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==Protestant Records== | ==Protestant Records== | ||
*See [[Finland Church Records]] for more resources. | *See [[Finland Church Records]] for more resources. | ||
Protestantism has a long history in Finland, dating back to the 1500s. During the Protestant Reformation, the Swedish King Gustav Vasa adopted Lutheranism as the official religion of Sweden and Finland, leading to a significant decline in Catholicism. Lutheranism became the dominant faith in Finland. The Lutheran Church of Finland played a crucial role in the development of Finnish identity and language. The church established schools and universities, promoting education and literacy. Lutheranism also influenced Finnish art, music, and literature. While Finland has become more secular in recent decades, Protestantism remains a significant part of the country's religious landscape, with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland being the largest religious denomination.<ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_of_Finland, accessed 7 Oct 2024.</ref><ref>Britannica. "Church of Finland," https://www.britannica.com/topic/Church-of-Finland, accessed 7 Oct 2024.</ref> | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
[[Category:Finland]] | [[Category:Finland]] | ||
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