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Iceland to build first temple to Norse gods since Viking age
- tellarin 12y agoIt's interesting to see how much Christianity changed Scandinavia by suppressing parts of the culture, while at the same time so many symbols remains. From the maypole to wishing my relatives God Jul. :)
- Grazester 12y agoInteresting that you mention the maypole. In the Caribbean the tinier islands(The Grenadines) that still follow some older European customs burst out the maypole for weddings and in other festival seasons.
- Swizec 12y agoFun fact, in Slovenia we also use maypoles for weddings. Mostly in rural areas though.
- arethuza 12y agoI had no idea the use of the maypole was quite so widespread - I thought it was a particularly English thing. I've never encountered any reference to them here in Scotland.
- gurkendoktor 12y agoIt's a thing even in Northern Germany, which usually isn't very traditional.
- mhd 12y agoAnd it's even bigger in the more Catholic parts (ex-pagan symbols often didn't sure survive the Reformation and its sola scriptura ideal). Although there's more larceny and alcohol involved than dancing with ribbons. But while we're talking about stealing things, I think this went in several directions, with lots of Norse views and figures being influenced by other religions, including Christianity. Vikings and their sagas aren't exactly ancient.
- arethuza 12y agoSpeaking about Vikings and ancient stuff, the Maeshowe tomb on Orkney has a lot of entertaining Viking graffiti left after a group of warriors sheltered there from a snowstorm: http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/maeshowe/maeshrunes.htm http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/maeshowe/maeshrunes.htm [At almost 5000 years old Maeshowe definitely qualifies as ancient.]
- maibaum 12y agoMe neither, and its my last name!
- frik 12y agoA maypole is a tradition in several countries: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maypole#Germany_and_Austria http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maypole#Germany_and_Austria
- runarberg 12y agoActually, pagans (at least some) celebrate jól during the solstice (december 21). Christianity plus the Gregorian calendar moved it 4 days to late.
- CmonDev 12y agoMust be that TV series - quite a boost for national pride.
- gaius 12y agoNot to mention the Avengers movies.
- jitix 12y agoAnd Skyrim
- bad_user 12y agoWhat TV series?
- CmonDev 12y agoVikings
- Jtsummers 12y agoVikings [1]. I haven't watched it, heard mixed reviews from friends. Critics seem to like it though, and it gets good viewership numbers. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vikings_(TV_series) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vikings_(TV_series)
- MrJagil 12y agoIt's rather historically accurate (though it's build on a legendary figure[1]), and is a good cool-down show for you and your loved one, when Game of Thrones ends since it's in a similar universe. I'd definitely recommend it. If nothing else, I feel they capture the mindset well, speaking as a Dane. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ragnar_Lodbrok http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ragnar_Lodbrok
- rotinomlled 12y agoVikings, the TV series, has nothing to do with Iceland. So it has not boosted our national pride. The thing is that the 'Ásatrúarfélagið' has always been quite visible over here. I've always seen it as a "rebel"-religion over here. EDIT: after writing this I realize your comment was probably sarcastic :)
- B5geek 12y agoI would go there just for that!
- imjk 12y agoI wouldn't be surprised if this is a ploy by Iceland's official tourism bureau. They're quite savvy and very in tune with popular culture. Check out one of their official videos: http://vimeo.com/12236680 http://vimeo.com/12236680. BTW, I've been to Iceland and it really is a cool place.
- k-mcgrady 12y agoIt would be interesting if religion was 'repurposed' eventually in this way. Without getting into a 'does God exist debate' it would be interesting if people who were, for example Christian, that decided there was no God took the good parts of the religion (peace, forgiveness, some of the rituals etc.) and created a branch of it. Maybe it's already been done?
- CapitalistCartr 12y agoThat sounds like the Unitarians. At least all the ones I've met.
- StevePerkins 12y agoIndeed. Although my experience has been that without a common theological dogma holding a congregation together, UU's end up substituting political dogma for the same purpose. In other words, church services are basically MoveOn.org rallies with hymnals. If you're not a radical leftist then you will eventually find yourself lonely and burned out, because the worship of radical leftist political opinion IS their faith. I'm not entirely sure that you CAN have something like a church congregation without some "glue" for social cohesion. I don't think that "Just be nice" is sufficient. Whether it's a shared dogma, or some shared activity, or (perhaps most effective of all) a shared enemy... groups seem to need a strong purpose in order to endure over the long-haul.
- VLM 12y agoFrom what I've seen its a moderate international alignment. The US two party system provides a far-right choice and an ultra-extremist-right choice. This is a little too international for some to handle, or you can think about it as they're not modifying their message to fit local culture, which probably doesn't help recruitment. Its a big world, and the sermons posted on the local church website here, might have little appeal to the attendees of your local church. From the transcript of the MLK sermon at my local UU church: "We just heard words from Dr. King, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.” I have always found a profound parallel between that quote and the seventh principle of the Unitarian Universalist Association – that we affirm and promote respect for the interdependent web of all life, of which we are a part. Sighing with relief because I am not being treated unjustly is not an adequate response for a Unitarian Universalist when so many are forced to go without what they need." Its not exactly "workers of the world unite" or "eat the rich", then again its not the contemporary "Christian" message of "let them eat cake". I admit I am intensely biased, if I were legally forced to join / attend a church it would almost certainly be this one.
- ExpiredLink 12y ago> We see the stories as poetic metaphors and a manifestation of the forces of nature and human psychology. A perfect religion for atheists.