Nye perspektiv på Hans Nielsen Hauge

Abstract

The chapter provides an overview of the anthology, and of the historiography related to the research which is presented. It argues that the movement led by Hans Nielsen Hauge (1771–1824) must be understood as a changing phenomenon that was situated in an especially transformative period in Norwegian history. An over arching theme is the intertwined characteristics of tradition and modernity both within the religious movement and its context before and after 1814. The chapter looks at these historical processes through discussing the role of the priests, the Haugean theology’s roots, and the dialectic nature of the Danish-Norwegian autocracy. These religious components had implications for how a popular political culture was cultivated before and after Norway got its own constitution. Further, the interpretation of Hauge as a leader before and after 1814 is questioned. As the modern impulses grew stronger during the 19th century, the Haugeans’ program changed. Thus, a discussion of the Hauge movement’s contributions to economic and political modernization is crucial. Previous interpretations are presented in the chapter, where conflicting understandings of the movement as an agent of modernization are clarified and problematized.