Faith and Magic in Early Modern Finland (Palgrave Historical Studies in Witchcraft and Magic)

Early modern Finland is rarely the focus of attention in the study of European history, but it has a place in the context of northern European religious and political culture. While Finland was theoretically Lutheran, a religious plurality ℓ́ℓ embodied in ceremonies and interpreted as magic ℓ́ℓ survived and flourished. Blessing candles, pilgrimages, and offerings to forest spirits merged with catechism hearings and sermon preaching among the lay piety. What were the circumstances that allowed for such a continuity of magic? How were the manifestations and experiences that defined faith and magic tied together? How did western and eastern religious influences manifest themselves in Finnish magic? Faith and Magic in Early Modern Finland shows us how peripheral Finland can shed light on the wider context of European magic and religion Early modern Finland is rarely the focus of attention in the study of European history, but it has a place in the context of northern European religious and political culture. While Finland was theoretically Lutheran, a religious plurality ĺl embodied in ceremonies and interpreted as magic ĺl survived and flourished. Blessing candles, pilgrimages, and offerings to forest spirits merged with catechism hearings and sermon preaching among the lay piety. What were the circumstances that allowed for such a continuity of magic? How were the manifestations and experiences that defined faith and magic tied together? How did western and eastern religious influences manifest themselves in Finnish magic? Faith and Magic in Early Modern Finland shows us how peripheral Finland can shed light on the wider context of European magic and religion "Bringing together twelve studies, this book provides an overview of the key issues of on-going interest in the study of Scottish witchcraft. The authors tackle various aspects of the question of witches; considering how people came to be considered 'witches', with new insights into the centrality of neighbourhood quarrels and misfortune; and delving into folk belief and various acts of witchcraft. It also examines the practice of witch-hunting, the 'urban geography' of witch-hunting, Scotland's international witch-hunting connections and brings fresh insights to the much-studied North Berwick witchcraft panic. Reconstructions of the brutal and ceremonial punishments inflicted on 'witches' offers a gruesome but compelling reminder of the importance of the subject"-- Provided by publisher Cover 1 Contents 8 List of Figures 9 Acknowledgements 10 1 Introduction: Magic in a Religious Borderland 11 2 Lived Lutheranism and the Development of Superstition 34 3 Catholic Influence and Magic in Finland 71 4 Eastern Orthodox Influence and Its Demonization in Finland 122 5 Conclusion: The Continuum of Magic and Religion 151 Chronology 157 Notes 160 Bibliography and Sources 175 Index 189 Front Matter....Pages i-ix Introduction: Magic in a Religious Borderland....Pages 1-23 Lived Lutheranism and the Development of Superstition....Pages 24-60 Catholic Influence and Magic in Finland....Pages 61-111 Eastern Orthodox Influence and Its Demonization in Finland....Pages 112-140 Conclusion: The Continuum of Magic and Religion....Pages 141-146 Back Matter....Pages 147-183 While early modern Finland was Lutheran in theory, a religious plurality – embodied in ceremonies and rituals and interpreted as magic – flourished. Unorthodox and superstitious practices merged with catechism hearings and sermon preaching among the laity. This book details how western and eastern influences manifested themselves in Finnish magic. "This book assesses the mutual dependence of lived religion, magic and supersition in 'Long Reformation' Finland."--Introduction, p. 1