fierjelders

Fierjelders were a group of religious dissenters in 17th-century Norway. The term, roughly translating to "fire-dwellers" or "those who dwell in fire," referred to their intense spiritual fervor and their belief in a direct, personal experience of God, often interpreted as a burning presence within them. They emerged in the eastern parts of Norway, particularly in the regions of Hedmark and Oppland, during a period of religious and social upheaval.

The Fierjelders' practices and beliefs were often seen as unorthodox by the established Lutheran Church of Norway. They emphasized personal conversion, spiritual ecstasy, and the importance of inner revelation over strict adherence to church dogma and rituals. This led to accusations of mysticism and separatism. Some accounts suggest they engaged in fervent prayer meetings and experienced visions or trances, which further set them apart from the more staid practices of the state church.

The authorities, both church and state, viewed the Fierjelders with suspicion and concern. They were seen as a potential threat to social order and religious uniformity. Consequently, members of the Fierjelders faced persecution, including fines, imprisonment, and sometimes banishment. Despite this pressure, the movement persisted for a time, leaving a small but notable mark on the religious history of Norway, representing a strain of pietistic and dissenting sentiment within the Lutheran tradition. Their influence eventually waned, absorbed or suppressed by later religious movements.