Norway, whose religion is legally connected with the state, and about 83% of the population are members of the state Lutheran church, is not part of countries with truly religious traditions. According to opinion polls, only 20% of the population allocate religion a significant place in their lives. In the country of wild and powerful Vikings, ancient cults and beliefs are still strong.
The main religion in Norway
The Protestant Christian movement aimed at combating the abuses committed by the ministers of the papal church arose in the 16th century in Germany. Protestants were led by a Catholic priest Martin Luther. A new religious movement, which arose later, is named after him. The basic principles of Lutheran teachings are set forth in the Book of Concord and are approximately as follows:
- No labors other than mercy can earn God's mercy.
- Atonement is provided only by true faith.
- Of all the scriptures, only the Bible is important.
- Lutherans venerate all saints, but worship only God.
The followers of Luther recognize only the sacrament of baptism and communion, the ministers of the church are perceived as preachers and do not rise above the rest of the laity. Divine services in these churches are accompanied by organ music and choral performance.
Lutheranism as a religion was unexpectedly widespread in Europe, and penetrated into North America. The language group and religion of Norway are related to the inhabitants of Germany, Austria, Scandinavia, Finland, and the Baltic states.
History of Christianity in Norway
The indigenous inhabitants of Scandinavia, in particular Norway, are the tribes of Germans, strong and powerful warriors - the Vikings. They sacredly worshiped their beliefs. The attempts of missionaries and Norwegian kings to consolidate Christianity in the 10th century ended in failure. It was not only Norway that burned with fire - religion became the cause of civil war in all Scandinavian countries. The Vikings burned churches and monasteries, killed ministers and missionaries.
Christianity took root in Norway only in the XII century, when the country became part of Catholic Denmark through the efforts of a certain Olaf II. After the Danish king Christian III joined the Lutheran beliefs, this trend became the main here.
Features of the Viking religion
What religion in Norway has resisted Christianity for so long? For a long time, the Viking gods were prototypes of the basic forces of nature, good and evil. Mythical elves, gnomes, Valkyries and other pagan symbols accompanied the inhabitants of the northern country from birth to death, however, like all Scandinavians. The epos of the ancient Vikings spread far beyond the borders of the country, their myths and legends became the subject of study and a real monument of ancient literature. Scandinavian fortune-telling, horoscopes, runes still excite the minds of lovers of the supernatural.
There were many gods, according to legend, once upon a time they fought, then made a truce and began to rule the world of people.
Sami religion
Sami shamanistic beliefs are another Norwegian pre-Christian religion. Briefly about this, one can say this: worship of all kinds of fishing spirits. Saami - tribes of reindeer herders that inhabit the northern regions of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Karelia. Spirits of hunting, fishing, reindeer husbandry rule the ball in the life of the Sami settlements to this day. Strong worship of ancestral spirits and sacred stones. Ministers of worship are shamans.
State and religion
Modern Norway, the religion of which is officially enshrined in the Constitution, is a Christian country. The Lutheran Church influences the political and everyday foundations of society. The same Basic Law prescribes the mandatory membership of the state church of monarchs and most of the members of parliament. In turn, the state controls the appointment of senior officials of the church leadership. In Norwegian schools, which are funded by the church on a par with the state, the subject of the “foundations of the Christian religion” is included in the list of basic and compulsory disciplines from the first classes of elementary school.
Despite such a close relationship between church and state, Norwegians cannot be called a very religious people. Most citizens admit only formal observance of membership and basic obligatory rites, only 5% attend worship services weekly, and about 40% admit that they do not attend them at all.
Gentiles in Norway
Despite the fact that there is an official state church in this country, freedom of religion is also enshrined in the Constitution. Citizens of other religious faiths make up a small group, but get along peacefully with Lutherans and are not oppressed on the basis of religion. Children from families with different beliefs are allowed to not attend God's Law classes. Of the Christian trends in Norway, communities of Orthodox, Catholics, Baptists, Protestants are registered. Emigrants from Muslim countries make up a small (about 2%) group of Muslims. Gentiles are allowed to have their own temples and conduct worship services freely. Even a small Muslim community has opened its mosque in the capital of the state of Oslo.
Norway: religion in attractions
The main historical and religious shrine of Norwegian Lutherans is St. Olav's Cathedral in Oslo.
The decoration of the unique area and the real works of wooden architecture of this region are the numerous small wooden churches or stavkiri preserved from antiquity.
Architectural monuments include the Lutheran Nidaros Cathedral, the Arctic Temple. The beliefs of the pagan Vikings are carefully protected in the form of historical places. In Norway there is even a Troll Park.