Nordic Religions in the Viking Age (The Middle Ages Series) [Paperback]

Thomas DuBois (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0812217144 | ISBN-13: 978-0812217148 | Publication Date: August 3, 1999

The popular image of the Viking as a horn-helmeted berserker plying the ocean in a dragon-headed long boat is firmly fixed in history. Imagining Viking "conquerors" as much more numerous, technologically superior, and somehow inherently more warlike than their neighbors has overshadowed the cooperation and cultural exchange which characterized much of the Viking Age. In actuality, the Norse explorers and traders were players in a complex exchange of technology, customs, and religious beliefs between the ancient pre-Christian societies of northern Europe and the Christian-dominated nations surrounding the Mediterranean.

DuBois examines Anglo-Saxon, Celtic, and Mediterranean traditions to locate significant Nordic parallels in conceptions of supernatural beings, cults of the dead, beliefs in ghosts, and magical practices. These beliefs were actively held alongside Christianity for many years, and were finally incorporated into the vernacular religious practice. The Icelandic sagas reflect this complex process in their inclusion of both Christian and pagan details.

This work differs from previous examinations in its inclusion of the Christian thirteenth century as part of the evolution of Nordic religions from localized pagan cults to adherents of a larger Roman faith.

Thomas DuBois unravels for the first time the history of the Nordic religions in the Viking Age and shows how these ancient beliefs and their oral traditions incorporated both a myriad of local beliefs and aspects of foreign religions, most notably Christianity.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is a sophisticated, well-written, and convincing reconception of the nature of religious change in the early medieval world."—Journal of Ecclesiastical History

"A seminal study of Nordic religions that future scholars will not be able to avoid."—Church History

About the Author

Thomas A. DuBois is Associate Professor in the Department of Scandinavian Studies and Comparative Literature at the University of Washington. He is the author of Finnish Folk Poetry and the Kalevala.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press (August 3, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812217144
• ISBN-13: 978-0812217148
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #297,946 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Thomas A. DuBois holds a doctorate in Folklore and Folklife from the University of Pennsylvania. He taught for ten years at the University of Washington, Seattle, and now teaches at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he is director of the university's Folklore Studies program. His research and teaching focuses particularly on Nordic cultures, chiefly Finnish and Sámi. In addition to producing a number of books of his own, he is an incoming co-editor of the Journal of American Folklore.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The interaction between cultures in Northern Europe, July 13, 2000

By 

Linda L. Robinett "Sieglinde" (Ridgecrest, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Nordic Religions in the Viking Age (The Middle Ages Series) (Paperback)

This book covers the interaction between the varioius Nordic cultures, the Finns, the Sami and continental Europeans during the period from about 800 to 1300 CE. It covers the ancient pagan religions and their relationships and the relationships between the Christian converts of the north and other Europeans.

The chapters are as follows

Preface: Introduction: Communities of Belief

1 : The Cultures and History of the Viking Age North

2 : Religions in the Viking Age: Contexts and Concepts for Analysis

3 : Gods, Guides, and Guardians: Spiritual Aids

4. : Visitors from Beyond: Death, Afterlife, and the Problem of Ghosts

5. : Concepts of Health and Healing

6. : The Intercultural Dimension of the Seidr Ritual

7. : The Coming of the Cross: Religious and Artistic Effects

8. : Achieving Faith: Christian Themes and Pagan Function

The author covers the relationship between the pagan religions of the people of the North, the shamanistic beliefs of the Sami and the Christian beliefs of Europe and the newly converted Norse.

I would have liked a more in depth discussion of the ancient pagan, shamanistic and medieval Christian beliefs but the author does give us tantelizing tid bits. For example, I was unaware that the Cross had sush an important part in Medieval Christianity including visions of the Cross speaking, the Cross as an anulet of protection and other functions that it does not have in present day Christiantiy. The relationship between pagan beliefs and Christian beliefs was interesting in as much as they existed simultaneously.

It is not a book to read for discovering the beliefs and details of the religions covered but is very interesting in its discussion of the cultural interactions between the groups discussed. There were trade relations and hostile raiding relations between the groups and this was also reflected in their religious relations. Groups of Christians fought other Christians and the same with the non-Christians. The author gives an interesting picture of the era.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MUST have, October 13, 2009

By 

ShopTherapy (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Nordic Religions in the Viking Age (The Middle Ages Series) (Paperback)

I used this book for my Thesis on Nordic religions and the transition to Christianity. It is very clear with many quotable points. It is a must have for any Scandinavian studies scholor and is also a great read for non-academic settings.

14 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars An exposition of an obvious, but neglected idea., January 3, 2003

By 

"qibhom" (Hazel Park, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nordic Religions in the Viking Age (The Middle Ages Series) (Paperback)

Dubois has one good idea, that pre-Christian religions in Scandinavia influenced each other. This should be obvious - people travelled a lot in that time, as traders, raiders and mercenaries. Sami and Norse intermarried. However, few scholars have mentioned this before, so Dubois does fill a need.

He also manages to avoid the "all pre-Christian Germanic heathen religions are the same" trap, another point that should be obvious, but that is often glossed over. However, Dubois doesn't emphasize that quite as much. This is a pity, since a good, scholarly comparative work on this subject is much needed.

For some reason, this has become an instant Asatruar classic. So, if you are Asatruar, you probably need to own this. If not, borrow a copy from the library. There isn't enough non-obvious thought here to justify owning it.