Asylsökande konvertiter och myndighetens katekesförhör. En studie om konvertiters asylprocess med Migrationsverket

Sammanfattning: This essay examines twelve interview protocols from the Swedish Board of Migration done with converts who claim their conversion as reason for asylum. The aim of the study is twofold: To understand the Migration Board´s perception of Christian faith, and to explore how the Board can work with these issues in the future with the help from the church. Through the method of content analysis I analyse the interview protocols and discuss the results using the theoretical concepts of ”thick” and ”thin”. I find that the Board of Migration shows a ”thin” understanding of Christian faith, while the converts tend to describe their Christian faith in ways that resonate with a ”thick” understanding. Within the area of religious studies I show that the Board of Migration has an outdated view on conversion and Christian faith and that the Board’s understanding does not reflect the scholarly study of religion. I finally point out some actions that would help the Board of Migration to achieve a “thicker” understanding of Christian faith, and to ensure the converts legal security.