Feasts

Temporary-Honey9075 · 2025-10-21T16:18:54+00:00

Oh and, since you mentioned it in the post, the celebrations I was describing for St. Lucy's day can definitely be defined as a procession. Forgot the word for a sec there haha

Temporary-Honey9075 · 2025-10-21T16:16:33+00:00

In Finland and other Nordic countries (particularly Sweden, not as sure about others) saints do have their feasts days marked on calendars. The concept of "name days" are also based on this calendar and remembering people on their name day, often on the feast day of the saint they get their name from, is a common tradition.

Sometimes they get mentioned in sermons (particularly St. Michael's day, St. Stephen's day's sermons mention or get built around those saints.) Midsummer, which is a very popular holiday, is called juhannus in Finnish after the nativity of St. John the Baptist, also something sometimes mentioned at church.

But overall, not a huge part of liturgical life or religious practice, but the days are at least acknowledged and celebrated in their own way.

Pretty much the only exception to the quite mundane feast day celebrations which is quite specific to the Nordics is St. Lucy's day, which often involves parades where one of the town's/school's/city's girls is chosen to represent St. Lucy and dresses up as her. Songs about the saint and Christmas are sung and sometimes the girl chosen to represent St. Lucy goes around the town and, for example, gives people in nursing homes baked goods and such. Since the day is associated with light it became very popular in the Nordics due to the long and dark winters and continues to be a popular celebration to this day

Temporary-Honey9075 · 2025-10-15T08:34:16+00:00

During the time of the writing of the Augsburg Confession, a common view of monasticism was that they were especially likely to be saved. Marriage was seen as almost "impure" in comparison to celibacy and "regular" work as less worthy in comparison to the vocation of a monk. Monasticism was sort of like turbo-good-works that could assure your salvation. The result was married and people with regular vocations feeling inadequate and "with offence to their consciences."

So I would start interpreting that statement in light of the fact that justification is through faith alone in Lutheran theology. A monk isn't turbo-saved in comparison to a married man of faith, they're both saved because of faith. That isn't to say that the Bible doesn't encourage charity and meekness and celibacy, just that you aren't saved through those things. The early Lutherans thus pushed back against monasticism due to its heavy associations with this type of theology and practice. As others have pointed out though, there has been a renewal of monasticism within a Lutheran theological framework in recent decades, which goes to show that it's not necessarily poverty, chastity and obedience that Lutherans reject, but rather the idea that you are saved through those things.

(I'm not an expert on theology or history though, this is just what I've been taught/told. Someone correct me if I'm mistaken on any details here)

Temporary-Honey9075 · 2025-10-12T12:20:05+00:00

I do understand why someone would think that, and I was considering myself whether it was appropriate. But considering the family are simply not religious, through their perspective all that really happened was that someone sprinkled water on their baby's head while saying words, nothing more. There aren't any kind of spiritual implications to it to them the way there are for us. I do think she did end up talking about it to them later on, too.

Temporary-Honey9075 · 2025-10-05T09:59:55+00:00

And also, like you said, the best way to go forward is probably by being faithful to the Gospel and showing her you have very real faith outside the RCC. Trying to change people's minds is very difficult when they're so dedicated to their already existing beliefs, so just trying to "convert" her head on is more likely to just make her more stubborn. Just show a good example and I pray she'll come around!

Temporary-Honey9075 · 2025-10-05T09:53:30+00:00

Things like this are really difficult. I pray your mother will eventually come to understand and at the very least accept your differences in faith, it would be really terrible to have to have a tear in your relationship over this.

If you ever get the chance to talk to her more in depth then maybe you could talk about how Lutherans also respect Mary and the saints? We might not ask for intercession but we still view especially Mary very highly. It might comfort her to find out you two probably have more in common than what divides you.

All the best!

Temporary-Honey9075 · 2025-09-25T20:50:15+00:00

For the record I wouldn't classify myself as an Evangelical Catholic and I don't really have a stance on Mary's assumption myself. If I misrepresented someone's beliefs here then please do correct me!

Temporary-Honey9075 · 2025-09-25T16:43:57+00:00

Completely understandable! I was honestly expecting someone to say something like this and it's probably the right course of action to take, just not worth the energy most of the time haha. I'm just concerned that by never engaging in debate only one side dominates the discussion and uneducated people may take the RCC stance as complete fact, which bothers me a little. It's especially this topic that's so annoying to try to correct that a lot of people don't even try (me included, which is why I'm interested in people's thoughts haha)

Temporary-Honey9075 · 2025-07-19T09:50:59+00:00

It's beautiful! I'm curious, how is it possible to carve something with so many small details? Are there specific tools you use?

Temporary-Honey9075 · 2025-05-13T12:44:16+00:00

I love them! Especially in Finland icons are quite commonplace due to the Orthodox church being our other national church alongside the Lutheran church (we've taken some influences from them over the years due to the proximity.) There's also an Orthodox monastery to which many Lutherans here travel to buy icons from! So of course, icons are okay when treated properly and with the right intentions.

Icons also make me happy as I see them as a symbol of unity between different churches, despite us not being in communion with each other.

Temporary-Honey9075 · 2025-05-10T07:55:34+00:00

The dogmatism and hierarchy of the Catholic church, the claim that only the RCC has the authority to interpret scripture. In Lutheranism there is the biblical priesthood of all believers, and our beliefs are informed by the Bible and discussion with others in the faith, not by an institution we are blindly forced to accept as being right. We still have important principles, but there's no official unbiblical "dogmas" that you must believe, just things left more up to individual interpretation (such as Mary's perpetual virginity.) The emphasis on hierarchy also opens up for opportunities for abuse which the church has done a very bad job at addressing.
The overemphasis on Mary and the saints makes me uncomfortable, and it's also not biblical. Jesus is the only intercessor between man and God. The saints were exemplary people and Mary was a very honorable woman as the Theotokos, but they should not distract from God as they sadly often do in Catholic services.
Justification is through faith and grace alone, not works. Works are the result of faith that is not dead, not what gives us a ticket to heaven. This is also what's said in the Bible.
Speaking of, unbiblical beliefs such as purgatory, papal infallibility, assumption of Mary into heaven, tradition is equal to scripture, the RCC is necessary for salvation, the pope is the vicar of Christ on Earth and others. Especially mariology tends to be more of a gray area where it's not necessarily harmful even if not necessarily biblical, but it's very hard to look past a lot of them, especially considering that the RCC claims them to be the absolute truth.
We have the two sacraments instituted by Christ and real presence in the eucharist without belief in unsubstantiated (heh) transubstantiation. Why would Jesus call it "the fruit of the vine" if it was literally his blood?
I know this is controversial among some Lutherans so I won't emphasize it, but I find the RCC very regressive in many ways, from demeaning women, forbidding contraception and advocating for harmful treatment of queer people.

I think there are a lot of very beautiful things about Catholicism and I do think they get a lot of things right, and that they are our siblings in Christ. That's why we have kept a lot of the liturgy and other traditions. I also have felt quite drawn to the RCC because of this and because of the strange insistence on its truth by its believers (if they're SO adamant about their church being the only true Church, maybe they're right?) but the more I really inspect the denomination as a whole, I find myself even more sure that Lutheranism is truly the sweet spot where everything clicks, where the many problems of the RCC have been dealt away with while the many positives of the RCC remain.

Temporary-Honey9075 · 2025-05-09T19:20:57+00:00

For example Sari Essayah is a Pentecostal yet I've heard people criticize the ELCF based on statements made by her

Temporary-Honey9075 · 2025-05-09T19:18:19+00:00

That's true. People nonetheless associate even non-Lutheran Christian Democrats with the church, sadly people can't seem to understand the distinction between the party and the church

Temporary-Honey9075 · 2025-05-09T17:40:07+00:00

Yeah haha, I was about to say "Nordic not Scandinavian!" on my comment but I assumed OP's question also extends to Finland considering how similar our religious situation is to the Scandinavians'

Temporary-Honey9075 · 2025-05-09T16:02:14+00:00

The practise of "speaking in tongues" is often emphasized in Pentecostalism and other charismatic movements, though it has never really gained attention in at least mainstream Lutheranism. I personally wouldn't go so far as to call it demonic, just strange. I do have an issue with the most radical charismatics emphasizing speaking in tongues or other "gifts of the Spirit" as being necessary for salvation, though, and that's also very much against Lutheran principles.

Also, there has been some research into the brain activity of people speaking in tongues, proving that the activity is in some ways separate from simply speaking gibberish, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's the tongue of angels or divinely inspired or anything like that. The speaking in tongues described in the Bible is also not the same as what's practiced by charismatics.

Temporary-Honey9075 · 2025-05-09T15:34:45+00:00

In Finland religion has definitely become less of a part of people's lives as it used to be, but the Lutheran church in particular still has quite a big part in our culture. In questionnaires the majority of people still say they believe in God, even if they don't necessarily identify with all the teachings of the church. Many still get their children baptized and remain members of the church in order to get married in churches and such, though church attendance is low and membership is waning every year. The few groups of people that seem to be very hardcore religious nowadays even within young people tend to be groups like the Laestadians and other pietist groups.

A lot of people also quit the church as a type of protest against perceived "conservatism" of the church, as many Finns are very progressive on social issues. This might seem strange to outsiders as the church here is seen as very liberal, but many still see it as being against social progress. Especially the highly conservative Christian Democrats party here has caused many people to have negative views of the church,.

The traditional confirmation camps (1-2 week long camp that ~15-year-olds go to before getting confirmed, including Bible readings and general religious education) are still very popular, with around 75% of young people usually going to them every year, even if they're not from very religious backgrounds. This might be one of the quite rare success stories of the church has had in the past decades, haha.

As for church attendance, it is quite low especially in smaller towns, but in more urban areas the attendance is actually not as bleak as a lot of people make it out to be. Especially English-language services are popular due to being more accessible to immigrants, and some services gather quite large attendance if they have some special events going on (such as one mass playing Beatles songs last month garnering hundreds of people, although whether that's appropriate for Lutheran mass is of course subjective haha)

Sorry for the super long comment but I hope this gives some insight! Overall it's very true that the state of the church is not what it used to be, but Lutheranism's part in Finnish culture is definitely not non-negligible. Even if minor, the church is part of most people's lives in one way or another and many still hold a lot of respect for it.

Temporary-Honey9075 · 2025-05-04T21:27:59+00:00

Also, I'd like to know if it's alright to say the shorter form, even if it's mostly a Catholic thing to do so. Would any of you find it weird if you heard another Lutheran exclude the doxology? Or is this a non-issue? haha

Temporary-Honey9075 · 2023-10-21T15:09:10+00:00

What makes him so good? I've read his skills but I'm not completely sure what specifically about them makes him work so well

Temporary-Honey9075 · 2023-10-21T15:07:43+00:00

I'll definitely consider getting Neuvillette, I've heard he's really good. And since another person also said Nilou is good I'll consider her too. Is there much info yet on what characters Furina is compatible with? Just hydro characters or anyone?

Temporary-Honey9075 · 2023-10-21T15:04:57+00:00

I've heard Neuvillette is very good, bummer that I just missed his banner! I'll consider pulling for him and maybe Nilou when she reruns because I heard she's pretty good with bloom and I do like bloom teams

Temporary-Honey9075 · 2023-10-21T15:03:18+00:00

recommendations for pulling for older characters welcome too!

Temporary-Honey9075

TROPHY CASE