Christopher Bruun
Encyclopedia
Christopher Arndt Bruun (23 September 1839 – 17 July 1920) was a Norwegian priest and educator.
as a son of jurist Johan Peter Bruun (1810–1843) and Line Stenersen (1816–1901). After his father died when Christopher was three years old, the family moved to Vang, Hedmark
, then to Lillehammer
in 1850. He enrolled in theology studies at the Royal Frederick University
in 1857, and graduated with the cand.theol.
degree in 1862. He was an open Scandinavist
, and in 1864 he returned to Norway from a trip in Rome
to agitate for Norwegian support of the Danish
cause in the Second Schleswig War. Himself, he even participated as a volunteer in the Battle of Dybbøl
in April 1864, and after being demobilized from the war in August 1864, he walked back to Rome.
Later, especially around 1866 and 1867, Bruun began supporting the use of the language form Landsmål
, and was also inspired by Grundtvigianism and Danish folk high school
s. He founded a folk high school in Sel
in 1867, together with Christian Horne. It was moved to Fykse in Gausdal
in 1871 and Vonheim in Gausdal in 1874. In the same year Karoline
and Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
moved to Aulestad, which is located nearby. Gausdal became a cultural centre, although Bjørnson later split with this milieu.
Bruun's thoughts on education were chiseled out in the work Folkelige Grundtanker, issued in 1878. He idealized Norwegian history, and wanted to replace Greek
and Latin with the Edda
in schools. At the same time as hailing the Norwegian farmer, he was clear that the farming populace would need to be educated, especially over the next "century", hence the folk high schools. As a theologian he denounced Pietism
, and emphasized the collective (the people) over the individual. He also (unlike Grundtvig) preferred a Free Church over a State Church
. Nonetheless, he left Vonheim Folk High School to become curate in Kristiania in 1893. He was promoted to vicar in 1898.
He supported the Liberal Party, later the Moderate Liberal Party
, but did not fit in here, neither with Johan Sverdrup
's constitutional policies nor the Lars Oftedal
and Western Norway-dominated Moderate Liberal Party. From 1884 to 1888, during the most turbulent period in Norwegian political history, Bruun issued the periodical For frisindet Christendom. In 1893 he co-founded the periodical For kirke og kultur, and co-edited it until 1908. In 1905 he chose not to support the radical constitutional policies that led to the dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden. His periodical refused to print his views on the union dissolution. A pamphlet was printed in Denmark and smuggled to Norway. This contributed to him being removed from For kirke og kultur in 1908.
Bruun retired as vicar in 1918, and retreated to Østre Gausdal
where he died on his farm in July 1920. He was survived by his wife Kari Skar, whom he had married in 1872. She died in May 1924. His daughter Margit (1875–1958) married Klaus Sletten
in 1905 and was the mother of Vegard Sletten
. She was a deputy leader of Bondeungdomslaget and treasurer of Noregs Ungdomslag
.
Early life
He was born in ChristianiaOslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
as a son of jurist Johan Peter Bruun (1810–1843) and Line Stenersen (1816–1901). After his father died when Christopher was three years old, the family moved to Vang, Hedmark
Vang, Hedmark
Vang is a former municipality in Hedmark county, Norway.Vang was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . The city of Hamar was separated from Vang in 1849. Furnes was separated from Vang in 1891...
, then to Lillehammer
Lillehammer
is a town and municipality in Oppland county, Norway, globally known for hosting the 1994 Winter Olympics. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Lillehammer. As of May 2011, the population of the town of Lillehammer was...
in 1850. He enrolled in theology studies at the Royal Frederick University
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
in 1857, and graduated with the cand.theol.
Cand.theol.
Candidatus theologiæ , Candidata theologiæ , abbreviated cand. theol. is an academic degree with a long tradition, awarded after a six year higher education in theology in Denmark and Norway. In Norway, the title has remained after the "Quality Reform", though it is equivalent to a Master of...
degree in 1862. He was an open Scandinavist
Scandinavism
Scandinavism and Nordism are literary and political movements that support various degrees of cooperation between the Scandinavian or Nordic countries...
, and in 1864 he returned to Norway from a trip in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
to agitate for Norwegian support of the Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
cause in the Second Schleswig War. Himself, he even participated as a volunteer in the Battle of Dybbøl
Battle of Dybbøl
The Battle of Dybbøl was the key battle of the Second War of Schleswig and occurred on the morning of 18 April 1864 following a siege lasting from 7 April. Denmark suffered a severe defeat against the German Confederation which decided the war...
in April 1864, and after being demobilized from the war in August 1864, he walked back to Rome.
Later, especially around 1866 and 1867, Bruun began supporting the use of the language form Landsmål
Landsmål
Landsmål, meaning "language of the land/country", was the name Ivar Aasen gave the Norwegian orthography he created in the 19th century. In 1885 it was adopted as an official language in Norway alongside Danish. In 1929, Landsmål was renamed Nynorsk...
, and was also inspired by Grundtvigianism and Danish folk high school
Folk high school
Folk high schools are institutions for adult education that generally do not grant academic degrees, though certain courses might exist leading to that goal...
s. He founded a folk high school in Sel
Sel
Sel is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Otta....
in 1867, together with Christian Horne. It was moved to Fykse in Gausdal
Gausdal
Gausdal is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Segalstad bru...
in 1871 and Vonheim in Gausdal in 1874. In the same year Karoline
Karoline Bjørnson
Karoline Bjørnson was a Norwegian actress. She is best known as the wife and supporter of poet, playwright, popular speaker and Nobel laureate Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, being model for several of Bjørnson's literary women figures, and helping out with articles and other literary works. Several of...
and Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
Bjørnstjerne Martinius Bjørnson was a Norwegian writer and the 1903 Nobel Prize in Literature laureate. Bjørnson is considered as one of The Four Greats Norwegian writers; the others being Henrik Ibsen, Jonas Lie, and Alexander Kielland...
moved to Aulestad, which is located nearby. Gausdal became a cultural centre, although Bjørnson later split with this milieu.
Bruun's thoughts on education were chiseled out in the work Folkelige Grundtanker, issued in 1878. He idealized Norwegian history, and wanted to replace Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
and Latin with the Edda
Edda
The term Edda applies to the Old Norse Poetic Edda and Prose Edda, both of which were written down in Iceland during the 13th century in Icelandic, although they contain material from earlier traditional sources, reaching into the Viking Age...
in schools. At the same time as hailing the Norwegian farmer, he was clear that the farming populace would need to be educated, especially over the next "century", hence the folk high schools. As a theologian he denounced Pietism
Pietism
Pietism was a movement within Lutheranism, lasting from the late 17th century to the mid-18th century and later. It proved to be very influential throughout Protestantism and Anabaptism, inspiring not only Anglican priest John Wesley to begin the Methodist movement, but also Alexander Mack to...
, and emphasized the collective (the people) over the individual. He also (unlike Grundtvig) preferred a Free Church over a State Church
Church of Norway
The Church of Norway is the state church of Norway, established after the Lutheran reformation in Denmark-Norway in 1536-1537 broke the ties to the Holy See. The church confesses the Lutheran Christian faith...
. Nonetheless, he left Vonheim Folk High School to become curate in Kristiania in 1893. He was promoted to vicar in 1898.
He supported the Liberal Party, later the Moderate Liberal Party
Moderate Liberal Party
Moderate Liberal Party was a Norwegian political party that emerged from the conservative branch of the Liberal Party in 1888, consisting mainly of the Low Church...
, but did not fit in here, neither with Johan Sverdrup
Johan Sverdrup
Johan Sverdrup was a Norwegian politician from the Liberal Party. He was the first Prime Minister of Norway after the introduction of parliamentarism. Sverdrup was Prime Minister from 1884 to 1889.- Early years :...
's constitutional policies nor the Lars Oftedal
Lars Oftedal (born 1838)
Lars Svendsen Oftedal was a Norwegian revivalist, priest, social reformer, politician, publicist and newspaper editor.-Personal life:...
and Western Norway-dominated Moderate Liberal Party. From 1884 to 1888, during the most turbulent period in Norwegian political history, Bruun issued the periodical For frisindet Christendom. In 1893 he co-founded the periodical For kirke og kultur, and co-edited it until 1908. In 1905 he chose not to support the radical constitutional policies that led to the dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden. His periodical refused to print his views on the union dissolution. A pamphlet was printed in Denmark and smuggled to Norway. This contributed to him being removed from For kirke og kultur in 1908.
Bruun retired as vicar in 1918, and retreated to Østre Gausdal
Østre Gausdal
Østre Gausdal is a former municipality in Oppland county, Norway.It was created when Gausdal was split into Østre and Vestre Gausdal in 1879. At that time Østre Gausdal had a population of 5,911....
where he died on his farm in July 1920. He was survived by his wife Kari Skar, whom he had married in 1872. She died in May 1924. His daughter Margit (1875–1958) married Klaus Sletten
Klaus Sletten
Klaus Daae Sletten was a Norwegian organizational worker and politician who spent his professional career as an editor of magazines and newspapers. He was known as a supporter of the Nynorsk cause.-Early life:...
in 1905 and was the mother of Vegard Sletten
Vegard Sletten
Vegard Sletten was a Norwegian newspaper editor. He worked in Stavanger Aftenblad from 1929 to 1945, except for the World War II years during parts of which he was imprisoned, and then in Verdens Gang from 1945...
. She was a deputy leader of Bondeungdomslaget and treasurer of Noregs Ungdomslag
Noregs Ungdomslag
Noregs Ungdomslag is a Norwegian cultural society formed in 1896. It has around 17,000 members and 450 local chapters.-Activities:...
.