• Sweden edition

One in five Swedes 'believes in ghosts'

Published: 13 Feb 12 07:24 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/39068/20120213/

One in five Swedes believes that people rise from the grave after they've died, a new survey has shown.

According to a survey carried out by the Sifo polling firm at the request of newspaper Svenska Dagbladet (SvD), 21 percent of respondents said they believed people become ghosts after they've died.

Religion experts say that Sweden is the meddle of a supernatural “renaissance”.

The survey also found that 20 percent or respondents indicated they had been in contact with or had felt the presence of someone who is dead.

More women than men indicated they had had such experiences – 20 percent compared to 11 percent.

In addition, people over the age of 65 are the least likely to believe in ghosts, with only 13 percent indicating that they believe the dead can rise from the grave.

Liselotte Frisk, a professor of religious studies at Dalarna University in central Sweden, said the country is in the middle of a “renaissance” with supernatural phenomena.

“Many television programmes address the supernatural and strengthen the beliefs that exist in our culture. It's also the case that there are fewer participants in different rituals such as sermons and confirmation and that creates space that allows for these notions to take hold,” she told SvD.

The responses come from a survey of 1,000 people carried out in January.

In a similar study by Sifo conducted in 1998, 17 percent said they believed the dead became ghosts.

TT/The Local/dl (news@thelocal.se)

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Fark It! Digg This  Share everywhere
Send to a friend Printable version Twitter This

Your comments about this article:

The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.

09:35 February 13, 2012 by J Jack
Opinion vs belief , what's the difference? I would think a fantasy vs physical encounter.
10:00 February 13, 2012 by Keith #5083
Where they asked the questions before or after the New Year parties?
10:29 February 13, 2012 by BillyB
Then clearly 1 in 5 Swedes are stupid.
10:41 February 13, 2012 by Ballcocks
Worst photo that I've seen the Local use yet !

And what has it to do with goats ?
11:26 February 13, 2012 by zircon
Incense can help.
12:26 February 13, 2012 by DAVID T
I did a ghost poop this morning - when I checked the bowl it was gone
12:59 February 13, 2012 by acidcritic
I dont believe they exist, but they exist and some- when they use bikini- are very attrarctive
15:23 February 13, 2012 by zircon
And so is the lady you're buying the incense from.
19:07 February 13, 2012 by Tanskalainen
One of the cabins where I go deer hunting is haunted. It's not funny, spirits are a pain in the ass. Ever make the mistake of feeding seagulls on a dock? Spirits crave attention like seagulls crave handouts.
20:23 February 13, 2012 by BillyB
"One of the cabins where I go deer hunting is haunted"....No its not
20:56 February 13, 2012 by swedejane
1 in 5 swedes are from somewhere else...like, superstitious cultures.
21:00 February 13, 2012 by Tanskalainen
@BillyB Billy rhymes with silly.
21:13 February 13, 2012 by Vill
I keep seeing ghosts everywhere I go, but their sheets are black instead of white.
21:59 February 13, 2012 by wxman
That seems reasonable. I recently read that one in five ghosts believe in Swedes.
05:20 February 14, 2012 by TheWatchman
@David T

I lol'd

@swedejane

Not necessarily. I'm a man of Western culture and values, but I believe in ghosts and spirits...I just wrote that. It seems normal in my head, but when I write it out it seems strange, especially the spirit part.
08:00 February 14, 2012 by muscle
all the time i keep praying, oh god send me a hot chic ghost! :( never worked DAMNIT!
09:54 February 14, 2012 by jamesblish
A fairly low number compared to a lot of other countries. But if you add all the religious people in this country to the ghost number, it get a lot higher. They really should do that because it's all superstition.
20:13 February 14, 2012 by philster61
Have they actually "seen " any of these ghosts that they believe in?

Reminds me of that Swedish website that was part of the 90s crash... boo.com
12:55 February 15, 2012 by johnny1939
Too many ghosts in my life!!!!
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Today's headlines
EUROVISION SONG CONTEST
Loreen win gives Sweden Eurovision 'Euphoria'

Loreen win gives Sweden Eurovision 'Euphoria'

Sweden's Loreen brought home gold in the glitzy 2012 Eurovision Song Contest early Sunday morning with an impassioned rendition of her hit "Euphoria" from Baku in Azerbaijan. READ (9 COMMENTS) »

Swedes bask in record May highs

Swedes bask in record May highs

Swedes were enjoying a real taste of summer heat on Friday with thermometers indicated record highs in some areas of the country, with more of the same promised over the weekend. READ (6 COMMENTS) »

New Swedish union boss seeks welfare state boost

New Swedish union boss seeks welfare state boost

Sweden's Trade Union Confederation on Saturday elected as its new president Karl-Petter Thorwaldsson, who proceeded to call for a restoration of the Swedish welfare model. READ (6 COMMENTS) »

Swedish police hunt man for imam shooting

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a man in connection with the shooting of an Uzbek imam in northern Sweden in February. READ »

Hillary Clinton lines up Sweden visit

Hillary Clinton lines up Sweden visit

Sweden is set to host US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in early June and discussions will concern green energy, internet freedom, Afghanistan and the Middle East READ (4 COMMENTS) »

Ibrahimovic pledges future to Milan

Ibrahimovic pledges future to Milan

Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has stated that he is happy at AC Milan and will honour his contract, while bemoaning the club's lack of financial muscle. READ »

'Retard doll' shocks Swedish shoppers

'Retard doll' shocks Swedish shoppers

A doll billed as a "real retard" found its way into stores in Gothenburg in western Sweden on Thursday, prompting strong reactions about a campaign meant to draw attention to the treatment of people with disabilities. READ (18 COMMENTS) »

Woman jailed for fatal love-triangle stabbing

A jealous Swedish woman who murdered her ex-boyfriend’s new partner in September has been sentenced to 14 years in prison. READ (15 COMMENTS) »

More Society

Highlights from Follow Sweden

Meet Sanna, 9 years old

Sanna is one of 2 million people in Sweden under the age of 18. Sweden is seen as a good place to grow up. The law makes sure children are well-protected and defends their rights and any organizations work with children's well-being. Read more »

Strindberg, king of drama

August Strindberg's plays shocked society, dazzled audiences and revolutionized drama. A century after his death, Strindberg, with his powerful, timeless themes, is celebrated around the world. Read more »

 

Blog Update: Snuggling With the Enemy

20 May 17:38

The story of K Composite Magazine »

"I’m working on a couple long articles which will be posted here soon. While those are in the works, I thought I’d share this article and interview about my magazine, K Composite, which was recently published on the site Design-Milk.com. Enjoy! Scott Ritcher launched his now digitally glossy mag, K Composite, back when Macs were used..." READ »

Highlights
Thegreenj/Wikipedia (File)
OPINION »
Swedish journalist and columnist Ola Tedin to reflect on how a sometimes uncritical media appears to serve the interests of the Swedish state
Photo: Shayne Kaye/Flickr (file)
BUSINESS & MONEY »
Nine of ten tourists 'happy' with Sweden
DoToday
LIFESTYLE »
What's On: The Local's guide to upcoming attractions and events in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö.
German ambassador Harald Kindermann
OPINION »
Harald Kindermann, the German ambassador to Sweden, talks to The Local about the importance of the German language, nuclear power, and the legacy of the Stasi.
Claudio Bresciani/Scanpix
LIFESTYLE »
The Local's coverage of the baptism of Princess Estelle
Björn Tesch/Arbetsförmedlingen (File)
BUSINESS & MONEY »
Sweden drifting from 'Swedish model': report
The Local Street Style - Lund
GALLERY »
The Local's Street Style from Lund, southern Sweden.
Olle Lindeborg/Scanpix (File)
OPINION »
The problem of profiting ex-politicos isn't simply money, money, money, argues contributor and historian David Linden
LIFESTYLE »
The Local catches up with Sweden’s comedian of the year Al Pitcher and preview our first ever “Local Lockdown” video segment.
Photo: Aprilbell.stock.xcbng.com
OPINION »
Sweden strips foreign doctoral candidates of the same rights as other tax-paying migrant workers, argue a group of doctoral candidates from the Royal Institute for Technology (KTH).
Marco Vasini/Scanpix
SPORT »
Sweden looking for redemption at Euros
Chadawg24/Flickr (File)
LIFESTYLE »
'Are Swedes really more polite in English?'
Photo: Nikater
SPONSORED ARTICLE
Saxony with InterRail: a gateway to central Europe
Photo: AGS
SPONSORED ARTICLE
Moving made easy: Top tips for your international move
Photo: Poker Listings
SPONSORED ARTICLE
No Swedes Signed Up for Most Expensive Poker Tournament Ever
Photo: Jan Videgren
SPONSORED ARTICLE
How Bergman blazed a trail for Swedish film
Photo: Contiki
SPONSORED ARTICLE
Ten great reasons to travel this summer
Photo: Stock image
SPONSORED ARTICLE
Swedish university traditions make foreigners feel at home
Highlights from Follow Sweden
Swedish word of the day

lång

adjective

Lång means long, tall and can be used for height, distance or time.

Latest news from The Local in Germany

More news from Germany at thelocal.de

Latest news from The Local in Switzerland

More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch

Latest news from The Local in France

More news from France at thelocal.fr

Latest news from The Local in Norway

More news from Norway at thelocal.no

Blog
Highlights from Follow Sweden
New book about Sweden – get to know the country

Sweden – Up North, Down to Earth is a book about Sweden today. A country of natural beauty and open space, and a society focused on equality, human rights and sustainability. Meet regular and astonishing Swedes, supercars and indie rock bands, vampires and royalties.

Buy your copy of Sweden – Up North, Down to Earth from Sweden Bookshop

Search News


Register

Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss

REGISTER FOR FREE »

Swedish Down Town
Swedish Down Town PR Consulting and Productions is an innovative business company which provides valuable assistance with Public Relations and Communications in the Swedish and the international market.
www.swedishdowntown.com
QUALITY ACCOMMODATION ON SWEDISH HIGH COAST
Comfortable Fully Serviced Apartments for Leisure or Business Travel Beautiful surroundings. Internet & Sat TV
www.oldriverhouse.se
Volunteer Venture
Volunteer Venture is dedicated to promoting community tourism by welcoming volunteers and travelers to discover the cultural differences in Nepal as English teaching volunteers, orphanage volunteers, Monk teachers and many more
www.volunteerventure.org/
The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
English Speaking Therapist Stockholm
British-Australian Male Counsellor. Counselling Therapy for Depression, Mental Health, Sex, Relationship & Expat Issues
08-559 22 636 or CLICK HERE
Doctor of Psychology
Therapy in English in Stockholm Trained in California Individuals & Couples (08) 93 81 48 FREE phone consultation
Visit anxiousorblue.se
Turning Point Counseling
Turning Point Counselling centre offers the international community of Stockholm a safe space for personal development, counselling and coaching.
http://www.turning-point.se/show.asp