| Summary: | Introduction: The aim of the present thesis is to determine the line of argument presented by the clergy of the Swedish State Church in the parliamentary debates regarding the forms of census registrations during the years 1723-1812. This discussion resulted in a new form of census registration in 1812, according to which the parish registration was accorded a greater importance than before. As a result of vast tax evasion, demands were put forth by the authorities that the clergy should be compelled to hand over the parish catechetical registries. The clergy was here faced with a conflict of loyalty between the state and their parishes. To structurally examine the line of argument of the clergy may not only clarify how this conflict was met by the clergy, but also serve as an illustration of the relationship between church and state in 18th century Sweden. The effects of the form of census registration of 1812 on the parish catechetical registries are also touched briefly upon. Method: To fullfill this aim, the parliamentary records of the clergy have been examined and analysed in accordance with the methods of argumentation analysis presented in Vedung (1971). Secondary sources regarding the historical circumstances surrounding the parliamentary debates of 1723-1812 have been utilized as well. Analysis: In the analysis the individual arguments presented by the clergy have been distinguished according to three levels: description, evaluation and recommended course of action. These levels are furthermore presented schematically, so as to comprehensively illustrate the line of argumentation. Results: The results of the endeavour show that the representatives of the church and state did not agree as to the legitimate extent of the state’s influence in church matters. The clergy defended the Lutheran idea of separation between church and state power, despite the fact that contemporary canon law asserted an almost unbreakable bond between church and state authority. This is a two years master’s thesis in Archival Science.
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