Nordic Mysticism: Why Iceland Embraces Esotericism While the Faroe Islands

Explore the fascinating religious divide between two isolated Nordic societies: Iceland and the Faroe Islands. Based on Christophe Pons' comparative study, "The Problem with Islands," this video examines why Iceland is a hub for modern esotericism (Spiritualism, New Age) while the Faroe Islands maintain a strong adherence to Protestant asceticism and communitarian sects.

We delve into the historical context, tracing how both islands, despite their shared Norse heritage, developed distinct religious identities intertwined with their national narratives during the Scandinavian Enlightenment. Discover how Iceland’s reinvention of its Norse origins through modern esotericism provided a unique path to national identity, contrasting with the Faroese creation of a Nordic Christian vision through influential religious revivals.

The analysis highlights how these divergent mysticisms—defined by their "direct, inward religious experience"—are adapted to long-term social structures. We compare Iceland's individualistic, lineage-based "network society" that favors personalized supernatural experiences, with the Faroe Islands’ communitarian village structure that reinforces Christian asceticism and conformity.

Join us to understand how historical circumstances and deep-seated cultural features explain these two "extreme configurations" of Scandinavian Lutheran Protestantism.

sources : https://www.pure.fo/en/publications/the-problem-with-islands-comparing-mysticisms-in-iceland-and-faro

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