Faith and Magic in Early Modern Finland

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-ix

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2. Introduction: Magic in a Religious Borderland

   • Raisa Maria Toivo

   Pages 1-23

3. Lived Lutheranism and the Development of Superstition

   • Raisa Maria Toivo

   Pages 24-60

4. Catholic Influence and Magic in Finland

   • Raisa Maria Toivo

   Pages 61-111

5. Eastern Orthodox Influence and Its Demonization in Finland

   • Raisa Maria Toivo

   Pages 112-140

6. Conclusion: The Continuum of Magic and Religion

   • Raisa Maria Toivo

   Pages 141-146

7. Back Matter

   Pages 147-183

   PDF

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 – embodied in ceremonies and interpreted as magic – 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
• Witchcraft
• Magic
• Reformation
• chronology
• Europe
• history
• history of religion
• modern history
• reform
• reformation
• religion
• social history
• social science

“This is a well-structured work that offers valuable and important contributions to our understanding of the uneven Christianization process in European countries during the seventeenth century–good scholarly work, indeed.” (Rune Blix Hagen, Renaissance Quarterly, Vol. 70 (4), 2017)



“Toivo (Univ. of Tampere, Finland) is interested in the whole complex of witchcraft, lived religion, and formal churchmanship, constructing a seamless whole to gain the full picture of religious life. … This specialized study will support collections in religious studies and the history of northern Europe. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students/faculty.” (D. S. Azzolina, Choice, Vol. 54 (3), November, 2016)

• University of Tampere, Finland

  Raisa Maria Toivo

Raisa Maria Toivo is Academy of Finland Research Fellow at the University of Tampere, Finland. Her publications include Witchcraft and Gender in Early Modern Society (2008) and articles on the early modern history of witchcraft and magic, religion and violence in Finland and Europe.

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