{"id":1064,"date":"2020-02-27T18:55:00","date_gmt":"2020-02-27T18:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nordligefolk.no\/?p=1064"},"modified":"2026-02-09T22:43:24","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T22:43:24","slug":"laestadianismen-i-tro-og-samfunn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nordligefolk.no\/en\/laestadianismen-i-tro-og-samfunn\/","title":{"rendered":"Laestadianism in faith and society"},"content":{"rendered":"

Laestadianism<\/em> is the Christian revivalist movement that has had the greatest influence on the population in the region. The revivalist movement came to Norway in the 1840s with the reindeer herding Sami who had summer grazing on the coast and with the Kven immigration.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The founder of Laestadianism, the Swedish-Sami priest Lars Levi Laestadius, interpreted the biblical message directly into a Sami perception of nature and reality. In this way, he was able to link the people's everyday life and traditions with Christian faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a long time, the Sami and Kvens of North Troms had been subjected to both economic and cultural oppression. The policy of Norwegianisation had left deep scars, and economically there was a great distance between the Sami and the Kvens on the one hand and the Norwegian officials and traders on the other. L\u00e6stadius was in favour of the Sami language and culture, and he believed, among other things, that the priests and authorities should know Sami. He realised that alcoholism was the cause of social hardship among the Sami and chastised the church for its lifestyle and drunkenness. In order to be converted, it was necessary to change the way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frugality and absolution<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The way of life is important for a believing Laestadian. He warned against allowing oneself to be influenced too much by secular society, and L\u00e6stadius made frugality a central virtue. One should protect one's faith by building a \u00abfence\u00bb around one's Christian life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sin and forgiveness are central to L\u00e6stadius' teachings. By recognising one's sinful nature and coming to terms with it (penance), you can receive absolution from a fellow Christian. The Laestadian gatherings were characterised by emotional outbursts and unity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Disagreements and divisions have meant that today there are many branches of Laestadianism. On the Norwegian side, there are three main branches:<\/p>\n\n\n\n