An Argument on Behalf of Norse Mythology

Loki in Chains
Norse God Loki in Chains. duncan1890/Getty Images

Many Christians are convinced that not only is theirs the only true and valid religion, but also that this should be obvious to anyone who looks. Is it really so obvious, though? It might seem that way to people who are already part of it and thus are completely immersed in its practices, values, and traditions. What happens, though, when someone attempts to take a more objective look at a variety of religions and compares them?

Wade Larson writes about trying various religions and finally settling on the one religion that fit his Swedish heritage:

I found Odin the All-Father and more.
While others are stuck worshipping a single god, I have several choices to pray to. So, when the All-Father isn't feeling particularly generous in his prayer-answering I can go ask Frigga -- who, as Odin's wife, could be considered the All-Mother, I suppose -- because she tends to spoil her proverbial children.
Or I can just ask Thor. He's the inebriated uncle of the family whom all the nephews love because he tells the best stories. (Ask him about the time he drank the ocean because he thought it was booze.)
And while other religions have one holy day a week, I have five, Wednesday (named for Wodan, eventually changed to Odin) and Thursday (Thor's day) being the holiest.
On Wednesday, I spend my time contemplating Odin's sacrifice of his left eye to gain the wisdom of the ages -- its not just Jesus who self-sacrificed. Plus, I don't have to eat his body or drink his blood. I'm a person, not a zombie or a vampire, for Odin's sake. Thor's day is the day for the big religious ritual. It is a well known fact that Thor was a sucker for the sauce. So the only reasonable way to honor him is by drinking. Heavily.
Source: The Northerner

I rather suspect that Larson isn't being completely serious and that he isn't living as a full-fledged adherent of ancient Norse religion. Despite that, though, he makes some important points -- like for example the fact that all religions arguably have some aspects to them which might be attractive to various people, even if there are other aspects which are unattractive. This is certainly true of Christianity and so most Christians pick and choose in order to avoid the unpleasant bits. If Christians can do it, though, why can't others also do it in other religions?

If done right, a religion based on ancient Norse traditions could be a lot of fun -- certainly as much fun as anything else, and it's no more implausible or unbelievable than what Christians try to teach as truth. The existence of Odin and Thor are no less likely than the idea that the son of Jewish carpenter was really the son of God, died but didn't really die, and we'll all be saved from hell if we just stop reasoning long enough to buy all that.

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Cline, Austin. "An Argument on Behalf of Norse Mythology." Learn Religions, Apr. 5, 2023, learnreligions.com/norse-mythology-the-best-religious-choice-3975216. Cline, Austin. (2023, April 5). An Argument on Behalf of Norse Mythology. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/norse-mythology-the-best-religious-choice-3975216 Cline, Austin. "An Argument on Behalf of Norse Mythology." Learn Religions. https://www.learnreligions.com/norse-mythology-the-best-religious-choice-3975216 (accessed March 19, 2024).