Walking beside soldiers: Swedish military chaplains and their questions

Abstract: This study explores the questions encountered by Swedish military chaplains (MCs) in their role of providing Military Soul Care within the Swedish Armed Forces. While Swedish MCs are deeply rooted in the Lutheran tradition, their work extends beyond religious boundaries, addressing existential, moral, and social issues that arise in military contexts. Using a qualitative questionnaire completed by 50 chaplains, the research identifies five thematic categories: death, existential concerns, theological reflections, moral dilemmas, and social tensions. These themes reveal the complex realities faced by service members, ranging from questions about life and death to struggles with meaning, relationships, and ethical decision making. The discussion highlights how these questions reflect fundamental human anxieties such as fear of death, guilt, and meaning, and argues that MCs are uniquely positioned to help soldiers confront these realities. The article proposes an existential ordinary theological approach that supports authentic living by fostering courage, resilience, and meaning amid the challenges of military life.

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