Christian Mythology and Norse Mythology have some striking similarities. [I Love Myths and Legends From All Cultures]

For example:

• Both have an achievable afterlife. However Christianity got its concept of Hell from the Norse belief of Hel.

• Both Jesus and Balder (Norse god of all that is good) die and come back from the dead.

• While the Old Testament doesn’t support the idea of an after life, the Christian Church adopted the idea of Syncretism from the pagans because it was a common belief of the pagans it was trying to convert.

This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »

Straylight · 31-35, F

Unfortunately, most of what we know of norse mythology was from sources written after christianity had established itself in the region. Unless an older text arises, we have no way to know if the similarities were always there, or added by Christian authors.

TakingBackMidgaard · 31-35, M

@Straylight Snorri Sturluson has done a good job translating the Prose and Poetic Edda

Straylight · 31-35, F

@TakingBackMidgaard Yes, but not from pre christian sources.

TakingBackMidgaard · 31-35, M

@Straylight he loved durning the Viking age... which was right before the Christianization of Scandinavia and Iceland

Straylight · 31-35, F

@TakingBackMidgaard He lived from 1179 to 1241, well after the establishment christianity in the region.

TakingBackMidgaard · 31-35, M

@Straylight just looked that up and you’re right. For some reason this copy of a german version of the prose Edda says 789 was when he was born...

Straylight · 31-35, F

@TakingBackMidgaard Curious. I just checked wikipedia, so it could be wrong. I have a copy of the prose edda somewhere, I'll see what mike says later.

Straylight · 31-35, F

@TakingBackMidgaard Side note, I really like your user name.