Anglo Saxon Religion Essay

In the Anglo-Saxon and Medieval time period there are many obvious references to the beliefs of the people of that time. Their beliefs varied from Pagan to Christian. In Anglo saxon and Medieval literature there are evident descriptions of both forms of religion and culture. “Christianity grew up in this vast cauldron of religiosity, absorbing some ideas and discarding others.”(Jason Mankey)Regardless of the fact the two religions are very abstractly and divergently different they somehow manage to appear to be almost interconnected in Anglo-Saxon and medieval literature. At the time that Christianity was in the process of becoming the main form of religion, Pagan beliefs were still present in the people's language and culture,

To understand the development of Christianity, you must first understand the context of the era, the development of religion in Britain must first be considered. Originally dominated by the Celtic faith, Britain’s culture and belief system, underwent a momentous change with the Anglo-Saxon saxon conquest which brought about Germanic paganism.Before Christianity came to be, Germanic paganism was the main source of religious beliefs and culture. Germanic paganism embodied various beliefs, that Germanic peoples from the early ages practiced until Christianization. These beliefs included mythology, polytheistic gods, and many other

varying idealism. That was until Christianity started developing between the seventh and eighth centuries.

Christians of that time believed that people were responsible for their choices and are accountable for their actions, while Pagans believed in fate, (Wyrd) meaning that no matter what you do or choose, the outcome is destined to happen.

One of the main differences between the two religions is that the Pagans believed in many gods, making them polytheistic while Christians are monotheistic meaning they believe in only one God. Even though they have different beliefs that vary in different ways, they both find a way to show similarities between each other seen through different forms of writing like

poetry.

Beowulf is mainly about the concept of Paganism. Paganism is a term that developed
among the Christian community of southern Europe during late antiquity to describe religions other than their own or Judaism. In Beowulf there are various references to Paganism like “a thousand forms of evil spirits”(24), such as “goblins, fiends, monsters, and giants(NOT DONE YET)

An excerpt from the old english poem The Seafarer is obviously forefronted with christianity. Yet within these christian quotes are views representing pagan idealisms. The o says that “a man must conquer pride, not kill it…… [to] be firm with his fellows”(109-110). Even “though an enemy seek[s] to scorch him in hell” (113) or even “ set the flames of a funeral pyre” (114), “fate is stronger” (115) and in order “to rise to that eternal joy” (120) you should “treat all the world…….with love or with hate but never with harm” (112-113). Proving that while christian ideals were forefronted and dominating in the sea farer there are also paganistic views of fate and Immortality of the Soul. While christianity was on the rise the religion picked up many pagan idealisms.

In conclusion we believe that while these two religions are completely separate entities, they manage to work cohesively together in the literature of this time period. We have learned through the stories of beowulf and the seafarer how separate idealisms can work together seamlessly.