Religion of Finland: the main religious directions

The first thing that catches your eye in Finland, so it's a lot of churches. Even a small village has its own temple. And what is the religion of Finland? This will tell our article. If you are going to move there, you are probably worried about the question: how will your new neighbors react to your religious confession? We rush to reassure you. Finns in general are very tolerant and tolerant. The zealous fanatics can not be called them.

Statistics give disappointing data. Year after year, atheists are growing. And those who ask themselves to be believers in the poll, come to the temple only on major holidays - about three times a year. Nevertheless, some Christian denominations are not separated from the state and exist from the budget. What are these churches? Learn from this article.

Traditional beliefs of Finns

Ancient cults are beautifully described in the national epic of Kalevala. Like other peoples of Northern Europe, the Finns were long pagans. The harsh climate contributed to the fact that people who did not know the origin of these or other natural phenomena began to deify the elements. For a long time the survival of a whole tribe depended on the migration of reindeer and fish catch.

The first religion of Finland assumed the origin of the world from the egg of a mythical bird. It fell into the water, and the earth formed. Between the center of the egg and the Polar star stretched the axis of the world. When the sky revolves along it, a vortex of Kinakhmi is formed, which in translation means "the navel of the sea". Through this tunnel, the souls of the dead, as the ancient Finns believed, were transported to the afterlife of Tuonela. Life there was like the earth. And so the deceased was put into the grave of tools, possessions and jewelry.

Gods

Like all paganism, the ancient religion of Finland assumed polytheism. The gods controlled the elements - thunder, storms, winds. Headed in the Finnish pantheon Ukko. He was considered the ruler of heaven and thunder. It is noteworthy that the ancient Finns believed in the triplicity of the soul. Its elements were independent of each other. "Henki" was life. She entered the body before the baby was born, with the first push in her mother's womb. And the man's henki left with the last breath.

"Luonto" is the genius of a person, his talent, talents. And, finally, itse is a person's self-awareness. The last two elements could leave the human body, and he did not die at the same time. But their long absence affected their well-being. Without Luonto, a man became addicted to pernicious habits, became weak-willed, and without it, he suffered from depression. Help restore these two elements could the Magi, who performed magical rituals. The same shamans were "conductors" between the worlds of living and dead ancestors.

Evangelization of Finland

Approximately to 1000 year on territory of edge three nationalities were generated:

• Suomi (or the Finns themselves). They inhabited the south-west of the country.
• Tavast. This people settled in the central and eastern parts of the region.
• Karelians. Ethnos spread in the southeast up to the Ladoga Lake.

But all three nations remained pagan. The main gods were the same, but the local spirits were also revered. Christianity in Finland came with the Swedish conquerors. In 1155, King Eric the Ninth invaded the region to prevent the expansion of these lands to Veliky Novgorod. At the same time, the first Christian cathedral in Nousiainen was built and a bishopric was established. But since the new religion was planted by force, the first primate of the church, Henry of Uppsala, was killed by the indigenous population. But the evangelization of the region continued, and from two sides. In the west, the Swedes introduced the Roman branch of Christianity, and the Karelians accepted the Greek faith, Orthodoxy.

Lutheranism

Prior to the Reformation, Catholicism in Finland was the only dominant religion. According to the German custom, "Which prince is such a faith", the Swedish king Gustav in 1536 ordered all his subjects to go to Lutheranism. The Catholics, who honored the Pope with their pontiff, were regarded as traitors to their homeland. And the Swedish king was the head of the Lutheran church. According to the requirements of the new religion, the Holy Scripture was translated into folk languages, including Finnish. This people Suomi is obliged to Mikael Agricole (mid-16th century). At the same time, the eastern part of Finland is actively influenced by Orthodoxy. Among the Karelians, such holy ascetics as Sergius of Valaam, Trifon of Pecheneg and Theodoret of Kola preach.

Lutheranism: a difference from Orthodoxy

Both of these religions are Christian, they believe in one God and worship Jesus as the Messiah and the Holy Spirit as the giver of grace. However, Lutheranism places emphasis on Scripture - the Bible, the Gospel, etc. In Orthodoxy, first of all, the church tradition is honored. Catholic and Orthodox churches attach great importance to the cult of saints, icons, holy places.

The branch of Protestantism, Lutheranism, in contrast to Orthodoxy, believes that the only mediator and intercessor of people before God is Christ. Paintings on religious themes are not sacred, but illustrations to the text of the scriptures. Neither prayers for saints nor worship of relics and bones have any sense. Funeral services also do not give anything to the dead - you can not force God to change the decision about their afterlife by lighting candles and chants. But nevertheless, Lutheranism and Orthodoxy have common points. Both religions consider sacrament baptism and communion.

Tolerance

Until the end of the XIX century, Finnish citizens were allowed to belong only to Lutheranism. But since the eastern part of the region was under the great cultural influence of Russia, Karelians and settled Jewish merchants were allowed to practice Judaism and Christianity of the Greek model. In 1889, a law was passed, according to which citizens could adopt other Protestant forms of Christianity. They could become Adventists, Pentecostals, Calvinists, Baptists, Methodists, etc. And only in 1923 it was allowed to freely profess any cults, and also to live outside any religion.

Islam appeared in the eastern part of the country during the Russian conquest together with the Muslim military settlers in Karelia. Now this religious community is rapidly growing in number due to emigrants from the countries of the East. But Finland is famous for its religious tolerance. Islam, Judaism and Christianity of different branches (Catholicism, Orthodoxy and Protestantism) peacefully coexist.

The State Church

Nevertheless, Lutheranism remains the dominant religion of Finland. This church is financed from the state budget, and all citizens, regardless of their religion, are taxed on its maintenance. At the same time, Lutheranism professes less than 80 percent of the country's population. The second largest parishioners is the Finnish Archdiocese of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. This Orthodox Church also receives funds from the state budget. There are other communities in the country, including the ROC. But they exist at the expense of self-financing. Without state subsidies, Catholics, Muslims, Jews, and other branches of Protestantism are also being treated.