PRINCIPAL BELIEFS
The Nordic religion never had one set doctrine or belief system as their beliefs
were carried on through oral tradition, until the christian period in history. It
wasduring this time period, when the belief system was documented through
literature, (mainly by christians). The nature of the Norse beliefs were mainly
the pre-christian beliefs of the Scandinavians. The Norse society possessed
strongviews on clan honour, righteous revenge and having respect for the
gods/godesses.
Belief systems would vary from clan to clan, but the main, principal beliefs
remained universal thought the tribes. It was once believed by the Norse, that
chaos would overturn order and those who maintained order would be
destroyed. This aspect of the Nordic faith, conveys the violent, warrior like
aspects of theNordic community and it’s people.
The Norse believed in the eternal and inseparable
powerof the afterlife. Believers also believed that
warriors whodied in battle would be taken to the
‘hall of the slain’. This resulted in the utmost respect for warriors amongst
the living and created hope, that though battle, one would be granted a place of honor amongst the dead in the afterlife. On the other hand, a principal belief is that all who died of illness, old age or criminal punishment, were sent into Hel’s hands (the realm of the dead). This was a major cause of why people became warriors and sacrificed themselves to the ‘greater good’ of their community, in battle.