Artisans of Religion at the Moral Frontiers: Finnish Soldiers’ Religious Practices, Beliefs, and Attitudes in World War II

Abstract

The chapter studies the role of religion in Finnish soldiers’ everyday life during World War II. How did the soldiers engage with religious practices and beliefs in order to make sense of their experiences in the violent frontline conditions and what kind of religious attitudes did the soldiers have? Kivimäki analyzes the experiences of frontline fatalism, soldiers’ practices of constructing protective identities in a morally threatening environment, and finally the work of Lutheran military chaplains among the troops. The analysis reveals both similarities to other cultures of war and soldiering as well as specifically Finnish and Lutheran features. With the concept of religious artisanship, Kivimäki refers to soldiers’ active role in performing and doing religion at the frontlines.