Korpela movement
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The Korpela movement, or Siikavaara sect, was a
during the 1920s. It saw its decline later during the next decade as its practices involved heavy drinking and unconventional sexual activities toward the end of its existence, which subsequently led to the conviction of 60 of its followers.History
The grounds for the Korpela movement were laid in 1928 when Toivo Korpela, a self-proclaimed
One of the new leaders of the cult was Sigurd Siikavaara, who officially started the movement following Korpela's exile (thus the alternative name of the movement). More unorthodox elements such as apocalyptic beliefs and ecstatic rituals were introduced following the change of leadership. These beliefs and practices were later denounced by Korpela himself in an interview given in 1935. Following the involvement of Swedish authorities, Siikavaara was institutionalised in an asylum for 67 days, and upon his release the practices of the movement took a turn towards sexual rituals, which would ultimately lead to its demise.[1]
Following the radical change in practices, the Swedish government involved itself further, previously being tolerant toward religion, now targeting the sexual rituals, especially with concern for the involvement of minors. In 1939, police arrested 60 people,[1] leading to the end of the movement, which at its peak had gained an estimated total of 600 followers.[2]
Beliefs and practices
The spiritual beliefs of the movement were initially similar to those of Laestadianism, although apparently not accepted by the Laestadian community as a whole, hence Korpela's initial reaction from central Finland.[3]
Following the exile of Korpela, his two closest preachers, Sigurd Siikavaara and
Following Siikavaara and Niemi's brief confinement to mental asylums the beliefs and practices changed focus; Siikavaara claimed to have been invested with the spirit of the prophets and Christ, essentially proclaiming divine status, and gave the followers of the movement forgiveness for their sins, thus enabling them to engage in swearing, drinking, gambling and hitherto-prohibited sexual rituals. Upon his arrest in 1939, Siikavaara was an alcoholic and had allegedly engaged in sexual intercourse with 30 women other than his wife.[3]
These facts have been questioned by relatives of Siikavaara who say that there actually were not any sexual rituals. Said rituals were merely rumours created by Laestadians, imagining the worst possible sins.[citation needed]
References
- Inline
- ^ S2CID 144685503.
- ^ "Populärmusik från Tornedalen" (in Swedish). Dalademokraten. Retrieved 2006-11-25.
- ^ a b c Hepokoski, Warren H. (2002) [1997]. The Laestadian Movement: Disputes and Divisions 1861 - 2000. Retrieved 2006-11-25.
- General
- Lundmark, Lennart (1985). Protest och profetia. Korpela-rörelsen och drömmen om tidens ände (in Swedish). Lund: Arkiv. ISBN 91-85118-79-6.
- Sjöström, Henning (1969) Silverarken (in Swedish)
- Pohjanen, Bengt (1988) Dagning;röd! (in Swedish)
- Pohjanen, Bengt (1987) Kristalliarkki (in Swedish)
- Pohjanen, Bengt (1988) Kolmen kyynärän jumalat (in Swedish)
- Pohjanen, Bengt (1989) Korpelan enkelit (in Swedish)
- Pohjanen, Bengt (1998) Kristallarken (in Swedish)
- Pohjanen, Bengt (2003) Trevliga djävlar (in Swedish)