Skriftstørrelse:     

In 1992 and 2010 the group within the Laestadian tradition labeled “the firstborns” or “the  firstborn  group”  published  brochures  in  which  they express  their  beliefs  and identity.  Using  a  discourse  analytical approach  the  article  aims  to  examine  the  Firstborn’s selfrepresentation in these brochures. A goal is to investigate whether or not the Firstborn self-representation  has  changed  in  the  period  between  the  two  brochures. A main argument is that the group’s mediation and way of representing themselves in 2010 is characterized by a new use of established concepts which point to a possible secession from  the  Norwegian  State  Church  and the  establishment  of  a separate  independent religious organization.