Ole Hallesby
Encyclopedia
Ole Kristian Hallesby was an influential conservative Norwegian Lutheran pietist who taught at the Free Faculty of Theology
from 1909 to 1952.
An outspoken opponent of the Nazi occupation of Norway, he was arrested and detained at Grini concentration camp for two years (until the end of the war).
During a razzia in November 1948 it was revealed that the already-imprisoned Nazi agents, Gard Holtskog, Sten Blom Westberg and Hans Johann Krijom, were about to fabricate a document which probably was supposed to tie Hallesby to the Nazis.
Hallesby wrote 67 books, mostly on theology
and ethics
, but is known for devotional writings.
. In the speech, Hallesby spoke to the non-religious that if "you fell dead to the floor this moment, you fall at the same time into hell", and "how can you who is unconverted lie down calmly to sleep at night, you who don't know if you'll wake up in your bed or in hell?"
The speech was condemned on the front page of Dagbladet
the following day, and criticisms were raised against NRK for hosting Hallesby's speech. NRK responded that since there was a state church
, they had to accept it as it was.
Within the church, the debate ignited a conflict between liberal and literal interpretations of the Bible. The bishop of Hamar Kristian Schjelderup
was the main spokesperson for the liberal side who argued that the damnation of hell was incompatible with a religion of love. Most of the church supported Hallesby's view of hell, though some did not support the wording in his speech.
The debate also brought up questions whether there ought to be a state church. The debate may also have catalyzed the formation of the Norwegian Humanist Association.
MF Norwegian School of Theology
The Norwegian School of Theology , is a private, independent, accredited Norwegian specialised university...
from 1909 to 1952.
An outspoken opponent of the Nazi occupation of Norway, he was arrested and detained at Grini concentration camp for two years (until the end of the war).
During a razzia in November 1948 it was revealed that the already-imprisoned Nazi agents, Gard Holtskog, Sten Blom Westberg and Hans Johann Krijom, were about to fabricate a document which probably was supposed to tie Hallesby to the Nazis.
Hallesby wrote 67 books, mostly on theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
, but is known for devotional writings.
Hell debate
In 1953, a radio speech by Hallesby caused a major debate in Norway on the existence of hellHell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
. In the speech, Hallesby spoke to the non-religious that if "you fell dead to the floor this moment, you fall at the same time into hell", and "how can you who is unconverted lie down calmly to sleep at night, you who don't know if you'll wake up in your bed or in hell?"
The speech was condemned on the front page of Dagbladet
Dagbladet
Dagbladet is Norway's second largest tabloid newspaper, and the third largest newspaper overall with a circulation of 105,255 copies in 2009, 18,128 papers less than in 2008. The editor in chief is Lars Helle....
the following day, and criticisms were raised against NRK for hosting Hallesby's speech. NRK responded that since there was a state church
State church
State churches are organizational bodies within a Christian denomination which are given official status or operated by a state.State churches are not necessarily national churches in the ethnic sense of the term, but the two concepts may overlap in the case of a nation state where the state...
, they had to accept it as it was.
Within the church, the debate ignited a conflict between liberal and literal interpretations of the Bible. The bishop of Hamar Kristian Schjelderup
Kristian Vilhelm Koren Schjelderup, Jr.
Kristian Vilhelm Koren Schjelderup was a Norwegian Lutheran theologian, author, and bishop of the Diocese of Hamar in the Church of Norway from 1947 to 1964. He was noted as a controversial, liberal theologian.-Personal life:...
was the main spokesperson for the liberal side who argued that the damnation of hell was incompatible with a religion of love. Most of the church supported Hallesby's view of hell, though some did not support the wording in his speech.
The debate also brought up questions whether there ought to be a state church. The debate may also have catalyzed the formation of the Norwegian Humanist Association.
External links
- The Inferno - Monday, Mar. 01, 1954 Time Magazine article about Ole Hallesby