A Finnish Christian sect known for its ascetic lifestyle and apocalyptic beliefs
Religion: Christianity
Founder: Alma Kartano
Founded: Early 1920s
Location: Finland
Other Names: Kartanolaisuus (In Finnish)
Kartanoism, also known as “Kartanolaisuus” in Finnish, was a religious sect that emerged in Finland during the mid-1920s and persisted until the 1950s. This Christian sect, deeply rooted in the Evangelical Lutheran Church, gained notoriety for its apocalyptic beliefs and strict, ascetic way of life. Kartanoism was primarily active in the Satakunta region of Finland, with notable centers of influence in Huittinen and Vampula, often referred to as the “mother parishes” of the movement. However, Kartanoism also had a presence in other Finnish locales, including Kangasniemi, Lavia, Sippola, and Juupajoki.
The movement was known for its child preachers, ascetic lifestyle, including total sexual abstinence, and severe child-rearing practices. Their meetings often featured long prayers and could end in ecstatic experiences, such as speaking in tongues and prophesying.
The movement was founded by Alma Maria Kartano, born on August 10, 1885, in Huittinen, Finland. Alma Kartano’s family initially bore the surname Villmann but later changed it to Takakartano, which was customary in Finland to indicate the residence of a family. Alma had a twin sister and two other siblings. Due to financial constraints, she started working as a servant at the age of 10. Alma’s mother, a devout believer, provided her children with a religious upbringing. Kartano studied at the Sortavala deaconess academy and the Hämeenlinna teachers’ seminar, eventually becoming a traveling school teacher and later a lower school teacher from 1923 to 1925.
Alma’s spiritual journey took a significant turn when she joined an evangelist on a missionary journey that lasted over a year, during which they traveled through Karelia, Ingria, and Russia. It is believed that during this time, Alma became acquainted with Russian religious sects, particularly the Skoptsy, who practiced castration as a means of eliminating sexual desires, believing that the genitals were the source of sin; as well as the Khlysts, or “the whips,” who were known for their asceticism, avoidance of marriage, and communal spiritual gatherings, and believed that through hymn singing and dancing, they could connect with God.
Influenced by these sects, particularly in their views on sexuality and asceticism, Kartanoism shared the belief that all forms of sexuality, even within marriage, were sinful and considered it their mission to create a community prepared for the imminent second coming of Jesus, which they believed was imminent. The Winter War of 1939-1940 further fueled their apocalyptic beliefs, as they saw it as a sign of God’s impending wrath.
Kartanoists maintained their affiliation with the Lutheran church, rather than forming a separate religious community, while living an ascetic lifestyle that included strict sexual abstinence, modest dress codes (including dark-colored clothing and headscarves for women), and severe child-rearing practices. Their gatherings involved prolonged prayer and sermon meetings, characterized by fervent prayers, visions, speaking in tongues, and prophesying. These meetings often culminated in ecstatic experiences, during which participants displayed intense physical and emotional reactions.
Kartanoism faced significant negative publicity in 1935 when a trial was held, behind closed doors, regarding allegations that children from a nearby village were forced to work long hours without food by Kartanoist members. This case drew the attention of newspapers, leading to increased scrutiny of the sect’s practices. In 1937, Eino Hosia published a critical book titled “Tulipunaiset ratsastajat” (“The scarlet riders”), further tarnishing Kartanoism’s reputation.
Leevi K. Laitinen who fled the cult with his sister Saasa in 1949, described harsh treatment and punishments, especially directed towards children, within the cult. Punishments included violent beatings, fasting as a form of punishment, and a ritual known as “The Stone of God,” during which a leader would lay on top of a member, sometimes all night, while preaching for repentance.
Following Alma Kartano’s death, Tilda Reunanen, another leader of Kartanoism, eventually left the cult. Her departure marked the beginning of the sect’s decline.
image AI generated
