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Christianity and the Usurpation of the Heathen Gods of the Anglo-Saxon

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Manage episode 445125262 series 3009846
Content provided by Frank Docherty. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Frank Docherty or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.

The conversion of the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity from the 6th to the 8th centuries was a transformative period in British history. It not only marked the decline of the old heathen gods but also represented a profound shift in the cultural and spiritual landscape of England. Christianity spread rapidly across Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, supported by royal patrons and foreign missionaries. However, this transformation was not a simple case of one religion replacing another; it involved a strategic assimilation of pagan traditions, places of worship, and even gods themselves.

One of the key strategies that facilitated this transition was the practice of building Christian churches on sites traditionally dedicated to heathen deities. This helped to physically and symbolically assert the dominance of Christianity while simultaneously allowing a degree of continuity in worship. Despite the widespread conversion to Christianity, many Anglo-Saxons resisted the total abandonment of their old gods, continuing to venerate them in secret for generations after the official conversion.

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81 episodes

Artwork
iconShare
 
Manage episode 445125262 series 3009846
Content provided by Frank Docherty. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Frank Docherty or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.

The conversion of the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity from the 6th to the 8th centuries was a transformative period in British history. It not only marked the decline of the old heathen gods but also represented a profound shift in the cultural and spiritual landscape of England. Christianity spread rapidly across Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, supported by royal patrons and foreign missionaries. However, this transformation was not a simple case of one religion replacing another; it involved a strategic assimilation of pagan traditions, places of worship, and even gods themselves.

One of the key strategies that facilitated this transition was the practice of building Christian churches on sites traditionally dedicated to heathen deities. This helped to physically and symbolically assert the dominance of Christianity while simultaneously allowing a degree of continuity in worship. Despite the widespread conversion to Christianity, many Anglo-Saxons resisted the total abandonment of their old gods, continuing to venerate them in secret for generations after the official conversion.

  continue reading

81 episodes

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