New book - The Conversion of Scandinavia

[neodawson]

I thought many here might find this of interest.

In this book a MacArthur Award-winning scholar argues for a radically new interpretation of the conversion of Scandinavia from paganism to Christianity in the early Middle Ages. Overturning the received narrative of Europe's military and religious conquest and colonization of the region, Anders Winroth contends that rather than acting as passive recipients, Scandinavians converted to Christianity because it was in individual chieftains' political, economic, and cultural interests to do so.

Through a painstaking analysis and historical reconstruction of both archeological and literary sources, and drawing on scholarly work that has been unavailable in English, Winroth opens up new avenues for studying European ascendency and the expansion of Christianity in the medieval period.

www.amazon.com/The-Conversion-Scandinavia-Merchants-Missionaries/dp/0300170262?tag=upsideout-20

[fortigurn]

Similar to Taiwan; Christianity spread when various groups found it particularly useful and socially beneficial.

[neodawson]

Mar 2, 2013 7:36:11 GMT fortigurn said:

Similar to Taiwan; Christianity spread when various groups found it particularly useful and socially beneficial.

I think it's safe to say that often happens anywhere Christianity or a major religion happens to spread.

[fortigurn]

Mar 4, 2013 23:08:52 GMT neodawson said:

I think it's safe to say that often happens anywhere Christianity or a major religion happens to spread.

Religions aren't always spread in that way. Sometimes they're enforced on the local population, only to be rejected when the pressure is off.

[endrefodstad]

Reading (go Kindle!)...looks like it is broadly a summary of current scandinavian research on the subject. Little new to me, but good for the english-speaking world, I guess.