Module 3

Faith, Religion and Values

Learn about freedom of religion, the Church of Norway, other religions, holidays, Sámi faith and Norwegian values.

Last updated: 2026-11-06

Freedom of religion and the basis of values

In Norway everyone has freedom of religion. This means you have the right to believe what you want, change religion or belief, or not believe in anything. No one can force you to believe, and no one can stop you from practising your faith, as long as you follow Norwegian law. Freedom of religion is protected by the Constitution and by international human rights.

A life stance (livssyn) is a set of thoughts about what is important in life. A life stance can be religious, for example Christianity or Islam, or non-religious, for example humanism.

Article 2 of the Constitution says our value base is "our Christian and humanist heritage". Article 16 says that all residents have the right to free exercise of religion. This means you can pray, go to church, mosque or temple, and celebrate religious holidays.

The state has no state religion. The same article says that the Church of Norway is Norway's national church and is supported by the state, but that all religious and life-stance communities must be supported on an equal footing. The state must treat all faith communities and life stances equally. Many call this a society open to different beliefs.

For many Norwegians religion is a private matter. Norway is a secularised society. This means religion has less importance in politics and everyday life than before, and more and more people say they do not believe in a god. At the same time, several religions are present in our society.

Freedom of religion also means that no one can use religion as a reason to break the law. Norwegian law applies to everyone, whatever their faith. For example, female genital mutilation is forbidden, whatever the religion. Norwegian law also protects equality: the Marriage Act has been gender-neutral since 2009, so two people of the same sex can marry. Article 100 of the Constitution gives everyone the right to say and write what they think (freedom of expression).

The full module and all questions are in the app.

Key points

Freedom of religion and the basis of values

• Freedom of religion means being able to believe, change belief or not believe
• Article 2 says the value base is our Christian and humanist heritage
• Article 16 says the Church of Norway is the national church and is supported by the state
• The state must treat all faith communities and life stances equally
• Religion is no excuse for breaking Norwegian law

From state church to national church

• Norway became Lutheran in 1537
• The state church arrangement was ended in 2012
• The Constitution says the Church of Norway is Norway's national church
• In 2017 the Church of Norway became its own legal entity
• The ban on Jews in the Constitution was lifted in 1851

The Church of Norway

• In 2025 about 61% of the population were members of the Church of Norway
• The church is Evangelical-Lutheran
• Baptism, confirmation, weddings and funerals are major church events
• Urnes stave church from around 1130 is on UNESCO's World Heritage List
• About 391,000 belonged to Christian communities outside the Church of Norway in 2026

Other religions and life stances in Norway

• Over 75% are registered members of a faith or life-stance community
• Islam is the largest religion outside Christianity, about 202,000 members in 2026
• The Humanist Association offers civil confirmation, naming ceremonies, weddings and funerals
• The holy book of Muslims is the Quran, of Jews the Torah
• All religions and life stances have equal freedom in Norway

Sami faith and Christianisation

• The Sámi are Norway's indigenous people
• Traditional Sámi religion was linked to nature and spirits
• The noaidi was a religious leader who used a Sámi drum
• Christianisation became intense from the end of the 1600s and the early 1700s
• Laestadianism is a Christian revival movement that is important among the Sámi

Holidays and traditions

• Norway has 12 public holidays, in addition to Sundays
• Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve are not public holidays
• Ascension Day is always a Thursday, day 40 when Easter Sunday is day 1
• Easter celebrates the death and resurrection of Jesus; Christmas celebrates his birth
• Festivals such as Eid and Diwali are not public holidays in Norway

Faith, law and school

• Registered communities get state support per member; from 2026 at least 100 members are required
• Parents decide for children under 15; from 15 the child decides
• KRLE gives knowledge about religions and life stances and is not preaching
• Pupils can be exempted from activities that feel like religious practice
• Female genital mutilation and forced marriage are forbidden whatever the religion

Norwegian values and our society

• All people have equal worth, and women and men have the same rights
• The Marriage Act has been gender-neutral since 2009
• Article 100 gives freedom of expression, with some limits
• Norway is a high-trust society
• Dugnad means many people help together without pay

Sample questions from this module

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