Norse Pagans rise again

[Don2 (Don1 Revised)]

Link

Vårblot or Vernal Equinox Blot is celebrated at the vernal equinox and celebrates that the wheel of the year has now reached halfway between midwinter and midsummer and that greenery is beginning to sprout. The blot at the vernal equinox is directed to divinities such as Freja and Frej, Sunna (Sun), and the light elves. You can also turn to Frej's partner, the giantess Gerd, whose name day falls around the vernal equinox, March 23.

 

[DrZoidberg]

That being said the Jewish bias goes back to the OT.

No, it doesn't. Or rather, it argues every possible position. What makes the OT/Torah so special is its age and range. It tracks the cultural and social changes over a vast period, in one of the most turbulent periods in human history. Its all over the place.

But most importantly the text assumes familiarity with a culture (or cultures) that is long gone today. It requires extensive study to understand what is implied with the text.

Nobody today takes anything Trump says litteraly. We all know its propaganda and spin. Well, the OT is the same kind of text. It's mostly self agrandising propaganda by whoever happens to be in charge of the temple of Jerusalem

 

[steve_bank]

 

[Thomas II]

Norse Mythology and Religion

 

[DrZoidberg]

Norse Mythology and Religion

That's an excellent video. But he does highlight the biggest problem with recreating Norse paganism, and that is that most of our sources are from Christian converts slagging off paganism. There's a lot we don't know.

 

[DrZoidberg]

One factor that is often left out when talking about the vikings, or the relationship between the horse riding tribes and the romans or farmers is the discrepancy in wealth. The farming communities where a hell of a lot wealthier. The vikings and the tribesmen of the plains were eeking out a meagre existence on the brink of starvation in an inhospitable region.

Basically, desperate people do desperate things. If you are often faced with starvation, and your neighbours are (relatively) fat and wealthy, this will shape your morals, and lifestyle. It will shape the religion to serve their needs.

What pushed viktings toward becoming Christian was that they wanted access to the inner Christian market. The Roman empire had free(ish) trade internally, and this tradition was upheld in the Christian nations that were created in its demise. It was simply a better deal to live in peace and trade than raid. So that's what they did. But it did take a long time before the viking behaviour stopped. They were utter utter scumbags and would routinely enter into agreements they would break given the first opportunity. The Normans behaviour in Sicily and the Byzantine empire is a good example.