FAQ: What is Karhun kansa and how to join
Dec 20, 2013 14:26:58 GMT
Post by Oskari on Dec 20, 2013 14:26:58 GMT
Q: What is Karhun kansa?
A: Karhun kansa is a religious community based on indigeous Finnish spiritual tradition that was recently recognized officially by the Finnish state.
Q: What does ”Karhun kansa” mean?
A: ”Karhun kansa” is Finnish for ”People of the Bear”.
Q: Why did you pick such a name?
A: The bear is the most sacred animal in the Finnish spiritual tradition and the mythical ancestor of all humankind, so it can be said that Finns truly are People of the Bear. The name was suggested by a member of our community in the very first gathering we had, and we didn't need to think of a better one anymore.
Q: Why did you seek official recognition from the Finnish state?
A: Because we felt we are entitled to the same legal rights as those religious communities that already have an official status but have their origins outside of Finland.
Q: When did you start the process for achieving the official recognition and how did it proceed?
A: The process started in the summer of 2010 and it took three and a half years of groundwork, trial and error before the recognition was finally granted in 17th of December 2013. Karhun kansa is the first officially recognized religious community in Finland that does not belong to a major world religion.
Q: This smells fishy. Are you neo-nazis or some other kind of extreme nationalists?
A: No we are not. We are a religious community that does not dabble in politics. Any member of Karhun kansa is of course free to participate in politics, but they must do this in the ranks of political parties or other appropriate organizations.
Q: This smells fishy. Are you Satan worshipers?
A: Satan is the evil antagonist in Judeo-Christian tradition, of which we are completely separate. In other words: no, we are not Satan worshipers.
Q: This smells fishy. Surely you can't be serious?
A: This is not a joke, and we are serious.
Q: This does not smell fishy at all. Actually I want to join you.
A: In that case, you should deliver an application to the board of Karhun kansa, and after this a personal meeting is arranged. Your suitability for membership will be decided by the board after this meeting.
Q: A personal meeting? But I live nowhere near Finland!
A: It is a shame then, but our rules require the personal meeting before you can join.
Q: Why so?
A: Because we want to stop people who would join for wrong reasons from joining.
Q: What do you mean by ”wrong reasons”?
A: Any reasons that are non-religious. For example an atheist or agnostic deeply interested in Finnish spiritual tradition might want to join just out of curiosity, or an extreme nationalist might want to further his political agenda through Karhun kansa, and we will not allow either of these.
Q: What would be my odds of being accepted if I did manage to show up for a personal meeting?
A: Depends. Every application is evaluated individually, and people who are sincerely seeking to join for religious reasons will be accepted.
Q: What does it cost to join?
A: Absolutely nothing whatsoever.
A: Karhun kansa is a religious community based on indigeous Finnish spiritual tradition that was recently recognized officially by the Finnish state.
Q: What does ”Karhun kansa” mean?
A: ”Karhun kansa” is Finnish for ”People of the Bear”.
Q: Why did you pick such a name?
A: The bear is the most sacred animal in the Finnish spiritual tradition and the mythical ancestor of all humankind, so it can be said that Finns truly are People of the Bear. The name was suggested by a member of our community in the very first gathering we had, and we didn't need to think of a better one anymore.
Q: Why did you seek official recognition from the Finnish state?
A: Because we felt we are entitled to the same legal rights as those religious communities that already have an official status but have their origins outside of Finland.
Q: When did you start the process for achieving the official recognition and how did it proceed?
A: The process started in the summer of 2010 and it took three and a half years of groundwork, trial and error before the recognition was finally granted in 17th of December 2013. Karhun kansa is the first officially recognized religious community in Finland that does not belong to a major world religion.
Q: This smells fishy. Are you neo-nazis or some other kind of extreme nationalists?
A: No we are not. We are a religious community that does not dabble in politics. Any member of Karhun kansa is of course free to participate in politics, but they must do this in the ranks of political parties or other appropriate organizations.
Q: This smells fishy. Are you Satan worshipers?
A: Satan is the evil antagonist in Judeo-Christian tradition, of which we are completely separate. In other words: no, we are not Satan worshipers.
Q: This smells fishy. Surely you can't be serious?
A: This is not a joke, and we are serious.
Q: This does not smell fishy at all. Actually I want to join you.
A: In that case, you should deliver an application to the board of Karhun kansa, and after this a personal meeting is arranged. Your suitability for membership will be decided by the board after this meeting.
Q: A personal meeting? But I live nowhere near Finland!
A: It is a shame then, but our rules require the personal meeting before you can join.
Q: Why so?
A: Because we want to stop people who would join for wrong reasons from joining.
Q: What do you mean by ”wrong reasons”?
A: Any reasons that are non-religious. For example an atheist or agnostic deeply interested in Finnish spiritual tradition might want to join just out of curiosity, or an extreme nationalist might want to further his political agenda through Karhun kansa, and we will not allow either of these.
Q: What would be my odds of being accepted if I did manage to show up for a personal meeting?
A: Depends. Every application is evaluated individually, and people who are sincerely seeking to join for religious reasons will be accepted.
Q: What does it cost to join?
A: Absolutely nothing whatsoever.