The focus of this article is on parents' experiences with and perceptions of their children's religious education (RE). The data consist of letters from 41 parents of Finnish Orthodox children and youth. In the letters, the parents describe their understanding of minority religious upbringing and how it is affected by different factors like RE. RE is a mandatory subject in Finnish schools, and it is taught in groups consisting of children with the same religious backgrounds. The main questions in this article are (1) how do the parents view the arrangements for Orthodox RE to make their children's minority religious affiliation visible at school, and (2) what is the effect of RE on the formation of their children's minority identity? The analyses show that parents perceive RE as an important factor in their children's identity formation. Despite the sometimes inadequate arrangements for Orthodox RE in school, the parents are mostly happy with the subject and with their children's RE teachers. RE makes the minority religious affiliation of Orthodox children both visible and invisible: their difference from the majority is exposed, but minority RE classes often take place outside of regular school hours and even outside of school premises.

Background The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) has developed the Spiritual Well-being Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-SWB32), a measure of spiritual well-being validated with people receiving palliative care for cancer, although its usefulness is not restricted to that population. We aimed to translate and validate this tool in Finnish and to study the relationship between spiritual well-being (SWB) and quality of life (QOL). Methods A Finnish translation was produced according to the guidelines of EORTC and included forward- and back-translations. Face, content, construct and convergence/divergence validity and reliability were studied in a prospective manner. QOL was assessed with EORTC QLQ-C30 and 15D questionnaires. Sixteen individuals participated in the pilot testing. 101 cancer patients drawn from oncology units, and 89 patients with other chronic diseases drawn from religious communities in different parts of the country participated in the validation stage. Retest was obtained from 16 individuals (8 cancer and 8 non-cancer patients). Inclusion criteria included patients with either a well-defined palliative care plan, or who would benefit from palliative care, as well as the capacity to understand and communicate in Finnish. Results The translation appeared understandable and acceptable. Factorial analysis identified four scoring scales with high Cronbach alfa values: Relationship with Self (0.73), Relationship with Others (0.84), Relationship with Something Greater (0.82), Existential (0.81), and, additionally, a scale on Relationship with God (0.85). There was a significant correlation between SWB and QOL in all participants. Conclusions The Finnish translation of EORTC QLQ-SWB32 is a valid and reliable measure both for research and clinical practice. SWB is correlated with QOL in cancer and non-cancer patients undergoing palliative care or who are eligible for it.

Artikkeli tarkastelee Suomen ortodoksisen ja Suomen evankelis-luterilaisen kirkon toimintaan osallistuneiden (N=555) kokemuksia hengellisestä yhteydestä ja muutoksista omassa hengellisyydessä koronaepidemian ensimmäisen aallon aikana. Hengellisen yhteyden käsite pitää sisällään seurakunta-, ehtoollis- ja rukousyhteyden. Tutkimusaineistomme koostuu kahdesta kyselylomakeaineistosta: ortodoksisen kirkon striimattuihin jumalanpalveluksiin osallistuneiden tuottamasta aineistosta (N=330) ja evankelis-luterilaisen kirkon toimintaan pandemian aikaan osallistuneiden tuottamasta aineistosta (N=225). Uskonnollisten yhteisöjen merkitys yhteiskunnallisissa kriiseissä vahvistuu, ja ihmiset hakeutuvat kirkon toimintojen piiriin. Kyselyyn vastanneiden kokemus hengellisestä yhteydestä etäyhteyksien aikana oli varsin jakaantunutta: osa koki hengellisen yhteyden vahvistuvan esimerkiksi uudenlaisten yhteyksien syntymisen myötä ja oman autonomian lisääntyessä suhteessa kirkon tilaisuuksiin osallistumiseen. Osa koki lähinnä verkkoyhteyksien kautta tapahtuvan toiminnan vieraannuttavan heitä ja seurakuntayhteyden jopa katkeavan. Hengellisyyden muuttuminen näkyy etenkin koronapandemian heijastumisena rukousaiheisiin sekä rukouselämän ja uskon syventymiseen. Ortodoksiaineistossa korostui tämän lisäksi pyhien läsnäolon voimakkaampi kokeminen.

Background: The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) has developed the Spiritual Well-being Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-SWB32) for assessment of spirituality in palliative care for cancer. We aimed to translate and validate this tool in Finnish and to study the relationship between spirituality and quality of life (QOL). Methods: Finnish translation was produced according to the guidelines of EORTC and included forward- and back-translations. Face-, construct- and convergence/divergence validity and reliability were studied in a prospective manner. QOL was assessed with EORTC QLQ-C30 and 15D questionnaires.Sixteen individuals participated in the pilot testing. 101 patients with cancer from oncology units, and 89 individuals with other chronic diseases from spiritual communities participated in the validation part in different parts of the country. Sixteen people participated in the retest phase. Inclusion criteria were that the individual had either a defined palliative care plan or suitability to a such plan, as well as capability to understand and communicate in Finnish. Results: The translation appeared understandable and acceptable. The factorial analysis identified four scoring scales with high Cronbach alfa values: Relationship with Self (0.73), Relationship with Others (0.84), Relationship with Something Greater (0.82), Existential (0.81), and, additionally, a scale on Relationship with God (0.85). There was a significant correlation between spiritual well-being and QOL in all participants. Conclusions: Spiritual well-being is correlated with QOL in cancer and non-cancer patients eligible for palliative care. The Finnish translation of EORTC QLQ-SWB32 is a valid and reliable measure both for research and clinical practice.

This article studies the debate on same-sex marriage in the early 21st century, within the two national churches of Finland, the Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Orthodox Church. Legislation facilitating the so-called “gender-neutral marriage” came into effect in Finland in March 2017. In their official teachings, both churches emphasize marriage as a union between a man and a woman. An awareness of the rights of sexual minorities has, however, increased in both churches, and has given rise to the debate on how same-sex marriage should be perceived. While holding on to the traditional view of marriage, both churches have sought ways to recognize and affirm the position of sexual minorities. This has caused tension within the churches. As the majority church, the Lutheran church in particular faces strong pressure to accept same-sex weddings in the church. For the advocates of sexual minorities within the Orthodox Church, recognition of sexual minorities seems to be the main objective, rather than promoting same-sex weddings.