6. The Social Significance Of Swedish Deaconesses

Secularization theories often presuppose that religion is the victim of inevitable modernizing forces. Some even argue that while religious participation in Western Europe does not match trends in the rest of the world, religious beliefs still persist, even if they no longer fit neatly in traditional torthodoxt categories. The main reason he gave for the decision was the growing number of certified teachers and the inability of deaconesses in the long run to compete with these specialized professionals educated. The institution served as one of the most important nursing schools in this period, and deaconesses were particularly sought after by health care officials to oversee nursing staffs, nursing education, and hygiene in the growing number of hospitals. In the face of the supposedly inevitable, secularizing forces of modernity, the diaconate's story has been and continues to be one of adaptation, resilience, and survival.Keywords: diaconate; health care; nursing; religion; secularization; social significance; Swedish deaconesses