Research Interests
Trond Bakkevig is the Dean (Archdeacon) of Vestre Aker which includes twelve parishes and twenty-six pastors.
His doctoral thesis, at the University of Oslo (1984) was on theology and nuclear arms (published in German under the title: Ordnungstheologie und Atomwaffen. Eine Studie zur Sozialethik von Paul Althaus, Walter Künneth und Helmut Thielicke. Paderborn/Oslo 1989). Linked to this work was also an article on the issue of just war: Trond Bakkevig (1983). 'The Doctrine on Just War – Relevance and Applicability'. Studia Theologica. p. 125-145
On the background of his involvement in the struggle against apartheid, he wrote a booklet in Norwegian with the title: Den norske kirke og kampen mot apartheid. Oslo 1995 [The Church of Norway and the Struggle against Apartheid].
He has been writing mostly on political ethics, the relationship between church, religion and society, but lately mostly about the role of religious dialogue and cooperation between religions in relation to peace negotiations and peace processes. One example of this is: Trond Bakkevig (2011). 'Religious Dialogue and the Quest for Peace in the Middle East'. NOREF Report. Norwegian Peacebuilding Centre
He has written many scientific and popular articles in Norwegian as well as in international books and journals. They have mostly dealt with issues of ecclesiology, ethics and pastoral theology.
Background
Work experience:
2006: Guest Researcher at PRIO
2000-2018: Dean, Vestre Aker and pastor Vestre Aker parish, Oslo
1993-2000: Pastor, Røa parish, Oslo
1984-93: Secretary General, the Church of Norway Council of Ecumenical and International Relations
1987-88: Personal Adviser, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Education:
1984: Dr. theol., University of Oslo
Blog Posts
Posted by Trond Bakkevig on Tuesday, 20 July 2021
22nd JULY 2011: a terrorist killed 68 young people and bombed the Government Quarter, where he killed nine people and injured many more, because the ‘Labour-Party state’ was promoting ethnic, religious and political diversity. “Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak out for ... Read more »
Posted by Trond Bakkevig on Tuesday, 26 May 2020
Henrik Syse, interviewed by Trond Bakkevig My Christian faith was formed in an intellectual framework. I do not mean intellectual in the academic sense of the word. It was more that thought became part of my faith. This is what PRIO’s first philosopher, Henrik Syse, tells PRIO’s first pastor, Trond ... Read more »
Posted by Trond Bakkevig on Wednesday, 28 June 2017
Some religious leaders use language which others use to justify terror. These leaders should instead take responsibility for teaching people how to critically interpret religious texts. “The Day of Judgement will not come about until you fight the Jews. The Jew will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and ... Read more »
Posted by Trond Bakkevig on Wednesday, 29 June 2016
Interfaith dialogue is a necessary aid in conflicts involving religion. Some years ago, many Western social scientists were claiming that religion was a dying phenomenon. Such assertions were part of an arrogant assumption that the entire world would soon come to resemble the north-western corner of Europe. In Eastern Europe, ... Read more »
Posted by Trond Bakkevig on Friday, 27 February 2015
Unrest on and around the Al Aqsa Mosque/Temple Mount in Jerusalem last autumn caused the Palestinian president, Mahmood Abbas, to warn that the conflict between Israel and Palestine could escalate into a religious war. The site has extremely powerful national and religious symbolic value for both Palestinians and Israelis. Jordanian ... Read more »
Posted by Trond Bakkevig on Friday, 30 January 2015
In his opinion article in the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten on 21 January, Per Edgar Kokkvold (secretary general in the Norwegian Press Association) stated the obvious, “It is people who must be protected – and who are protected under current legislation, under the law that prohibits discriminatory or hateful utterances, persecution ... Read more »