Religion and Biopolitics

After a brief sketch of the historical background, the current political situation in Sweden is outlined. Since 1985 the National Council on Medical Ethics (Smer) has played an important role in the biopolitical debate in Sweden, and its activities and influence are described. Religious teachings are often combined with moral precepts. But what makes a statement religious is not easy to say, especially in societies where religious concerns have been intertwined with humanitarian common sense morality for a long time. Summing up, it can be said that the debate in Sweden on biopolitical issues has not shown many signs of the influence of religious arguments, though some religious actors are active in this debate.