Iceland Is Officially Worshiping Norse Gods Again

[cliffy1]

For the first time since the Vikings sailed, the Icelandic public are worshiping classical Norse gods like Odin, Thor, and Frigg at a public temple built in their honor. "The worship of Odin, Thor, Freya and the other gods of the old Norse pantheon became an officially recognized religion exactly 973 years after Iceland’s official conversion to Christianity."

An Icelandic association called Asatruarfelagid, which promotes faith in the Norse gods and is headed by high-priest Hilmar Orn Hilmarsson, raised sufficient funds and received permission from the government to construct the first such temple in 1,000 years. Observers wonder how the rise of neo-pagan traditions will affect the reception of Christianity.

Professor Luke Timothy Johnson of Emory University says early Christians frequently misinterpreted virtuous gods as demons:

More - http://bigthink.com/ideafeed/iceland-to-officially-worship-norse-gods-again?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#link_time=1462640255

[Gixxer]

I started watching the show Vikings. The story line between the vikings and christians is really interesting.

[cliffy1]

I started watching the show Vikings. The story line between the vikings and christians is really interesting.

I saw a movie, made in Sweden, about that. There was a lot of blood, slavery and violence between the two. Like everywhere else, Christianity was spread by the sword when people wouldn't accept it by other means.

[zzontar]

... unlike the Vikings, who were into rock, paper scissors to get what they want, but who wants to bash Vikings when you can bash Christians?

[OREZ]

^^LOL!

[Gixxer]

I saw a movie, made in Sweden, about that. There was a lot of blood, slavery and violence between the two. Like everywhere else, Christianity was spread by the sword when people wouldn't accept it by other means.

Yes its crazy to see how all religion was used to brainwash and install fear into the masses before they knew about science.

[Farmmaa]

... unlike the Vikings, who were into rock, paper scissors to get what they want, but who wants to bash Vikings when you can bash Christians?

Watch the series...it's actually incredibly well done and historically as accurate as possible.
Life is portrayed the way life was back then....and no matter what religion you were - it was a brutal, bloody and difficult time to live.
The show does NOT bash Christians, but neither does it portray them as peaceful, caring souls. They carried out more than their fair share of monstrous atrocities - against their enemies and their own.
It is a fair portrayal of the brutality of both cultures in their attempt to rule.

[JayByrd]

Yes its crazy to see how all religion was used to brainwash and install fear into the masses before they knew about science.

Faith has often become twisted and evil in the hands of men.

Do you think someday, someone might use science to instill fear in people?

[Gixxer]

Faith has often become twisted and evil in the hands of men.

Do you think someday, someone might use science to instill fear in people?

What do you mean someday? Its happening now. But science is real and supported with proof and facts, where religion is based on fairy tales from thousands of years ago.

[OREZ]

The title of this thread is somewhat misleading.

When you say that Iceland is "officially" worshipping Norse gods again it carries with it the inference that the worshipping of Norse gods is now the official state position.

(I realize that this is the slightly sensational, eye-catching title of the article in the link you posted) however;

Officially, the nation is religiously homogenous. Nearly all Icelandic religious followers are Christian, and vast majority of these are Lutheran. Church attendance, however, remains low.

[cliffy1]

... unlike the Vikings, who were into rock, paper scissors to get what they want, but who wants to bash Vikings when you can bash Christians?

A little touchy are we? During that time everybody seemed to be rather violent. Like today, people were very resistant to change. Upsetting the status quo was met with severe backlash. The Vikings resisted violently and the Christians tried to change them violently. For every action is an equal and opposite reaction.

[JayByrd]

What do you mean someday? Its happening now. But science is real and supported with proof and facts, where religion is based on fairy tales from thousands of years ago.

*shrug*

You brought it up.

[Glacier]

... unlike the Vikings, who were into rock, paper scissors to get what they want, but who wants to bash Vikings when you can bash Christians?

Oh ironies of ironies. Scandanavians gave up their Viking ways of raping and pillaging because they embraced Christianity. And here we have hatetheists reveling in the ice of Iceland plunging itself back a 1000 years.

[cliffy1]

Oh ironies of ironies. Scandanavians gave up their Viking ways of raping and pillaging because they embraced Christianity. And here we have hatetheists reveling in the ice of Iceland plunging itself back a 1000 years.

And perhaps your view of Vikings is a little outdated. If you had bothered to read the article you would see that most of those attending services are Christians. It sounds like the Icelanders are a little more open minded than the North American variety. If you truly believe there is only one god, then perhaps all these other religions are worshiping the same god by a different name and image.

[Farmmaa]

Oh ironies of ironies. Scandanavians gave up their Viking ways of raping and pillaging because they embraced Christianity. And here we have hatetheists reveling in the ice of Iceland plunging itself back a 1000 years.

Oh, the irony indeed.
It took more than 500 years of invasions and Christian rule for most Scandinavians to 'embrace' Christianity.....and even at that, these remain some the least religious countries in the world. In fact, 8 out of 10 Swedes either consider themselves non religious or atheist.
And yet....they didn't continue raping and plundering without a Christian god.
( although 1000 years ago, Christians were also raping and plundering their way across the world ).

I don't think that exploring the history, customs and mythology of their past is going to set Scandinavia back 1,000 years in time....really.
It is nothing more than people researching and understanding their past and the ways of their ancestors - much like the indigenous peoples of North America are embracing their past traditions....traditions that were all stripped away simply because Christians didn't understand them.