This essay seeks to describe the various expressions of mysticism in The Swedish Hymnal of the Church of Sweden from 1986, including a supplement from 2002. The definition of mysticism in this essay is based on the works of Nathan Söderblom, a Swedish lutheran theologian and archbishop of the Church of Sweden 1914–1931. In his Uppenbarelsereligion from 1903, Söderblom divides the history of religion into two basic categories: “religion of culture” and “religion of revelation”. Religion of culture is characterised by what Söderblom literally calls “infinity mysticism”, but which is here translated as “cosmic mysticism”. This cosmic mysticism is in turn characterised by an ecstatic experience of God as a non-personal infinity, only accessable through introspection. Religion of revelation, on the other hand, is characterised by a “personal mysticism”, a deeply personal relationship with God, who helps man to overcome his greif and guilt, allowing him to act according to God’s will.

In this essay, Söderblom’s two categories of Religion are used to categorise the expressions of mysticism found in The Swedish Hymnal. In accordance with Niklas Luhmann, religion is here understood as a form of communication, expressed in hymns. 207 hymns from nine diffferent headings in the Hymnal (out of a total 800) have been read, most written between the 16th century and the 1990s, to identify corresponding motifs with Söderblom’s descriptions of cosmic and personal mysticism. The intention has been to clarify the role of mysticism in the Church of Sweden and to establish a method for comparing expressions of mysticism between different religious traditions. The essay investigates how the two types of mysticism are expressed in the Hymnal and identifies patterns between hymns from different headers and epochs.

Corresponding motifs between Söderblom and 95 of the hymns are discussed. The vast majority of these correspond to Söderblom’s personality mysticism; they describe God’s profound love and grace towards man, and the necessity to act in accordance with His will is emphasised. In a few late 20thcentury hymns, however, correspondances with cosmic mysticism can be found, both in the form of a less personal, more cosmic understanding of God’s attributes and as an exprecience of God through introspection. These changes are suggested to relate to general changes in Swedish society, but further research of newer hymns is required to establish whether it respresents a general trend. The results suggest that Söderblom’s theories provide an accurate understanding of mysticism in traditional Lutheranism, and a wider adoption of his theory could be constructive for scholarship in this field.