The esoteric milieu in Finland today

Authors

• Jussi Sohlberg

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30674/scripta.67336

Keywords:

Esotericism, Postsecularism, Religious change, Pluralism, Religious, Suomen evankelis-luterilainen kirkko, Theosophy, Finland -- Religion, Anthroposophy, Occult sciences, Secret societies, Rosicrucians, Freemasonry, Neopaganism, New Age movement

Abstract

As in the other Scandinavian countries, so in Finland an exceptionally high percentage of the population belongs to a religious community. Today, about 82 per cent of Finns are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. However, the picture of the Finnish religious and spiritual landscape is more complex than it may at first appear. The project ‘Religions in Finland’ was started in 2003. The project is a joint-effort of the Church Research Institute and the Research Network for the Study of New Religious Movements. The aim is to create an electronic database for describing, mapping and analysing religious associations and communities in Finland (active ones and also those that no longer exist). In August 2007 there were 777 communities and organizations listed in the database. They are classified into ten categories representing religious traditions according to their historical and cultural background. There are 29 organizations classified under the category Western esotericism. This article presents a general overview of the major and recently founded esoteric groups in Finland, most of which are registered associations.