Viking Religion: From Norse Gods to Christianity

The influence of the Viking religion on Norway stretches back many centuries and has had a profound effect on local beliefs and traditions. The history of this one is intertwined with tales of ancient Norse deities, but it is important to note that it was the Vikings who brought Christianity to this country, laying the foundations for a new religious paradigm. This unique historical event had a significant impact on Norwegian society and culture. Talking about this period of history means diving into a distant past full of mysteries and interesting facts.

Modern researchers reject the idea of the early Vikings as ardent enemies of Christianity. Although they held pagan beliefs, attacks on churches were likely motivated by lust for booty rather than religious animosity. For the Vikings, churches and monasteries were attractive targets because of their lack of security and wealth.

Viking religion is the worship of various gods, which may explain why some of them were quick to embrace the Christian faith. Let's take a closer look at what we know and what we assume about Viking religion and the acceptance of new ideas in this culture.

Old Norse beliefs

Ancient Norse paganism represents a complex and mysterious part of history that we know little about because it has been little recorded. However, the mythology and beliefs of the Norse people permeated all areas of their lives, becoming a way of life rather than just a religion. The concept of religion as we understand it today was shaped by the influence of Christianity, brought to Scandinavia later.

Although pagan rituals and beliefs are mentioned in the Viking sagas, these sagas were recorded much later, after Christianity had been adopted. This leaves much room for interpretation as to how these stories may have been altered or distorted over time.

Despite the great diversity of the Vikings who lived over a vast area, they perceived themselves as part of a unified whole with other speakers of Old Norse in Northern Europe. Their pre-Christian beliefs shared many common features, uniting them ecologically, economically and culturally.

Like the Greeks and Romans, the Vikings worshipped a multitude of gods. Odin, the god of wisdom, poetry and war, Thor, the god of thunder, and the goddesses Freyr and Freya, who were responsible for fertility, were just a few of them enshrined in their beliefs.

The Vikings sailed far

The Vikings, through their raids on the British Isles and other lands, encountered and came into closer contact with the Christian world. Although they largely retained their own pagan beliefs, political pressures forced them to turn to Christianity in order to establish peaceful relations.

Christians refused to trade with the pagans, so many Vikings were forced to undergo a form of "temporary baptism" in order to continue their trading relationships. This did not imply full acceptance of Christianity, but merely showed a willingness to accept it under certain conditions. This was enough to continue trading.

When Christianity came to Norway

The story of Olav Tryggvason's return to Norway with Christianity on board is well known, but in fact Christianity had already begun to spread in Scandinavia long before this, albeit on a limited scale.

As early as 725 attempts were made to bring Scandinavia into Christianity. The Anglo-Saxon saint Willibrord led a mission to Denmark, where Christians and worshippers of the ancient Scandinavian gods lived side by side, and both Christian artefacts and objects associated with pagan beliefs could be purchased at market stalls.

An attempt to introduce Christianity was also made by Håkon the Good around 950. However, he had to abandon the idea because of the possible loss of support from the pagan chieftains.

Olav Tryggvason's return to Norway in 995 stirred up public opinion and was the beginning of a large-scale adoption of Christianity. Although the first official Christian mass was held on the island of Moster, full acceptance of the religion took about 35 years.

Archaeological evidence confirms that the process of adopting Christianity in Norway was gradual, and depended on the decision of the local chiefs in each settlement.

The introduction of Christianity in Norway was a longer and more complex process than many people assume. The reasons for this protracted assimilation of the new Viking religion remain a mystery. Perhaps there was rivalry between Christianity and traditional beliefs, or perhaps people were trying to avoid conflict and maintain peace between the old and new deities.

Historic churches in Norway, built in the twelfth century and later, have preserved amazing details of carvings on staffs on which Christian and Viking symbols are intertwined. This unusual combination of symbols fascinates researchers and church visitors.

Many of these churches have roofs adorned with dragon images, and the interior portals are striking and intricately carved, telling old legends and stories. For example, the oldest church in Norway with the staff of Urnes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is famous for its magnificent carved panel on the north wall depicting a snake attacking and being attacked by another animal.

The church's Romanesque basilica, as well as its unique carvings, is a significant example of how traditional Norse symbols combine with Christian influences from the Middle Ages.

This long period of overlapping cultural influences is also reflected in cemeteries across Britain, where many Scandinavians lived. Some ancient gravestones display both Thor's hammer and the Christian cross, symbolising the diversity of beliefs and cultural heritage of the Viking religion during this period of history.

Coins tell a story

An interesting fact about the Viking-era coins in York is that they bear the name of St Peter, but if you look closely you'll find that the last letter "EU" in the word "PETRI" is actually a representation of Thor's hammer.

The York Museum Trust points out that some of the coins from the Ria provide interesting clues as to how Viking rulers interacted with or ignored the Christian church:

 "For example, the Jorvik king Olaf Sihtriksson, expressing his warlike independence, often used his titular title in Old Norse on his coins. In turn, Erik Bladex, the last Viking king in York, depicted a Viking sword on his coins, symbolising his military might. However, after he left the city, these coins were no longer used."

A constant mix of old and new

In his book Scandinavian Religions in the Viking Age, Thomas A. Dubois takes us into a complex world of beliefs that evolved over the centuries. He points out that both before and after Christianisation, communities and individuals formed their own interpretations of religion, including their deities, rituals and cosmological views, to explain their place in the world.

New ideas were introduced into these beliefs by economic and cultural changes, but the old concepts were still significant. "Viking religion at any given moment in time and space can thus be seen as an artefact of the past while reflecting modernity."