Press mot friheten

Magnus Nyman

Examines the question of tolerance towards religious minorities in Sweden as reflected in newspapers and magazines between 1772-86. At that time Jews and Roman Catholics were gradually settling in Sweden due to decisions made by the Estates in 1778-79 which permitted a limited religious tolerance. Pt. II (p. 99-164) analyzes the comparatively extensive coverage on the Jews in the press, which was almost all negative. This attitude does not seem to have had a religious motivation; rather, the concept of "Jew" awoke deep but often inarticulate feelings. Catholics, on the other hand, were received positively. This discrepancy was perhaps due to the interest of intellectuals in natural religion, and their belief that Judaism was narrow and fanatical and that Judaism had been left behind by history.