Religion in Norway

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Religion in Norway is overwhelmingly Protestant (Evangelical-Lutheran) with 82,9% belonging to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Norway which is an established religion. The Norwegians, like all of the peoples of Scandinavia, were pagans believing in Norse mythology; the Sámi having a shamanistic religion. Due to the efforts of Christian missionaries, Norway was gradually Christianised in a process starting at approximately 1000 AD and which was substantially finished by 1150AD. Prior to the Reformation, Norwegians were part of the Catholic Church with the conversion to Protestantism occurring in 1536. Islam is now the second largest religion due to recent migration trends although the census shows that there are more people with no religious beliefs.

Contents 1 Sámi religion 2 Norse religion 3 Judaism 4 Islam 5 Christianisation 6 Religion from the reformation until 1964 7 Religion in Norway today 8 Notes 9 External references

[edit] Sámi religion

Main article: Sami religion

The Sámi followed a shamanistic religion based on nature worship. The Sámi pantheon consisted of four general gods the Mother, the Father, the Son and the Daughter (Radienacca, Radienacce, Radienkiedde and Radienneida). There was also a god of fertility, fire and thunder Horagalles, the sun goddess Beive and the moon goddess Manno as well as the goddess of death Jabemeahkka.

Like many pagan religions, the Sámi saw life as a circular process of life, death and rebirth. The shaman was called a Noaide and the traditions were passed on between families with an ageing Noaide training a relative to take his or her place after he or she dies. While training went on as long as the Noaide lived but the pupil had to prove his or her skills before a group of Noaidi before being eligible to become a fully fledged shaman at the death of his or her mentor.

The Norwegian church undertook a campaign to Christianise the Sámi in the 16th and 17th century with most of the sources being missionaries. While the vast majority of the Sámi in Norway have been Christianised, some of them still follow their traditional faith and some Noaidi are still practising their ancient religion.

[edit] Norse religion

Main article: Norse mythology

Norse religion developed from the common mythology of the Germanic peoples. Scandinavian mythology developed slowly and the relative importance of gods and heroes. Thus, the cult of Odin in Norway probably spread from Western Germany not long before they were written down. Gods shown as minor gods such as Ullr, the fertility god Njord and Heimdall are likely to be older gods in Norway who lost popularity.

Most information about Scandinavian mythology is contained in the old Norse literature including Norwegian literature, the Eddas and later sagas. Other information comes from the Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus with fragments of legends preserved in old inscriptions. Unfortunately, we know relatively little about old religious practices in Norway or elsewhere as most of the knowledge was lost in the gradual Christianisation.

[edit] Judaism

Main article: Jews in Norway

[edit] Islam

Main article: Islam in Norway

[edit] Christianisation

The conversion of Norway to Christianity began in 1000 AD. The raids on the British isles and on the Frankish kingdoms had brought the Vikings in touch with Christianity. Haakon the Good of Norway who had grown up in England tried to introduce Christianity in the mid tenth century, but had met fierce resistance from pagan chieftains and soon abandoned the idea.

Anglo-Saxon missionaries from England and Germany had tried to convert Norwegians to Christianity but only had limited success although they succeeded in converting Olaf I of Norway to Christianity. Olaf II of Norway (later Saint Olaf) had more success in his attempts to convert the population with many Norwegians converting in the process, and he is credited with christianising Norway.

The Christians in Norway often established churches or other holy sites at places that had previously been sacred under the Norse religion. The spread of conversion can be measured by burial sites as Pagans were buried with grave goods while Christians weren't. Christianity had become well established in Norway by the middle of the 11th century and had become dominant by the middle of the 12th century. Stave churches were built of wood without the use of nails in the 13th century.

[edit] Religion from the reformation until 1964

The Norwegians were Catholics until the Danish king Christian III of Denmark ordered Denmark to convert to Lutheranism in 1536 and as Norway was then ruled by Denmark, the Norwegians converted as well. The Danish Church Ordnance was introduced in 1537 and a Norwegian Church Council officially adopted Lutheranism in 1539. Monasteries were dissolved and church property confiscated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Norway established and funded by the state. Bishops still adhering to Catholicism were deposed with Archbishop Olav of Nidaros fleeing the country in 1537 and another bishop dying in prison in 1542. Catholicism held on remote parts of Norway for another couple of decades. Many pastors were replaced with Danes and Norwegian clergy being trained at the University of Copenhagen as Norway didn't have a university. The Danish translation of the bible was used as were Danish catechisms and hymns. The use of Danish in religious ceremonies had a strong influence on the development of the Norwegian language.

The church undertook a program to convert the Sámi in the 16th and 17th century with the program being largely successful. The University of Oslo was established in 1811 allowing priests to train in Norway. The Norwegian Constitution of 1814 did not grant religious freedom as it stated that Jews and Jesuites were denied entrance in Norway. Moreover, adherence to Evangelical Lutheran Christianity was compulsory, and so was church attendance. A ban on lay preaching was lifted in 1842, allowing several free church movements and a strong lay movement being established in the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Three years later, the so-called Dissenter Law came into effect, allowing other Christian congregations to establish in Norway. Atheism became allowed as well, and the ban on Jews was lifted in 1851. Monasticism and Jesuites became allowed in 1897 and 1956 respectively.

The Norwegian Constitution was amended in 1964 finally allowing freedom of religion. Exceptions are the Norwegian royal family, who are required by the Constitution to be Lutherans. Furthermore, at least one half of the Government must belong to the state church.

Church pastors were active in the Norwegian resistance movement during World War II. The church was also active in the moral debate which arose in the 1950's.

[edit] Religion in Norway today

The Evangelican Lutheran Church is still established and administered through a Government department. There is, however, an ever ongoing political debate on separation of church and state. ^[1] The state also supports religious aid organisations such as Norwegian Church Aid financially. Bishops are formally nominated by the Norwegian Monarch^[2], who is the head of the church, and clerical salaries and pensions regulated by law. Clergy train in the theological faculties of the University of Oslo and the University of Bergen. Men and women can both become members of the clergy of the church. The church has two sacraments namely Baptism and Holy Communion.

In Norway, 82.9% of the population are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church as compared to 96% in the 1960's. However, only 10% (approximately) regularly attend church services and identify themselves "being personally Christian" which means that they have a personal belief in Christianity. It must be noted, however, that within the Scandinavian culture religion is considered a very private matter, and that asking about personal beliefs is considered rude. This can be viewed as a statistical factor.

Approximately 9-10% are probably not members of any religious of philosophocal communties, while around 7-8 % of the population are members of other religious or philosphical communities outside the Church of Norway Given some uncertainties in the statistical bases of membership due to the ordering of the church register, while the numbers of members ather religious and philosophical communities will be available within reasonable time, a number of unchurched who have been luisted in church membership will cause some uncertainty as to the size of that group for some time to come.

. The other significant religious or lifestance positions identified are:

• Norwegian Humanist Association (not a religion) 76,470
• Islam 72,000
• Pentecostal Movement 45,000
• Roman Catholic Church 40,000
• Evangelical-Lutheran Free Church 20,000
• Methodists 13,000
• Buddhists 7,000 (Registered in the Buddhist Federation of Norway)
• Jews ~1,400

[edit] Notes

1. ^ See Church of Norway, current issues
2. ^ "Monarch" is here the word that is used in the Norwegian constitution. But it is the Government that decides.

[edit] External references

• Official Norwegian site in the UK on Norwegian religion
• Statistics Norway: More members in religious and philosophical communities)
• The Church in Norwegian life
• BBC Ancient History article on Viking religion and their gradual conversion to Christianity
• Site on Viking religion
• Site on Sámi religious beliefs
• Site on Norwegian reformation
• Boise State University on Danish reformation
• Religious and philosophical communities, 1 January 2006