They knew it was going to happen, they just didn’t quite get the details right…
Ragnarok, the end of the gods in Norse Mythology, is an incredibly bleak concept when you compare it to most modern religions. The final showdown between good and evil in apocalyptic Biblical texts shares many common themes and qualities with Ragnarok, though why this is so is something of a debate. The major difference between the two is that unlike the ultimate victory of good in the Bible, the gods of Asgard fail to prevent the end of the world as foretold by the seeress that Odin visits in the poem, Voluspa. Though they fail and most of the major figures are slain in the final battle with the monstrous minions of chaos, some later versions of the story end on a note of hope. The giants and their allies win the battle, the world is eventually submerged in water and darkness settles upon the world, but two humans survive in a forest and produce many offspring. The sun is devoured by Skoll, one of Fenrir’s sons, but she produces a daughter who takes her place and warms the world again after the Fimbulvetr, the devastatingly long winter that precedes and then accompanies the end times.
Some interpretations of the story include a Christ-like resurrection of the god Balder, the most beautiful and kind-hearted god in the Norse pantheon, after the end though this is certainly an interpretation made by Christian scholars.
However, the primary source for attestations of Ragnarok is the poem Voluspa and that particular version contains the most grim telling of the story, wherein the gods and the world are simply destroyed. It ends with the mighty dragon Nidhoggr flying through the air with corpses in his jaws before the volva ends her prophecy. Not a very nice or uplifting ending, but probably the one that the Norse people knew before the coming of Christianity.
It is somewhat amusing to see that the end of the Norse gods was caused, not by monstrous beings and chaotic warfare, but by the coming of a new religion and the story of a peaceful shepherd. Followers of the Old Way resisted the coming of Christianity with ferocity for quite some time and the Vikings were a terror for churches and Christians throughout Europe during the Viking Age. During much of this time, from the 8th to the 12th centuries, Christians worked to convert the Norse people, sometimes by force and sometimes through proselytism, but faced an uphill battle trying to convey the full extent of their religious beliefs to Scandinavian peoples. The Norse religion and mythologies were part of an entire way of life for communities living in these regions. Their spiritual traditions and beliefs often went hand in hand with concepts of law, property, warfare, and familial bonds that were called into question by the coming of this new religion. Many of the ideas found in Christian religion were completely foreign to the Norse people and though certain areas converted to Christianity in name, they still held on to many of their old beliefs. It took generations for the full extent of Christian religion to be accepted by the Scandinavians.
Ironically, though it is Christianity that ended up replacing the Norse religion, it is also thanks to Christian scholars (in particular, Snori Sturluson) that so much of it has been preserved. Though some of the materials have been influenced by the Christian viewpoint when recording them, we have been fortunate to be able to piece together and learn so much about this robust and interesting religion and its mythologies from them and from archaeological sources.
As such, Christianity ended up being a primary player in both the death and resurrection of the Norse myths!
Well it’s not like it went all peaceful, what with Charlemagne converting the Saxons sword in hand…
Let’s not forget St. Olaf.
Going with the Christian tradition to force any scientific discovery into ones worldview (e.g. Big Bang = fiat lux)m I’d say the Vikings were right in predicting the Fimbulvetr, i.e. the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_death_of_the_universe
“Ironically, though it is Christianity that replaced the Norse religion, it is also thanks to Christian scholars (in particular, Snori Sturluson) that so much of it has been preserved.”
I’d say this is less ironically than neceassary whenever we go through a coultural bottleneck, where were is only on lawful interpretation of reality, see e.g. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porphyry_%28philosopher%29#Against_the_Christians_.28Adversus_Christianos.29
Keep in mind that Christianity did not “replace” the Norse religion. Beliefs never end so cleanly. Many Norsemen retained their native beliefs in spite of their Christianity, so there was a long period where the two systems existed simultaneously–creating a sort of hybrid belief system.
Historians (traditionally Christian historians) like to paint history in bold strokes, and like to label (for example) Harald Bluetooth as the person who “Christianized” the Danes. He even erected a stone monument proclaiming the fact. Thing is, Denmark was only “Christianized” insofar as its King claimed to be a Christian because it was politically expedient, and as is always the case, the philosophies of kings have little affect on their subjects. Traditional Norse ceremonies, for example, are known to have persisted for several centuries in Denmark after Blueetooth’s “Christianized” everyone.
Just to add to your comment, I believe, as late as the 13th century, there are anecdotes from Scandinavian monks complaining about the ‘weak faith of the peasants’ or something and how they would be good Christians in times of prosperity, but be quick to return to paganism in times of trouble.
I love when this comic teaches me so many new things 🙂
To specify, the tale of Voluspa is found with Snorri Sturlusson’s Poetic Edda, the primary source we have for Norse mythology (due to the fact that the Norse really didn’t write until the Christians came near the end of the Viking era).
I’ve been reading this comic for years but never commented yet.
just wanted to thank you; for your great sense of humor and comic making, your art and your knowledge! this sure is one fun way to learn about mythology and history! 🙂
Awesome, as ever!
On a sidenote I would like to say that there are still people here in Sweden today that practice “The old way” or as it is called in Swedish, Forn sed. It is essentially the same norse religion with the same practices of rituals and holidays of the old religion.
By and large Scandinavia is comprised of a couple of very secular countries though.
jebus is such a jerk
A cute comic and a great little write up!
Heh. “Peaceful”
I’d say Nidhoggr is a fairly good interpretation of the Christian faith itself. A drone might look like something of a dragon to someone from that era, and it certainly “flies through the air with corpses in its teeth”.
The old ways aren’t dead. Not only are there those who have continued honoring the old gods in Scandinavia as another commenter mentioned, there are many of us in the U.S. as well. It’s one of the fastest growing faiths in the world.
Heathen and proud. Hail!
It’s a bit of a stretch on a good day to thank the Christians for preserving so much of the old ways. Considering they burned the bulk of it. Or to say that the Nordic world didn’t end in the Chaos of Warfare, the Northern Crusades weren’t exactly a kiss on the cheek. Like everywhere they go the Christians brought only hatred, death and the destruction of long existing cultures, then took what they would of the bones and entrails to decorate their own barren faith and culture with. Now that was a war on Christmas.
I spit on the story of the peaceful shephard. Pity the Romans didn’t stomp that accursed faith out entirely.
It’s also very much in question whether or not Snorri was a Christian or not. The man was educated and learned, but he wasn’t a monk like some Christian sources try to make him out to be, even Wiki will tell you that.
So yes, the era of the Nordic faith being dominant in it’s native lands did end in Chaotic Warfare, and the under the machinations of monstrous beings. There’s really nothing else to call Christian leaders of last two millennia but monsters.
This web comic boasts the most sophisticated comment sectioby of anywhere on the Internet!
“Fastest growing faith” = one person of the faith converts a friend. DOUBLES IN SIZE OVERNIGHT!(Clearly pagan war god worshipping thugs don’t do math or they wouldn’t be so impressed with themselves.)
As for spitting on Him, do so at your own risk. Amen.
I imagine him and baldur skipping away into the sunset, elbows linked.