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Swedish school scolded for prayer readings
http://www.thelocal.se/26090/20100415/ ^ | 04/15/2010 | Peter Vinthagen Simpson

Posted on 04/15/2010 12:23:07 PM PDT by WesternCulture

A school in Karesuando in northern Sweden has been criticised by the National Agency for Education (Skolverket) for holding prayer and psalm readings during classes after children from a conservative Lutheran offshoot joined the school.

The agency has criticised the municipal school for breaching requirements to conduct non-confessional teaching after a report from a parent of one of the children at the school.

"It is stressed that all parents should [...] be able send their children to school, safe in the knowledge that their children will not be affected unilaterally in favor of one or other particular viewpoint," the agency wrote in its report.

According to the parent, the situation arose after the closure of Kuttainen school in the summer of 2009. The pupils, many of whom belong to the small conservative Lutheran revival movement Laestadianism, were then moved to Karesuando.

The parent told the agency that the pupils in her child's class have since been holding half-hour prayer and psalm-reading meetings during class time, and in the company of a teacher. The school has not informed parents of these activities, the woman claims in her report.

Kiruna municipality confirmed that psalm readings and prayer had occurred, varying from daily, to twice weekly, to weekly depending on the class. Karesuando school claims that the activities were part of statutory religious studies education but has agreed to cease the practice.

Swedish education legislation dictates that the various religions are taught equally as part of the curriculum, although Christianity has traditionally taken greater priority over the other world religions.

"Activities in public schools may not be designed so that students are exposed to influences, such as to get them to embrace a particular religious belief. It is therefore important that the school is diligent when it comes to the teaching of subjects where objectivity is of the utmost importance," the agency writes.

Laestadianism is a conservative Lutheran revival movement which was started in the middle of the 19th century and is named after the Swedish-Sami botanist and preacher Lars Levi Laestadius.

The deeply conservative faith broke into three branches - The Firstborn Laestadianism, Reawakening, and Conservative Laestadianism - in the beginning of the 20th century and is characterised by Pietistic and Moravian influences.

Laestadians are taught to refrain from rhythmic music, hair dye, alcohol, make-up, wearing ties, TV, birth control, and pre-marital sex, and are the largest revival movement in the Nordic countries. In Sweden they are thought to number 10,000 - mostly found in the north of the country around the Torne Valley.

The group has long been a part of the Church of Sweden but have come into conflict in recent years after the church gave its blessing to same-sex marriage.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government
KEYWORDS: education; faith; laestadianism; lutheranism; religion; sweden
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1 posted on 04/15/2010 12:23:07 PM PDT by WesternCulture
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To: WesternCulture

I wonder what viewpoint they teach Global Warming, Sex-Ed, government or anything else from?


2 posted on 04/15/2010 12:25:05 PM PDT by GeronL (Entitlement Zombies will become real zombies when the money runs out)
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To: WesternCulture
Obviously the offensive prayers were Christian.

Prayers to Allah/Satan have been pretty much officially endorsed in Sweden, from what I understand.

3 posted on 04/15/2010 12:26:12 PM PDT by TheClintons-STILLAnti-American
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To: WesternCulture
"It is stressed that all parents should [...] be able send their children to school, safe in the knowledge that their children will not be affected unilaterally in favor of one or other particular viewpoint," the agency wrote in its report.

With the obvious exceptions of the Man-made Global Hoax and general Socialist/Humanist/Atheist ideology.

4 posted on 04/15/2010 12:28:12 PM PDT by TheClintons-STILLAnti-American
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To: WesternCulture

“their children will not be affected unilaterally in favor of one or other particular viewpoint,”

Like conscience or morality?


5 posted on 04/15/2010 12:29:36 PM PDT by Spok (Free Range Republican)
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To: WesternCulture

I had no idea there were ultra-conservative Christians in Sweden.

I must say, though, I would find life very dreary without rhythmic music.


6 posted on 04/15/2010 12:30:21 PM PDT by married21
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To: TheClintons-STILLAnti-American

In the northernmost parts of Scandinavia, people haven’t yet heard of Islam.

During the warm part of year, they live a nudists life among the lingonberries.

During winter they live like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5B5dRaa2kbY


7 posted on 04/15/2010 12:35:05 PM PDT by WesternCulture
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To: WesternCulture
Swedish Girls Pictures, Images and Photos

Lutheran extremists. It always ends the same way with the mandatory lutefisk for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

8 posted on 04/15/2010 12:36:18 PM PDT by Snickering Hound
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To: WesternCulture
During the warm part of year, they live a nudists life among the lingonberries

And in the spring they make meat helmets.

9 posted on 04/15/2010 12:36:52 PM PDT by Lurker (The avalanche has begun. The pebbles no longer have a vote.)
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To: Lurker

“And in the spring they make meat helmets.”

- I chose to wore that when invited for a fancy dinner party recently.

Where did my life go wrong?


10 posted on 04/15/2010 12:41:45 PM PDT by WesternCulture
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To: Lurker

“I chose to wore”

- Well, “I chose to wear..” I guess it is.


11 posted on 04/15/2010 12:43:16 PM PDT by WesternCulture
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To: WesternCulture

Of course. Confessional teaching is done by the guidance counselor.


12 posted on 04/15/2010 12:43:41 PM PDT by HIDEK6
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To: WesternCulture
I chose to wore that when invited for a fancy dinner party recently.

Very polite of you to bring something to share.

13 posted on 04/15/2010 12:44:31 PM PDT by Lurker (The avalanche has begun. The pebbles no longer have a vote.)
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To: Snickering Hound

Man, Swedish girls are really healthy!


14 posted on 04/15/2010 12:45:04 PM PDT by HIDEK6
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To: WesternCulture

Very appealing!


15 posted on 04/15/2010 12:45:14 PM PDT by TheClintons-STILLAnti-American
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To: WesternCulture; blam
Tis is Sa'mi country ~ otherwise known as the Sapma.

If the Swedes can't get along they have a perfectly good country far to the South to which they may withdraw.

I would encourage them to do so soon. Actually, sooner than soon. All of the Swedes should go back home eh!

16 posted on 04/15/2010 12:56:38 PM PDT by muawiyah ("Git Out The Way")
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To: HIDEK6

“Man, Swedish girls are really healthy!”

- Women of other nationalities are not that bad, but Swedish ones have become kind of legendary.

Great, but the Nordic countries won’t survive by female splendor and fame.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Khaa3y0i87s


17 posted on 04/15/2010 1:25:07 PM PDT by WesternCulture
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To: WesternCulture

“It is stressed that all aetheists should [...] be able send children to school, safe in the knowledge that their children will not be saved or otherwise redeemed by their Savior God” the demons said.


18 posted on 04/15/2010 1:50:14 PM PDT by RoadTest (Religion is a substitute for the relationship God wants with you.)
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To: RoadTest

“It is stressed that all aetheists should [...] be able send children to school, safe in the knowledge that their children will not be saved or otherwise redeemed by their Savior God” the demons said.”

- I was once a child.

Thank you for posting this.


19 posted on 04/15/2010 2:29:05 PM PDT by WesternCulture
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To: WesternCulture
The Local
20 posted on 04/15/2010 5:14:42 PM PDT by A.A. Cunningham (Barry Soetoro is a Kenyan communist)
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