I’ve been watching History Channel’s Vikings on Netflix of late.
The Vikings (Danes, Swedes, Norse, Goths, Geats, etc. The Scandinavians) came roaring into Europe shortly after the Christian Frankish Empire achieved its apex under Charlemagne.
While the Christians fought the Muslim Moors in Spain and Italy, and the Wends and Slavs in the marches of Eastern Europe, the Vikings sailed on Dragons out of the north, conquering England, Ireland, and sacking the cities of Western Europe on a routine basis.
They were fearsome pagans, worshiping Gods like Odin, Thor, Baldr, Heimdall, Frey, Sif, etc. And they believed in glory through battle. The afterlife for a glorious Norse warrior who died in battle was to ascend to the halls of Asgard, accompanied by Valkyries, and believed that in the glory of their Lord, they would battle each day, and feast each night, until the end of days at Ragnarok.
The Christians believed the end times were upon them.
They found “the White Christ” of the foes they defeated… pathetic. What kind of God dies meek and mild? Has temples without guards, where worshippers put down their weapons? Priests who are encouraged pray and write? These Christian Saxons and Franks were fat cows ready for plundering and slaughter!
But… history shows us… the Vikings eventually converted. Their sagas and faith were preserved by Christian monks… but Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Normandy, England… all became Christian lands.
And keep in mind that in the age before liberal foofery… Christians strictly believed this about other faiths:
“19 What do I imply then? That food sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?”–1 Corinthians 10:19-22
So… if you were a Christian monk/abbot/priest in 900s Western Europe… dealing with the Norse raiders who came like fresh grass every spring… what case would you make to them to convert? Why should a Northman, a fierce follower of the Aesir, be baptized in the name of the White Christ, and accept your faith?
(And, incidently, I know of at least two pagans on these boards: can you make sure these ‘Christians’ are given a run for their money?)
Sir Tainley