• Gay debate sparks church exodus in Finland
    44 replies, posted
No I mean, are orphans by default assigned to pay the church tax?
[QUOTE=Kade;25551062]No I mean, are orphans by default assigned to pay the church tax?[/QUOTE]Nope. It's the parents who opt their child into the church, or the person themselves when they're older; though joining the church as a child is more common.
I guess I just didn't realise Finland was soo vastly religious. To the extent that most people would even choose to pay towards the church.
To be honest, tradition and apathy is what's bringing in all the money. People can't be bothered leaving the church.
Oh trust me, teenagers only part of the church because grandparents give them shitloads of presents like mopeds or cars and shitloads of money on top of that when you get confirmed. My grandparents are dead and my parents, while very religious, aren't a part of the church, so I was never registered as a member.
[QUOTE=nikomo;25551855]Oh trust me, teenagers only part of the church because grandparents give them shitloads of presents like mopeds or cars and shitloads of money on top of that when you get confirmed. My grandparents are dead and my parents, while very religious, aren't a part of the church, so I was never registered as a member.[/QUOTE]Indeed, confirmation has become something more akin to Christmas; the religious meaning is forgotten in lieu of spending time with family and getting presents (albeit only one person is receiving presents). I didn't get a moped or car though; although considering the state of my eyesight that's probably a good thing.
I would very much like to know what percentage of the population of Finland that is. You go Finland, nice to see that there are intelligent people in the world somewhere. Now legalize gay marriage and let them adopt already!!
[QUOTE=Kade;25547810]Really Finland?[/QUOTE] It's optional, as far as I know.
Oh yes. I read about this on Morning News.
The Church of Sweden recognizes gay marriage, just so they don't lose all their members now that it isn't the state church.
[QUOTE=Kade;25551654]I guess I just didn't realise Finland was soo vastly religious. To the extent that most people would even choose to pay towards the church.[/QUOTE] There's an extremely prevalent tradition of singing hymns in schools. Almost all our swear words are related to paganism (i.e. blasphemy). The majority of young men swear to serve their country in the name of God while taking their military oath, as we have conscription.
[QUOTE=ThePuska;25557259]There's an extremely prevalent tradition of singing hymns in schools. Almost all our swear words are related to paganism (i.e. blasphemy). The majority of young men swear to serve their country in the name of God while taking their military oath, as we have conscription.[/QUOTE] So take a secular oath instead, pretty much every country offers it.
[QUOTE=ZekeTwo;25557726]So take a secular oath instead, pretty much every country offers it.[/QUOTE] We have that, yeah, but it's a lot less common than the other. I suppose religion is just seen as some kind of a tradition, because I honestly doubt all those who take the normal oath actually believe in God. The attitudes of my generation towards Christianity in general are negative: the main thing preventing most I've asked from quitting the Church is that they want their wedding to be held in a church. [editline]22nd October 2010[/editline] I was just trying to illustrate how deeply rooted religion in our culture is. It's kind of odd; no one seems to know that it is. No foreigner ever mentions religion as an important part of Finland. Nor any Finn. It's somehow transparent.
[QUOTE=ThePuska;25560439]We have that, yeah, but it's a lot less common than the other. I suppose religion is just seen as some kind of a tradition, because I honestly doubt all those who take the normal oath actually believe in God. The attitudes of my generation towards Christianity in general are negative: the main thing preventing most I've asked from quitting the Church is that they want their wedding to be held in a church. [editline]22nd October 2010[/editline] I was just trying to illustrate how deeply rooted religion in our culture is. It's kind of odd; no one seems to know that it is. No foreigner ever mentions religion as an important part of Finland. Nor any Finn. It's somehow transparent.[/QUOTE] Historically we have a shitload of patriotism, so the military oath really should be to Finland and its people
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