From Monthly Bulletins to eLaestadianism? Exploring Attitudes and Use of Internet within the Laestadian Movement

Abstract

The different groups within the Laestadian movement have developed different strategies when it comes to internet and production of texts. Regarding internet and official websites, there is ambivalence towards the opportunities which this technology and new media offer. Among the approximately twenty different Laestadian groups which exist in the Nordic countries and America, there are only nine official websites in 2012. The article provides an overview over these websites, contents and strategies. Websites are discussed in reference to a well-established tradition of monthly bulletins within the Laestadian tradition. The term netnography is used to describe the research on religion and internet, and research ethics are also discussed as a part of doing research on religion and internet.