With a field-work oriented approach to the study of religious traditions he is especially interested in the oral history of languages, religions and cultures.
Based upon his work, other professors (i.e. Veikko Anttonen and Nils G. Holm) in his field have analyzed his approach towards the studies of religion.
He is recipient of many awards and honors including the 3rd honorary medal of the international society for research for the lifetime career as the scholar of shamanism in 1999.
1903), a lieutenant serving as a photographer for the General Staff of the Finnish army, was discovered in 1933 spying for the Soviet Union.
Responding to an inquiry by Juha Pentikäinen in 2007, the Russian intelligence service FSB stated that his uncle had died of starvation in a prison camp in March 1942, convicted of spying for Finland;[3] however, some researchers believe he continued to serve in Soviet military intelligence and died in 1967.