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I was born into a Christian family and raised by the values Christianity teaches. I went to church every Sunday, on Christmas Eve, Easter Sunday and in a separate group of children. I was baptized in the church, I was confirmed in the church and otherwise visited the church quite frequently during childhood and adolescence. And I know my bible. But the faith disappeared when I became an adult. I’m still a religious person, but not within a particular religious direction.
Why, you ask? When I became an adult I began to read about Christianity and its history. And what I read shocked me, to say the least. Norway, my home country, was a country that believed in norse gods before Christianity came in the 800`s. But the Christianization of Norway was not a peaceful affair, it was done by force. Norwegians who for centuries had believed in Thor, Odin, Loki and the other norse gods were forced to renounce their gods and devote life to Christianity. Many Norwegians revolted against the church, but they were quickly executed and called barbarians. Nothing should stand in the way of the Christianization of Norway.
Church ruled the country with an iron hand in the Middle Ages. Everybody had to abide by the laws of the church, those who did not risked being banished, sent to prison or executed. And belonging to the church was not optional, you were forced. All that would not be a member of the church were ostracized and called barbarians or in league with the devil.
