Det svenska enhetssamhällets värdegrund

Abstract

Sweden, during her most expansive period, comprised approximately what is called today Sweden, Finland, Karelia, the region south of the Russian River Neva (Ingria), Estonia, Latvia, and parts of Northern Germany. The ideological base of this ethnically and linguistically diversified commonwealth was the doctrine of abso-lute kingship nd the Luther n doctrines, popul rised by me ns of Luther‟s Cathecism. When the Lutheran version of Christianity had been finally adopted and consolidated in 1593, an immense project of public edu-cation was launched. One of the most influential texts used was the Latin Compendium doctrinæ coelestis by the German theologian Mathias Hafenreffer, printed in more than thirty editions during the 17th and well into the 18th century. It served as basic reading in the Faculties of Theology, and it was also published in a short-ened version for use in schools. King Charles XII claimed that he knew it by heart in the compendiary form. Hafenreffer thus became part of the Verstehungshorizont of innumerous clerics and public servants for gen-erations. If one wishes to reach a more profound understanding of the motives, aspirations, fears and mentali-ties of people during this period, this book is indispensable. Since the proficiency in Latin is generally poor, even among scholars, this edition and translation of a fundamental text is most welcome.