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 the countries with true religious traditions. According to sociological surveys, only 20% of the population give religion a significant place in their lives. Ancient cults and beliefs are still strong in the country of wild and powerful Vikings.
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. The Protestants were led by Catholic priest Martin Luther. A new religious trend that arose later is named after him. The basic principles of Lutheran teaching are set forth in the Book of Concord and are roughly as follows:
- No work other than mercy can earn God's mercy.
- Only true faith gives redemption for sins.
- Of all the scriptures, only the Bible matters.
- Lutherans venerate all saints, but only worship God.
Followers of Luther recognize only the sacrament of baptism and communion, church ministers are perceived as preachers and do not ex alt above the rest of the laity. Divine services in these churches are accompanied by organ music and choral performances.
Lutheranism as a religion has become 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, the B altics.
History of Christianity in Norway
Indigenous inhabitants of Scandinavia, in particular Norway, are tribes of Germans, strong and powerful warriors - Vikings. They held sacred their beliefs. Attempts by missionaries and Norwegian kings to consolidate Christianity in the 10th century ended in failure. Not only Norway was on 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 one here as well.
Features of the Viking religion
Which religion in Norway resisted Christianity for so long? The gods of the Vikings for a long time were the prototypes of the main 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 epic of the ancient Vikings spread far beyond the country, their myths and legends became the subject of study and a real monument of ancient literature. Scandinavian divination, 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 they concluded a truce and began to rule the world of people.
Sami religion
Saami shamanism is another pre-Christian religion in Norway. Briefly, this can be said as follows: the worship of all kinds of fishing spirits. The Saami are tribes of reindeer herders who inhabit the northern regions of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Karelia. The spirits of hunting, fishing, reindeer herding rule the show in the life of the Sami settlements to this day. Strong reverence for the spirits of ancestors and sacred stones. The clergy are shamans.
State and religion
Modern Norway, whose religion 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 obligatory belonging to the state church of monarchs and most of the members of parliament. In turn, the state controls the appointment of the highest ranks 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 subjects from the first grades of elementary school.
Despite such a close relationship between church and state,Norwegians cannot be called a very religious people. The majority of citizens admit to only formal membership and basic obligatory ceremonies, only 5% attend services weekly, and about 40% admit that they do not go to them at all.
Gentiles in Norway
Despite the fact that this country has an official state church, freedom of religion is also enshrined in the Constitution. Citizens professing other religious directions make up an insignificant group, but they coexist peacefully with the Lutherans and are not oppressed on the grounds of religion. Children from families of other faiths are allowed not to attend classes in the Law of God. Of the Christian denominations in Norway, communities of Orthodox, Catholics, Baptists, and 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 freely hold services. Even a small community of Muslims has opened a mosque in the state capital Oslo.
Norway: religion in sights
The main historical and religious shrine of the Norwegian Lutherans is the Cathedral of St. Olaf in Oslo.
The decoration of the unique area and the real works of wooden architecture of this region are numerous small wooden churches or stave churches preserved from antiquity.
To the monuments of architectureinclude the Lutheran Nidaros Cathedral, the Arctic Temple. The beliefs of the pagan Vikings are carefully protected in the form of historical sites. There is even a Troll Park in Norway.
