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Volcanic eruption influenced Iceland's conversion to Christianity
Memories of the largest lava flood in the history of Iceland, recorded in an apocalyptic medieval poem, were used to drive the island's conversion to Christianity, new research suggests.
A team of scientists and medieval historians, led by the University of Cambridge, has used information contained within ice cores and tree rings to accurately date a massive volcanic eruption, which took place soon after the island was first settled. Having dated the eruption, the researchers found that Iceland's most celebrated medieval poem, which describes the end of the pagan gods and the coming of a new, singular god, describes the eruption and uses memories of it to stimulate the Christianisation of Iceland. The results are reported in the journal Climatic Change.
[...] The Cambridge-led team pinpointed the date of the eruption using ice core records from Greenland that preserve the volcanic fallout from Eldgjá. Using the clues contained within the ice cores, the researchers found that the eruption began around the spring of 939 and continued at least through the autumn of 940. [...] Iceland's most celebrated medieval poem, Vǫluspá ('The prophecy of the seeress') does appear to give an impression of what the eruption was like. The poem, which can be dated as far back as 961, foretells the end of Iceland's pagan gods and the coming of a new, singular god: in other words, the conversion of Iceland to Christianity, which was formalised around the turn of the eleventh century.
The Eldgjá eruption: timing, long-range impacts and influence on the Christianisation of Iceland (open, DOI: 10.1007/s10584-018-2171-9) (DX)
(Score: 4, Insightful) by SomeGuy on Wednesday March 21 2018, @09:29AM (4 children)
So, someone used media of the day to promote their particular brand of imaginary sky fairy.
Big surprise. It still happens all the time. Pull apart almost any TV show or even news story, and you will find various religion "baked in".
By "baked in" I mean repeated subtle references in media to some idea in such a way that it is an integral part of the story.
Kind of like product placement. They don't come out and say "Buy this product", they just show the main character using and liking that product. The product, in reality, may be complete shit, but it puts the idea in people's heads that the product both exists and may be good.
Most jebus brand sky fairy worshipers seem oblivious to this sort of thing since they already believe this bullshit.
Some sci-fi program that uses a magic demon for their bad guy and the hero uses religious artifacts to save the day. Not quite so subtle, but people may be made to believe these things really could happen on a smaller scale. How about the comedy show where ocasionally episodes end in a "miracle" and a sly hint that it was because of Mr. magic sky fairy. Or how about the old-timey wilderness adventurer where the main characters tout that going to their church makes them good people and everything happens because duh Gerrd makes it happen. Or a song that repeats the word "god", even though it has no real place in the song. Or how about a news story posted on an internet web site that talks about a "god" or "gods" with a strait face.
It's everywhere, and it isn't new.
Now, let me read you a poem entitled "There is no such thing as God, you stupid fucking shitheads" :P
(Score: 3, Funny) by maxwell demon on Wednesday March 21 2018, @04:38PM (1 child)
Since the Romans used the cross successfully to kill criminals, then why should it not also work to kill vampires? :-)
The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
(Score: 4, Funny) by bob_super on Wednesday March 21 2018, @06:02PM
Because there's a well-documented case of some guy just not staying dead enough after being crucified. Therefore, why should I trust a cross to kill things which are already dead?
(Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Wednesday March 21 2018, @05:58PM
Plus a healthy dose of the lava-repelling-rock...
See! There hasn't been a unprecedented lava flow since you accepted the rock as your lord and saviour!
(Score: 3, Interesting) by bob_super on Wednesday March 21 2018, @05:58PM
I went to find a specific related quote from Pratchett's "Small Gods". Spent an hour reading quotes from Small Gods. Have to read that book again when I get home tonight.
You all should, too.