A new wave of writing reflects rising interest in Christianity amid uncertainty and political contestation
In a reported feature for the Norwegian newspaper Klassekampen, journalist Mylena Kifle explores a sharp rise in non-fiction books about Christianity, positioning it as part of a broader cultural and political shift in Norway.
The trend follows what some observers describe as a growing conservative current, particularly among young people, alongside a recent increase in church membership and Bible sales. This renewed attention to religion is now visible in publishing. Where only one book on Christianity appeared the previous spring, at least eight are set for release this year, written by figures spanning the ideological spectrum, including clergy, academics, politicians and converts.
Among them is philosopher Ali Jones Alkazemi, whose forthcoming book traces a personal journey from a Shiite Muslim upbringing through atheism to Catholicism. Rather than presenting religion as something to escape, Alkazemi complicates dominant narratives, describing his path as a continuation of a lifelong engagement with faith traditions. At the same time, he resists framing Christianity as purely liberatory, noting its own internal conservatism and tensions.
Other contributors approach Christianity from markedly different angles. Former Oslo bishop Kari Veiteberg writes about faith and resilience, while academic Ragnar Misje Bergem examines the relationship between Christian ideas and contemporary authoritarian movements. Meanwhile, politicians Sofie Marhaug and Mímir Kristjánsson offer a left-wing intervention with The Socialist’s Guide to the Bible, seeking to reclaim Christian texts from conservative ownership.
Kifle’s reporting suggests that this surge is driven in part by a wider sense of instability. For many young people, pessimism about the future has created a renewed appetite for frameworks that offer meaning and continuity. In this context, religious institutions can also function as spaces of social connection in societies where traditional forms of community have weakened. For those who grew up in largely secular environments, Christianity may feel less imposed and more available for exploration, curiosity and reinterpretation. This distance, according to the article, allows religion to be approached not as doctrine but as a cultural and intellectual resource.
At the same time, several voices in the article point to the increasing politicisation of Christianity. Influences from the United States, where religion is deeply entangled with right-wing politics, have reverberated in Europe. In response, some authors are explicitly attempting to challenge this alignment. Marhaug, for example, argues that Christian cultural heritage should not be left to the right, framing engagement with the Bible as a political as well as intellectual project.
Concerns about this politicisation are also reflected within the publishing world. Editor Preben Jordal notes both the growing demand for religious literature and the lack of a strong intellectual tradition in contemporary Norwegian Protestant writing. He calls for more nuanced, critical works that can engage seriously with Christianity as both a cultural inheritance and a framework for interpreting existence.
Ultimately, Kifle presents the current wave of Christian publishing as more than a literary phenomenon. It reflects a broader moment in which religion is being re-examined as a source of identity, community and political meaning.
The original article by Mylena Kifle ‘Flere skriver bøker om kristendommen’ was published in Norwegian in Klassekampen on 21 January, 2026.It is available here.
Klassekampen is a Norwegian daily newspaper known for its in-depth reporting on politics, culture and social issues.
Summary by ZN
