The Strong Believers ( Norwegian: ) is a theologically conservative Norwegian Christian movement, with roots in the

Lutheran Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched ...

Church of Norway The Church of Norway (, , , ) is an Lutheranism, evangelical Lutheran denomination of Protestant Christianity and by far the largest Christian church in Norway. Christianity became the state religion of Norway around 1020, and was established a ...

, in opposition to the

Haugean movement The Haugean movement or Haugeanism () was a Pietistic state church reform movement intended to bring new life and vitality into the Church of Norway, which had been often characterized by formalism and lethargy. The movement emphasized person ...

. They split from the Church of Norway in 1890.

Founding and beliefs

The Strong Believers started in

Rogaland Rogaland () is a Counties of Norway, county in Western Norway, bordering the North Sea to the west and the counties of Vestland to the north, Telemark to the east and Agder to the east and southeast. As of 1 January 2024, it had a population of 49 ...

, Norway, in the mid-1800s and were led by lay preacher

Knud Spødervold Knud Kittelsen Spødervold (24 July 1791 – 20 March 1848) was a Norwegian author and lay preacher and leader of the Strong Believers (), a theologically conservative Norwegian Christian movement in opposition to the Haugean movement, with root ...

(1791–1848), the son of a farmer from

Bjerkreim Bjerkreim is a List of municipalities of Norway, municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. It is located in the Traditional districts of Norway, traditional district of Dalane. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Vikes ...

. In 1848 he published a book called ('The Dispensation of God's Grace'), in which he outlined his views and his interpretation of the Bible. Spødervold criticized

Pietist Pietism (), also known as Pietistic Lutheranism, is a movement within Lutheranism that combines its emphasis on biblical doctrine with an emphasis on individual piety and living a holy Christianity, Christian life. Although the movement is ali ...

revival preacher

Hans Nielsen Hauge Hans Nielsen Hauge (3 April 1771 – 29 March 1824) was a 19th-century Norwegian Lutheran lay minister, spiritual leader, business entrepreneur, social reformer and author. He led a noted Pietism revival known as the Haugean movement. Hauge is al ...

for being too concerned with the importance of

works Works may refer to: People * Caddy Works (1896–1982), American college sports coach * John D. Works (1847–1928), California senator and judge * Samuel Works (c. 1781–1868), New York politician Albums * ''Works'' (Pink Floyd album), a Pi ...

. Spødervold emphasized faith and justification instead of repentance and

sanctification Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspires awe or reverence among believers. The property is often ascribed to objects ( ...

. He claimed that "it is impossible for a child of God to fall out of their state of grace". Strong Believers have been described as strict, as well as exclusionary towards outsiders. They do not participate in any ecumenical Christian gatherings. Strong Believers adhere to older church customs and hymns, such as Danish hymnwriter

Thomas Kingo Thomas Hansen Kingo (15 December 1634 – 14 October 1703) was a Danish bishop, poet and hymnwriter born in Slangerup, near Copenhagen. His work marked the high point of Danish baroque poetry. Early life and education His parents were Hans ...

's 1699 hymnal. Unlike other Christian groups in the area, they have historically had a lenient approach towards alcohol, with founders known to drink alcohol while preaching.

Branches

The movement initially consisted of four branches, one of which – ('The Old Lutheran Community') – later returned to the state church in 1958 after splitting off in 1925. The movement still exists in

Kristiansand Kristiansand is a city and Municipalities of Norway, municipality in Agder county, Norway. The city is the fifth-largest and the municipality is the sixth-largest in Norway, with a population of around 116,000 as of January 2020, following th ...

and in the

Egersund Egersund is a List of towns and cities in Norway, town in Eigersund municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. The town is located along the southwestern coast of Norway, about south of the city of Stavanger (city), Stavanger. The town is situat ...

area under the official name (The Community) in three branches. One branch is called

The Community (Samfundet) The Community () is a Christianity, Christian Christian denomination, denomination with historical and theological roots in the Lutheran tradition. The church has Church (congregation), congregations located in the south-western part of Norway. Th ...

, or ''s'', after its leader in the 1880s,

Bernt B. Lomeland Bernt Berntsen Lomeland (1836 – 1900) was a Norwegian school teacher and lay minister who established The Community (Samfundet) in 1890. Biography Born to a farmer in Helleland, outside Egersund, Norway, he was confirmation, confirmed on 29 Se ...

. Another branch is Det Almindelige Samfund ('The Catholic Community', ''

catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

'' here in the sense of 'universal') or after Per Gravdal, founded in 1901. The third group, Det Almindelige Lutherske Samfund ('The Catholic Lutheran Community', again in the sense of 'universal') or after founder Abraham Larsen, started in 1952 after a split from .

References

{{Authority control Lutheranism in Norway Lutheran denominations established in the 19th century