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Dag Øistein Endsjø (born 11 November 1968 in Ann Arbor, Michigan) is a Norwegian professor of religious studies and expert in human rights at the University of Oslo, Norway. He is the most translated Norwegian scholar in religion, published in thirteen languages.

Career

Endsjø research focuses on the continuity between traditional Greek religion and early Christian beliefs, sexuality and religion, immortality beliefs, religion and human rights, and religion and popular culture.

In his book Greek Resurrection Beliefs and the Success of Christianity (2009), he demonstrates how Christian resurrection beliefs also connect to ancient Greek beliefs in resurrection and physical immortality and may have contributed to the early success of Christianity in the Hellenistic Mediterranean. The book Primordial Landscapes, Incorruptible Bodies (2008) deals with the continuity of geography, asceticism, immortality between traditional Greek and early Christian worldviews. His book Flesh and Bones Forever: A History of Immortality examines the history of immortality beliefs in the Western tradition, and is published in English, Latvian, and Norwegian.

His book Sex and Religion: Teachings and Taboos in the History of World Faiths has been published in twelve languages: English, Arabic, Bulgarian, Chinese, Italian, Macedonian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Serbian, Swedish, and Ukrainian.

As an expert on human rights, Endsjø has published several texts and also contributed to change the Norwegian equal rights legislation more in accordance with international human rights, as well as the national debate on equal rights into a general discussion of human rights. In a 2023 formal report to the United Nations Human Rights Council, the United Nations Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity used Endsjø’s article “The Other Way around? How Freedom of Religion May Protect LGBT Rights” as the basis for pointing out that freedom of religion also protects pro-LGBT beliefs.

Endsjø has published various texts on religion and popular culture, and on ancient Greek religion. He writes frequently on a variety of political and popularized subjects in Norwegian media.

Endsjø is also the designer of the coat of arms of Fjord Municipality in Møre og Romsdal. He participated in the Norwegian selection for the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest as a lyricist and as part of the band SubDiva.

Books

• Flesh and Bones Forever: A History of Immortality. ISBN 978-1-958061-36-7. Hannacroix: Apocryphile Press 2023. Also published in Latvian and Norwegian.
• Religion og menneskerettigheter. Konflikt, balanse og idealer. (Religion and Human Rights. Conflict, Balance and Ideals). Oslo: Universitetsforlaget 2022. ISBN 978-8215059983.
• Sex and Religion: Teachings and Taboos in the History of World Faiths. London: Reaktion Books 2011. ISBN 978-1-86189-815-9. Also published in Arabic, Bulgarian, Chinese, Italian, Macedonian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Serbian, Swedish and Ukrainian.
• Det folk vil ha. Religion og populærkultur (What People Want. Religion and Popular Culture) (written together with Liv Ingeborg Lied). Oslo: Universitetsforlaget 2011. ISBN 978-82-15-01748-8
• Greek Resurrection Beliefs and the Success of Christianity. New York: Palgrave Macmillan 2009. ISBN 978-0230617292.
• Primordial Landscapes, Incorruptible Bodies. New York: Peter Lang 2008. ISBN 978-1433101816.
• Naturlig sex. Seksualitet og kjønn i den kristne antikken (co-editor with Halvor Moxnes and Jostein Børtnes). Oslo: Gyldendal Akademisk 2002.
• Lei av kjønn? Nær-kjønn-opplevelser og andre beretninger fra virkeligheten (co-editor with Helge Svare). Oslo: Cappelen Akademisk Forlag 2001.

Other publications (selection)

• “The Return of Alexander the Great in the Third Century A.D.: A Question of Daimones and Physical Immortality”. Classica et Mediaevalia 70, 2022: 149-79.
• “The Other Way around? How Freedom of Religion May Protect LGBT Rights”. The International Journal of Human Rights 24:10, 2020: 1681–1700.
• “Immortal Bodies, Before Christ. Bodily Continuity in Ancient Greece and 1 Corinthians”. Journal for the Study of the New Testament, vol. 30, 2008: 417–36.
• “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights and the Religious Relativism of Human Rights”. Human Rights Review, vol. 6:2, 2005: 102–10.
• “To Control Death. Sacrifice and Space in Classical Greece”. Religion, vol. 33/4, 2003: 323–340.
• “To Lock up Eleusis. A Question of Liminal Space”. Numen, vol. 47, 2000: 351–86.
• “Placing the Unplaceable. The Making of Apollonius’s Argonautic Geography”. Greek, Roman and Byzantine Studies, vol 38. 1997: 373–85.

References

1. Dag Øistein Endsjø - University of Oslo
2. Mark T. Finney Resurrection, Hell and the Afterlife. Body and Soul in Antiquity, Judaism and Early Christianity. Routledge 2016: 13-20; Outi Lehtipuu Debates Over the Resurrection of the Dead: Constructing Early Christian Identity. Oxford University Press 2015: 62-65; Zhivko Vakanski Η διδασκαλία του αποστόλου Παύλου για την ανάσταση των νεκρών στο Α ́Κορ. 15: ερμηνευτικά και θεολογικά ζητήματ Thessaloniki 2018: 34-29; Keith D. Dyer “Paul and the Embodied Resurrection. Rethinking 1. Corinthians 15” in K.D. Dyer and D.J. Neville Resurrection and Responsibility. Pickwick 2009: 149-50; Alexey Somov Representations of the Afterlife in Luke-Acts. Bloomsbury 2017: 106-7; John Granger Cook Empty Tomb, Resurrection, Apotheosis. Mohr Siebeck 2018: 411-12, 570-71; Richard C. Miller Resurrection and Reception in Early Christianity Routledge 2014:196; Jeremy Punt “Paul, body, and resurrection in an imperial setting: Considering hermeneutics and power” in Neotestamentica 45 (2011): 311-30; Candida R. Moss “Heavenly Healing: Eschatological Cleansing and the Resurrection of the Dead in the Early Church” in Journal of the American Academy of Religion 79 (2011): 196; Dennis P. Quinn: “Review of Greek Resurrection Beliefs and the Success of Christianity – By Dag Øistein Endsjø” in Religion & Theology 17 (2010), 461-64; Per Bilde: “Greek Resurrection Beliefs and the Success of Christianity. Review” in Numen 58 (2011), 134-36.
3. Primordial Landscapes, Incorruptible Bodies Peter Lang 2008.
4. Flesh and Bones Forever: A History of Immortality Apocryphile Press 2023.
5. Dāgs Eisteins Ennšē. Nemirstības vēsture. Unciti 2018.
6. Udødelighetens historie. Fra Jesus' oppstandelse til zombier, antioksidanter og barn i ilden. Cappelen Damm 2016.
7. Sex and Religion: Teachings and Taboos in the History of World Faiths. Reaktion Books 2011.
8. داج أوستين إندشو. الجنس والدين التعاليم والمحظورات في تاريخ الأديان. Cairo: Sefsafa Publishing House 2020.
9. Даг Ойстейн Ендсьо. Сексът и религията. Персей/Perseus 2012.
10. 性与宗教—世界信仰史上的信条与禁忌 Social Sciences Adademic Press 2014.
11. Tra sesso e castità. Un viaggio fra dogmi e tabù nelle religioni del mondi. Odoya 2012.
12. Даг Ејстејн Ендше. Сексот и религијата Archived 2015-11-19 at the Wayback Machine. Karpos Press 2014
13. Sex og religion. Fra jomfruball til hellig homosex. Universitetsforlaget 2009.
14. Seks a religia. Od balu dziewic po święty seks homoseksualny Archived 2012-08-02 at archive.today. Czarnaowca 2011.
15. Sexo e religião. Do baile de virgens sexo sagrado homossexual. Geração Editorial 2014.
16. Dag Ejstejn Endše. Seks i religia. Karpos 2010.
17. Sex och religion. Från kyskhetsbal till heligt homosex. Norstedts 2011.
18. Даг Ейстейн Ендшьо. Секс та релігія. Від балу цноти до благословенної гомосексуальності. Anetty Antonenko 2017.
19. Religion og menneskerettigheter. Konflikt, balanse og idealer. (Religion and Human Rights. Conflict, Balance and Ideals). Oslo: Universitetsforlaget 2022; “The Other Way around? How Freedom of Religion May Protect LGBT Rights”. The International Journal of Human Rights 24:10 (2020): 1681-1700; “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights and the Religious Relativism of Human Rights”. Human Rights Review, vol. 6:2, 2005: 102-10; “Kirche und Ketzer. Wege und Abwege des Christentums” Tomas Hägg (ed.) Kirche und Ketzer. Wege und Abwege des Christentums. Böhlau Verlag 2010: 987-82; “I kjønnets grenseland. Vestens relative menneskerettighetsbegrep” in Mennesker og rettigheter. Nordic Journal for Human Rights number 4, 2001: 81-90.
20. “Dag Øistein Endsjø”. Entry on Endsjø in Skeivopedia, the University of Bergen encyclopedia on Norwegian LGBT history, 2015; Berit Vegheim “Ansvaret for diskriminering” in Dagbladet 16 April 2004; Christian Bjørnes “Leder. Flukten fra ansvaret” in Blikk number 5, 2004; Erna Solberg “Rettslig vern mot diskriminering” in Dagbladet 10 February 2005; Bent Høie “Vern mot diskriminering” Archived 2015-11-19 at the Wayback Machine on Gaysir 25 February 2005; Tore Rønning “Stortingets flertall inn for generelt diskrimineringsvern“ in Norges Blinde 21 April 2005; Innstilling fra justiskomiteen om lov om endringer i straffeloven 20 May 2005 nr. 28 mv. Innst. O. nr.73 (2008–2009), 5.2 Komiteens merknader; Håkon Haugli “Slutt på forskjellsbehandling” in Klassekampen 17 March 2010; Håkon Haugli (A) at Stortinget 9 March 2010 om Innstilling fra familie- og kulturkomiteen om endringer i arbeidsmiljøloven, likestillingsloven, diskrimineringsombudsloven og diskriminerings- og tilgjengelighetsloven (Homofile og kvinner i trossamfunn m.m.) (Innst. 158 L (2009–2010); Fartein Horgar “Hellig og blasfemisk i senga” in Adresseavisen 14 December 2009; André Oktay Dahl “Mindreverdige homofile” in Klassekampen 22 April 2009; Magnus Halsnes “Inspirerande og provoserande prisvinnar“ in Institutt for arkeologi, historie, kultur- og religionsvitenskap 5 February 2013; Hilde Danielsen, Eirinn Larsen, and Ingeborg Winderen Owesen Norsk likestillingshistorie 1814-2013. Fagbokforlaget 2013; Synnøve Ressem “Endsjø fornøyd med dommen” in Universitetsavisa 24 Januar 2003; Trine Nickelsen “— Dommen er gledelig i Uniforum 27 January 2003; Nordforsk “Norge dømt i EFTA-domstol” on Nordforsk 28 January 2003.
21. United Nations Human Rights Council Freedom of religion or belief, and freedom from violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity: Report of the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, 7 June 2023, § 162; Dag Øistein Endsjø “The Other Way around? How Freedom of Religion May Protect LGBT Rights”, The International Journal of Human Rights 24:10 (2020), pp. 1686-88.
22. Det folk vil ha. Religion og populærkultur (co-written with Liv Ingeborg Lied). Universitetsforlaget 2011.
23. “The Return of Alexander the Great in the Third Century A.D.: A Question of Daimones and Physical Immortality”. Classica et Mediaevalia 70 (2022): 149-79; “The Queer Periphery. Sexual Deviancy and the Cultural Understanding Of space” in Journal of Homosexuality 54 (2008): 9-20. “To Control Death. Sacrifice and Space in Classical Greece” in Religion 33 (2003): 323-340; “To Lock up Eleusis. A Question of Liminal Space” in Numen 47 (2000): 351-86; “Placing the Unplaceable. The Making of Apollonius’s Argonautic Geography” in Greek, Roman and Byzantine Studies 38 (1997): 373-85.
24. Texts by Dag Øistein Endsjø on Cristin - Current Research Information System in Norway.
25. Fjord kommune. Kommunevåpen. 12 June 2020.

• 1968 births
• Religion academics
• Living people