance communities.