Läsarna som brände böcker : Erik Jansson och erikjansarna i 1840-talets Sverige

Sammanfattning: The theological characteristics were the demand for sinlessness and perfection and Jansson’s theory of decay, in which post-biblical theological thought was rejected. Jansson claimed to be enlightened by the Holy Spirit and sent to reveal the true biblical faith. In 1844 his followers publicly burnt devotional books and official books of the Church and State. This sharpened the conflict and prepared for the schism.The revival around Jansson threatened traditional structures. Countermeasures were at first uncoordinated, which the Erikjansonists exploited, but as the social control increased the Erikjansonist leaders decided that the group should emigrate. The emigration was called an exodus and considered necessary for salvation. The Erikjansonists ascribed the Bishop Hill-colony an eschatological significance as the New Jerusalem.The Erikjansonist group was organised as one household in which spiritual and economic leadership was unified. Jansson acted as the head of the household with unlimited power over his followers.The theoretical framework of this study is a model of schism and terms to explain the transition from loyalty to exit. The Erikjansonists arose in a transitional period. Swedish society was changing from relative homogeneousness to greater diversity, individualism and structural pluralism. The group reacted against these modern trends that at the same time were a precondition for its development.This thesis examines the Erikjansonists, an anti-nomistic, anti-Lutheran revivalist movement of pietistic origin, in Sweden during the 1840’s. Grown from contacts between lay readers in Hälsingland and Erik Jansson from Uppland it took the form of a household revival.