Sacral rulers in pre-Christian Scandinavia: The possibilities of typological comparisons within the paradigm of cultural evolution

This article offers a new perspective on the century-old discussion of sacral rulers in the history of religions generally, and pre-Christian Scandinavian religions specifically, namely the application of a cultural evolutionary theoretical framework based on the work of Robert N. Bellah. In doing t...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Nygaard, Simon (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: [publisher not identified] [2016]
In: Temenos
Year: 2016, Volume: 52, Issue: 1, Pages: 9-35
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Bellah, Robert N. 1927-2013 / Scandinavia / Sacred kingship / Hawaii / Comparison of religions / Typology / Cultural development
RelBib Classification:AD Sociology of religion; religious policy
KBE Northern Europe; Scandinavia
Further subjects:B pre-Christian Scandinavian religions
B chiefdom religion
B Robert N. Bellah
B sacral rulers
B Cultural Evolution
B pre-Christian Hawaiian religions
B typological comparisons
B cultural evolutionary theory
Online Access: Volltext (kostenfrei)
Description
Summary:This article offers a new perspective on the century-old discussion of sacral rulers in the history of religions generally, and pre-Christian Scandinavian religions specifically, namely the application of a cultural evolutionary theoretical framework based on the work of Robert N. Bellah. In doing this, the article opens the possibility of wider typological comparisons within this paradigm and suggests a nuancing of Bellah’s typology with the addition of the category of ‘chiefdom religion’. This is utilised in the main part of the article, which features a comparison between the figure of the sacral ruler in pre-Christian Scandinavian and pre-Christian Hawaiian religions through an analysis of: 1) the position of the ruler in society, cult, and ideology; 2) the societal structure in which these religions are found; 3) the idea of a ruler sacrifice; 4) incestuous relationships and their ideological implications; and, finally, 5) the idea of a double rulership. Following this comparison, the perspectives in and the usefulness of cultural evolutionary theories in the history of religions are briefly evaluated.
ISSN:2342-7256
Contains:Enthalten in: Temenos