Why did the Vikings become Christians
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Date: 2026-01-23
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Comments and reviews: 20
andykaufman7620
I already know the answer: it is ultimately down to the fact Christianity secured lines of inheritance for Kingship, rather than the Nordic way of competition that often was brutal for lines of succession, along with the power of one religion and crown that made the nation state strong, like we see with the Anglo Saxons. The first Viking noble to adopt Christianity did so then for benefits like this, just like the first nation outside the Roman empire, Ethiopia, did so for economic links and trade, among other reasons. Meaning, it is for reasons outside of personal faith on the part of some leader why they ultimately convert, but understand with that, as they then also adopted lack of religious freedom so individual people of these kingdoms, tribes and states did not have (or lost) the right of individual religious freedom. The religion becomes a state religion, an official one linked with the state itself as the state is the Royal family and aristocracy itself. Gone are individuals who choose not to worship in that manner, unless they do so secretly and privately only.
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I already know the answer: it is ultimately down to the fact Christianity secured lines of inheritance for Kingship, rather than the Nordic way of competition that often was brutal for lines of succession, along with the power of one religion and crown that made the nation state strong, like we see with the Anglo Saxons. The first Viking noble to adopt Christianity did so then for benefits like this, just like the first nation outside the Roman empire, Ethiopia, did so for economic links and trade, among other reasons. Meaning, it is for reasons outside of personal faith on the part of some leader why they ultimately convert, but understand with that, as they then also adopted lack of religious freedom so individual people of these kingdoms, tribes and states did not have (or lost) the right of individual religious freedom. The religion becomes a state religion, an official one linked with the state itself as the state is the Royal family and aristocracy itself. Gone are individuals who choose not to worship in that manner, unless they do so secretly and privately only.
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Matt79x
The power of Christianity is it swapped constant animal sacrifice for a singular sacrifice. Buddhism had the same effect on Hinduism. There was also a focal shift to love and compassion.
So in other words, there was an energy shift happening to humanity towards higher frequency behaviors and that was physically encapsulated in new religious reform movements across the globe independently.
And today we are shifting away from religious structures to more secular principles that share a similar framework but are not FROM religion but are FROM the same underlying higher energy frequency that carried and amplified the religions.
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The power of Christianity is it swapped constant animal sacrifice for a singular sacrifice. Buddhism had the same effect on Hinduism. There was also a focal shift to love and compassion.
So in other words, there was an energy shift happening to humanity towards higher frequency behaviors and that was physically encapsulated in new religious reform movements across the globe independently.
And today we are shifting away from religious structures to more secular principles that share a similar framework but are not FROM religion but are FROM the same underlying higher energy frequency that carried and amplified the religions.
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knowledgia
Bjorn Andreas Bull-Hansen recently did a video from a Norwegian native perspective.
Essentially if the king’s men turned up to your neighbour’s farm and his family was found completely butchered shortly-afterwards; when those same men turn-up to your farm a few days later, and claim that they’re here to inquire as to wether or not you’re a Christianwhile they all simultaneously grip their sword handles in the most subtle manner possible; you reply that you’re the most Christian man in the entire country!
This is how it likely was for much of the Germanic world.
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Bjorn Andreas Bull-Hansen recently did a video from a Norwegian native perspective.
Essentially if the king’s men turned up to your neighbour’s farm and his family was found completely butchered shortly-afterwards; when those same men turn-up to your farm a few days later, and claim that they’re here to inquire as to wether or not you’re a Christianwhile they all simultaneously grip their sword handles in the most subtle manner possible; you reply that you’re the most Christian man in the entire country!
This is how it likely was for much of the Germanic world.
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yossariantango
The first mention of Thor (God of Thunder) was centuries after Denmark was fully Christian. What we now call norse mythology is actually a bunch of stories collected by Christian monks who had too much time on their hands. Prior to Christianity's documentation, there was no common set of beliefs that would fall under the moniker of the old ways. So it was impossible to have people unite under a common banner which is why the myriad of the old ways were replaced by a universal coherent belief system like Christianity.
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The first mention of Thor (God of Thunder) was centuries after Denmark was fully Christian. What we now call norse mythology is actually a bunch of stories collected by Christian monks who had too much time on their hands. Prior to Christianity's documentation, there was no common set of beliefs that would fall under the moniker of the old ways. So it was impossible to have people unite under a common banner which is why the myriad of the old ways were replaced by a universal coherent belief system like Christianity.
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knowledgia
Abrahamism ruins everything. The teachings from the Edda are much more mature and natural. That is why the abrahamists went after the European beliefs aka the European soul. Funny thing is catholicism is a syncretism that had to integrate local celebrations like Yule, Samhain and Beltain to acculturate locals. For the non-initiates, it's Christmas, Halloween and Easter. Now I will wait for an abrahamist to tell me I'm going to h3ll for telling the truth.
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Abrahamism ruins everything. The teachings from the Edda are much more mature and natural. That is why the abrahamists went after the European beliefs aka the European soul. Funny thing is catholicism is a syncretism that had to integrate local celebrations like Yule, Samhain and Beltain to acculturate locals. For the non-initiates, it's Christmas, Halloween and Easter. Now I will wait for an abrahamist to tell me I'm going to h3ll for telling the truth.
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philippedersen2411
It’s funny how atheist always tries to find excuses like social status, economic opportunity or forced conversion. While these factors undoubtedly played a role, it seems like they never ever consider the fact that some people might have converted simply because they liked the Christian message more, and the Christian explanation of the world made a lot more sense.
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It’s funny how atheist always tries to find excuses like social status, economic opportunity or forced conversion. While these factors undoubtedly played a role, it seems like they never ever consider the fact that some people might have converted simply because they liked the Christian message more, and the Christian explanation of the world made a lot more sense.
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lisan_al-ghaib
Would be nice if claims of truth are not opinionated. You keep labelling your opinion as true as if history was recorded perfectly and know the thoughts of people involved. What if the claims were true What if things didn't happen that way but just looked like it Better leave it open and give historians the benefit of the doubt.
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Would be nice if claims of truth are not opinionated. You keep labelling your opinion as true as if history was recorded perfectly and know the thoughts of people involved. What if the claims were true What if things didn't happen that way but just looked like it Better leave it open and give historians the benefit of the doubt.
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akmraid
any religion that promote conversions is a cult their main goal is make em all sing the same song and anyone who's a out lair be the evil, its more about control then faith, it rewards obedience and casts non-believers or dissenters as inherently evil. Once that line is crossed, meaningful dialogue becomes impossible.
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any religion that promote conversions is a cult their main goal is make em all sing the same song and anyone who's a out lair be the evil, its more about control then faith, it rewards obedience and casts non-believers or dissenters as inherently evil. Once that line is crossed, meaningful dialogue becomes impossible.
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divinesleeper
Again wrong on Inge, he surrounded his brother-in-laws house, burned the house to get him out, and the brother-in-law was killed in the subsequent fighting, not purposefully burned in his house. Just predictable at this point, every time I know that even some brief research softens what you put forward.
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Again wrong on Inge, he surrounded his brother-in-laws house, burned the house to get him out, and the brother-in-law was killed in the subsequent fighting, not purposefully burned in his house. Just predictable at this point, every time I know that even some brief research softens what you put forward.
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doctorpepsi8486
The problem I have with the answers of well they did it for trade or well they did it because of coercion is that those methods wouldn’t lead to actual conversion. It’s essentially answering the question of how did they convert with oh they didn’t. But they did convert. So, how
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The problem I have with the answers of well they did it for trade or well they did it because of coercion is that those methods wouldn’t lead to actual conversion. It’s essentially answering the question of how did they convert with oh they didn’t. But they did convert. So, how
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digvijayratnu5651
Defeated people now justifying why they were converted. It is simple, you were disorganised and these prophetic mafia religions such as Christianity were organised and brutal, so they won. All major polytheistic religions died that way. Somehow only Hinduism and Buddhism survived.
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Defeated people now justifying why they were converted. It is simple, you were disorganised and these prophetic mafia religions such as Christianity were organised and brutal, so they won. All major polytheistic religions died that way. Somehow only Hinduism and Buddhism survived.
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mountainben88
Norway was invaded by Christians and woman and children slaughtered. The battle the famous Erik the Red, father of Leif Eriksson who discovered Canada died in. A couple other fell from greedy kings being bribed with gold and treasure.
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Norway was invaded by Christians and woman and children slaughtered. The battle the famous Erik the Red, father of Leif Eriksson who discovered Canada died in. A couple other fell from greedy kings being bribed with gold and treasure.
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thalmoragent9344
Long story short, it became convenient. We did it because everyone else was doing it is basically what happened, and it wasn't a quick process either; Took multiple generations to convert all of Sweden
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Long story short, it became convenient. We did it because everyone else was doing it is basically what happened, and it wasn't a quick process either; Took multiple generations to convert all of Sweden
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rondenig9945
So Christian’s were so intolerant of others they would only trade and negotiate with other Christians Got it lmao Nords seem to just be doing the strategic thing. Convert or their way of life is gone.
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So Christian’s were so intolerant of others they would only trade and negotiate with other Christians Got it lmao Nords seem to just be doing the strategic thing. Convert or their way of life is gone.
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devnull1200
There is an error at 4: 50. Normandy at the time was a duchy, not a kingdom. Rollo had to swear fielty to Charles the Simple as all of his descendants, which is what led to the Hundred Years War
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There is an error at 4: 50. Normandy at the time was a duchy, not a kingdom. Rollo had to swear fielty to Charles the Simple as all of his descendants, which is what led to the Hundred Years War
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ghost21501
This type of Christianity is prophesied in the book of Revelation. A mix of faith and government. There's no such thing as a Christian nation. Only believers who comprise the bride of Christ.
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This type of Christianity is prophesied in the book of Revelation. A mix of faith and government. There's no such thing as a Christian nation. Only believers who comprise the bride of Christ.
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divinesleeper
stories of torture by Olaf were written 200 years later. Contemporary sources such as Adam of Bremen only mention fines. Once again detecting bias against christianity. Might unsub tbh.
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stories of torture by Olaf were written 200 years later. Contemporary sources such as Adam of Bremen only mention fines. Once again detecting bias against christianity. Might unsub tbh.
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knowledgia
Watching this makes me realize how much of the past is still waiting to be told. I’m on a mission to share world history from a different lens. Join me, and let’s be friends!
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Watching this makes me realize how much of the past is still waiting to be told. I’m on a mission to share world history from a different lens. Join me, and let’s be friends!
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SaltyGammon567
Wrong about almost everything. The reasons for their conversion, the territories on your map are wrong, and you don't even attempt to pronounce anything correctly.
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Wrong about almost everything. The reasons for their conversion, the territories on your map are wrong, and you don't even attempt to pronounce anything correctly.
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Beyonder1987
Spread of Christianity was quite brutal that many white peoples forget. Adoption of a semetic religion changed the culture that unfortunately maybe repeated again
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Spread of Christianity was quite brutal that many white peoples forget. Adoption of a semetic religion changed the culture that unfortunately maybe repeated again
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