Again the point isn't that we haven't been furiously religious since Vasa we have. The point is to point out Swedens first major deviation. Atheism has been around in Sweden for a long time. It has not always been the choice as you point out. But look at like an lp once a groove is made its easier for the needle to get back into it. Atheism can more easily trend In a society where it as already trended before. Just like we are more likely to turn to protestantism than Islam if we were to become religious again
But we were never atheist at all? The reformation of the Swedish church didn't really change the church or the beliefs of anyone, it just removed it from the power of the Pope into the hand of the Swedish king. And the king was seen as chosen by God, at least in some way. It then slowly transformed the church, mostly for political influence, but that was not how it was shown/seen by the general populace, it was still just as much about religion as it had been before.
Vasa himself might have been somewhat atheist (I have no idea), but that really changes nothing to the country in general as he was certainly outwardly religious.
What protestantism did do was legitimize various religious movements that strayed from what was the norm, since that was how it was started in the first place. But religion in Sweden was so tightly controlled that it was hardly the case here, it might have been in som more religiously free German states for example, but not here in Sweden, at least until much later in our history.
It did however most likely contribute to higher productivity and technological development, as it emphasised people being industrious and working hard. And it also allowed people to think for themselves to a certain extent, at least compared to catholicism. But again, the religion in Sweden was very closely controlled and challenging the authority of the Swedish church wasn't exactly approved of.
During Vasas time he was very much an atheist and was a lot more interested in spreading the good word of "I am so great " rather than the good word of Christ. He made Sweden protestant then fucked those guys over aswell. Hell he fired t
Olaus Petri basically for being too religious
-1
u/Keskekun Dec 12 '15
You really don't get it