Life After Religious Disaffiliation in Finland: Ex-Mormon Perspectives
Brown, Alex (2020)
Brown, Alex
2020
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202005047007
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202005047007
Tiivistelmä
Alex Brown
Life After Religious Disaffiliation in Finland: Ex-Mormon Perspectives
46 pages, 4 appendices
Published May 2020
Diaconia University of Applied Sciences
Bachelor of Social Services
Degree programme in Social Services
This thesis concerns ex-Mormons (former members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or LDS) in Finland and the processes they experience. Religious disaffiliation, or exiting a religion, is an increasingly relevant trend today. Research about more specific groups, such as ex-Mormons in Finland, is relatively scarce in academic literature. The aim of this thesis was to provide a general overview of religious disaffiliation and subsequently focus on an ex-Mormon perspective. Research questions related to ex-Mormons in general, ex-Mormons in Finland, and social service implications for this group. Uskontojen Uhrien Tuki ry (Support for Religious Victims Association) was the partner organization for this thesis. Six Finnish ex-Mormons were interviewed. The results of this thesis highlighted some of the many complex issues that a sample of Finnish LDS religious disaffiliates have experienced. These issues included: narrative processes, LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual, Queer) issues, gender roles, sexual assault, cultural differences, health, and relationships after leaving. One interviewee described a negative experience at a peer support group at the partner organization Uskontojen Uhrien Tuki ry. Therefore the way these groups are run as well as the nature of peer support meetings in general is reflected on. More specific Finnish research about awareness of high-cost religious disaffiliates in the social service field could be a promising future research subject. Another potential future research area could include research about other religious disaffiliate groups in Finland.
Life After Religious Disaffiliation in Finland: Ex-Mormon Perspectives
46 pages, 4 appendices
Published May 2020
Diaconia University of Applied Sciences
Bachelor of Social Services
Degree programme in Social Services
This thesis concerns ex-Mormons (former members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or LDS) in Finland and the processes they experience. Religious disaffiliation, or exiting a religion, is an increasingly relevant trend today. Research about more specific groups, such as ex-Mormons in Finland, is relatively scarce in academic literature. The aim of this thesis was to provide a general overview of religious disaffiliation and subsequently focus on an ex-Mormon perspective. Research questions related to ex-Mormons in general, ex-Mormons in Finland, and social service implications for this group. Uskontojen Uhrien Tuki ry (Support for Religious Victims Association) was the partner organization for this thesis. Six Finnish ex-Mormons were interviewed. The results of this thesis highlighted some of the many complex issues that a sample of Finnish LDS religious disaffiliates have experienced. These issues included: narrative processes, LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual, Queer) issues, gender roles, sexual assault, cultural differences, health, and relationships after leaving. One interviewee described a negative experience at a peer support group at the partner organization Uskontojen Uhrien Tuki ry. Therefore the way these groups are run as well as the nature of peer support meetings in general is reflected on. More specific Finnish research about awareness of high-cost religious disaffiliates in the social service field could be a promising future research subject. Another potential future research area could include research about other religious disaffiliate groups in Finland.