Different cultures in different time periods in history look at life in much different ways. In our present day Christian culture for example, the thought of blood, the sacrifice of animals at the Temple, and the general roles of men and women in the days when Christ Jesus was upon the earth...is hard to comprehend today. Hanging Christ along with 2 thieves on a Roman cross is very hard to relate to...in this day and age. Yet, these are historical acts...that really did happen!
On the History Channel's "The Vikings", the religion of their day was complex in some ways, yet plays a vital role in their desire to conquer new lands to the West.
So what exactly was the religion of these Vikings?...and why would a character like "Floki" be considered a religious man?
In the Norse religion, there were some vast differences in how one might look at life as compared to Christianity. Christianity was headed by the Roman church, and although the preaching of Christ was a "public announcement" to all peoples, within its walls were indications of personal wealth taken from the poor, control and manipulation of its own converts, and a general greed and selfishness that seemed almost arrogant in its advancement toward new and different cultures.
The Norse beliefs seemed a little more straight forward....those that embraced these beliefs made it clear...they were coming to raid, take your possessions, and destroy you and your way of life. In an almost abstract way, the Norse religion had a more innocent and direct approach toward men....they were not a people who were covered in a religious and pompous aire promising heavenly rewards...they simply were out to conquer. and the thing about the Norse beliefs...they believed their gods approved.
A character like "Floki" exemplified the Norse religion...and was a "type of priest" in his own right. He strictly adhered to the pleasing of his gods, and became upset when a fellow member of his tribe or clan would compromise with other religious beliefs...such as Christendom....including Ragnar or his brother Rollo.
The Vikings actually came into contact with Christianity in both real life history as well as the series on the History Channel through...through Roman catholic monasteries...which were almost like outposts in areas like Gaul and the British Isles, far away from their homeland in Rome.
The thing about these monasteries are they became "ripe pickings" for the Vikings during a raiding season, because monasteries were often a place of wealth...and poorly defended.
But, with all the pure and yet deceitful motives the Roman church displayed, eventually Christianity did have an effect on the Vikings. For although treachery was common within the Roman church, there were also those Christian believers who acted out and lived the true message of the Gospel, and affected the culture of the Vikings and their Norse beliefs.
To a Viking...the greatest honor a man could have was to die heroically in battle...to a point that is what you lived for...to die and be granted into the "Valhalla", a festive hall where Viking comrades were gathered to join in an ageless and endless life of festivity.
The Norse religion the Vikings adhered to was a rather complex one, and gave room to add tales and stories within the confines of their religious views...similar to Christianity.
There was YGGDRASEL, represented by an ash tree that binds the 9 worlds of Viking mythology.
To the Vikings like Floki and Ragnar, there was the Asgard...the home of their gods.
Odin was the chief Viking god who had sacrificed his very eye to acquire an "all-knowing" type knowledge that the Viking warriors would depend on for guidance. Odin had a wife named Frigg, and Odin was considered an All-Father...the god of warfare, of justice, death, wisdom,...and even poetry.
There were numerous other gods the Vikings looked to while in "Midgard", the realm where humans live, including Thor. Thor was a son of Odin who was considered ruler of the sky and his domain included thunder, lightning, and snow. Thor was not known for being remarkably smart, but did yield his might hammer, the "Miollir", which was quite powerful when used, disrupting and often shattering an area or objects when landed. It was said Thor's hammer was crafted by dwarfs.
Freyr was another god of Norse Mythology who was the ruler of rain, sun, harvest, and fertility.
Speaking of fertility, Frigg, Odin's wife and queen of Asgard, was called upon by women for help at childbirth.
And then there was Loki, the "trickster god" of Norse mythology. He was actually a "shape shifter", and could be at times an aid to the other gods...and yet other times hinder the outcomes of what the other gods had proclaimed.
In the 9th world, there was a place called "Hel". It was a place where Vikings who had died would go...if they had not died heroically in battle, and would await their outcome.
Norse religion have some distinct characteristics of that of Christianity, and gave room for numerous interpretations as well.
Yet, with all the "muddle" of bias thoughts and bizarre beliefs, history also indicates this Man from Galilee did reach the hearts of the Viking people.
One thing both Christianity and the Norse religion seem to agree...there is an afterlife, and what we do in this life...determines how we will enter the afterlife. This life here on earth, the Midgard as described in Norse mythology...is a rather short one, yet a life that craves for a joy...a happiness to look forward to....and for Christians, that yearning is not found in simply conquering others, whether it be participating in a "Raiding Season", or as in some Christian proclamations.... by manipulating others to give their lives to the Church...in order to control and use them for personal gain.
Saint Paul speaks along these lines in his letter to the Corinthians. Paul himself had been a "type of Viking", raiding, capturing, and attempting to destroy the people who had accepted the Christian faith....going by the name of Saul at that time.
Now, Paul has given some final thoughts on what being Christian means to him:
A Gleaning from 1 Corinthians 2:2
" My friends, when I first come to you, and shared with each of you the "Mystery of our Faith", the evidence of how God has now brought salvation and the joy of eternal life...all made possible through Christ Jesus, His only Son.... I didn't use big words, make empty promises, speak of tales I was not sure were even true, or make promises of rewards in the afterlife that would allow me to control your lives based on what I say.
I decided long ago, when He first appeared to me...that I really know nothing about life....life in the past, life in the present, or in the life to come. Yet, there is one thing...seared in my conscious and serves me well in my everyday thoughts: Jesus Christ is the Messiah...and He was crucified, being nailed to a cross...and He did so...for you and for me."
So, as I continue to enjoy the Viking series on the History Channel, and watch the characters of Floki and Ragnar evolve...I begin to realize...who is it we all seem to be searching for...Odin?...Thor?...or was Saint Paul right....is Jesus the One?
On the History Channel's "The Vikings", the religion of their day was complex in some ways, yet plays a vital role in their desire to conquer new lands to the West.
So what exactly was the religion of these Vikings?...and why would a character like "Floki" be considered a religious man?
In the Norse religion, there were some vast differences in how one might look at life as compared to Christianity. Christianity was headed by the Roman church, and although the preaching of Christ was a "public announcement" to all peoples, within its walls were indications of personal wealth taken from the poor, control and manipulation of its own converts, and a general greed and selfishness that seemed almost arrogant in its advancement toward new and different cultures.
The Norse beliefs seemed a little more straight forward....those that embraced these beliefs made it clear...they were coming to raid, take your possessions, and destroy you and your way of life. In an almost abstract way, the Norse religion had a more innocent and direct approach toward men....they were not a people who were covered in a religious and pompous aire promising heavenly rewards...they simply were out to conquer. and the thing about the Norse beliefs...they believed their gods approved.
A character like "Floki" exemplified the Norse religion...and was a "type of priest" in his own right. He strictly adhered to the pleasing of his gods, and became upset when a fellow member of his tribe or clan would compromise with other religious beliefs...such as Christendom....including Ragnar or his brother Rollo.
The thing about these monasteries are they became "ripe pickings" for the Vikings during a raiding season, because monasteries were often a place of wealth...and poorly defended.
But, with all the pure and yet deceitful motives the Roman church displayed, eventually Christianity did have an effect on the Vikings. For although treachery was common within the Roman church, there were also those Christian believers who acted out and lived the true message of the Gospel, and affected the culture of the Vikings and their Norse beliefs.
To a Viking...the greatest honor a man could have was to die heroically in battle...to a point that is what you lived for...to die and be granted into the "Valhalla", a festive hall where Viking comrades were gathered to join in an ageless and endless life of festivity.
The Norse religion the Vikings adhered to was a rather complex one, and gave room to add tales and stories within the confines of their religious views...similar to Christianity.
There was YGGDRASEL, represented by an ash tree that binds the 9 worlds of Viking mythology.
To the Vikings like Floki and Ragnar, there was the Asgard...the home of their gods.
Odin was the chief Viking god who had sacrificed his very eye to acquire an "all-knowing" type knowledge that the Viking warriors would depend on for guidance. Odin had a wife named Frigg, and Odin was considered an All-Father...the god of warfare, of justice, death, wisdom,...and even poetry.
There were numerous other gods the Vikings looked to while in "Midgard", the realm where humans live, including Thor. Thor was a son of Odin who was considered ruler of the sky and his domain included thunder, lightning, and snow. Thor was not known for being remarkably smart, but did yield his might hammer, the "Miollir", which was quite powerful when used, disrupting and often shattering an area or objects when landed. It was said Thor's hammer was crafted by dwarfs.
Freyr was another god of Norse Mythology who was the ruler of rain, sun, harvest, and fertility.
Speaking of fertility, Frigg, Odin's wife and queen of Asgard, was called upon by women for help at childbirth.
And then there was Loki, the "trickster god" of Norse mythology. He was actually a "shape shifter", and could be at times an aid to the other gods...and yet other times hinder the outcomes of what the other gods had proclaimed.
In the 9th world, there was a place called "Hel". It was a place where Vikings who had died would go...if they had not died heroically in battle, and would await their outcome.
Norse religion have some distinct characteristics of that of Christianity, and gave room for numerous interpretations as well.
Yet, with all the "muddle" of bias thoughts and bizarre beliefs, history also indicates this Man from Galilee did reach the hearts of the Viking people.
One thing both Christianity and the Norse religion seem to agree...there is an afterlife, and what we do in this life...determines how we will enter the afterlife. This life here on earth, the Midgard as described in Norse mythology...is a rather short one, yet a life that craves for a joy...a happiness to look forward to....and for Christians, that yearning is not found in simply conquering others, whether it be participating in a "Raiding Season", or as in some Christian proclamations.... by manipulating others to give their lives to the Church...in order to control and use them for personal gain.
Saint Paul speaks along these lines in his letter to the Corinthians. Paul himself had been a "type of Viking", raiding, capturing, and attempting to destroy the people who had accepted the Christian faith....going by the name of Saul at that time.
Now, Paul has given some final thoughts on what being Christian means to him:
A Gleaning from 1 Corinthians 2:2
" My friends, when I first come to you, and shared with each of you the "Mystery of our Faith", the evidence of how God has now brought salvation and the joy of eternal life...all made possible through Christ Jesus, His only Son.... I didn't use big words, make empty promises, speak of tales I was not sure were even true, or make promises of rewards in the afterlife that would allow me to control your lives based on what I say.
I decided long ago, when He first appeared to me...that I really know nothing about life....life in the past, life in the present, or in the life to come. Yet, there is one thing...seared in my conscious and serves me well in my everyday thoughts: Jesus Christ is the Messiah...and He was crucified, being nailed to a cross...and He did so...for you and for me."
So, as I continue to enjoy the Viking series on the History Channel, and watch the characters of Floki and Ragnar evolve...I begin to realize...who is it we all seem to be searching for...Odin?...Thor?...or was Saint Paul right....is Jesus the One?
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