Pagan Temples are Being Built in Scandinavia



For several years there have been occasional news pieces about the growth of Norse paganism in Norway, Sweden and Finland. I assumed these stories were not about large numbers of people. The numbers are still not known but enough money and commitment have been made to construct at least one cemetery and temple. It is a most interesting development.  

It seems logical there would develop an interest in some kind of undefined and mysterious belief. Polling shows a huge disconnect to Christianity and organized religion. Out of those who no longer identify as Christian (or other major religion) there have to be hundreds of thousands, maybe some millions, who are agnostics. That it, they believe there may well be "something" out there but we don't know what it is.

As theologian Bart Ehrman explained recently, he is an atheist about the Christian God. Since no one can prove no other god exists any where he is agnostic about that. Maybe most "nones" would follow this path. If one gets invited to a Pagan event and enjoys chatting and whatever else goes on there, there might be appeal in the view that others also are wondering about the possibility of some other spiritual force out there somewhere. This doesn't require being baptized nor that one recites a Nicene Creed. One just needs to show up at the potluck when convenient.

A variation of this in the U.S. is the Satanic Temple. There are several of these and they seem to be doing all right.

The term "Norse God" sounds formidable. It might be good god if it existed.

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