Religion in Iceland 3783042 217157289 2008-06-04T21:12:08Z 72.72.209.161 /* Christian */ '''Religion in Iceland''' was initially the [[Norse paganism]] that was commonly believed by [[Vikings]] (from [[874]] to [[1000]]). Later the nation became half-Christian and then more fully Christian. This increasing [[Christianization]] culminated in the [[Pietism]] period when non-Christian entertainments were discouraged. At present the population is overwhelmingly, if nominally, [[Lutheran]]. However there are also [[Baptist]]s [[Catholic]]s, [[Jehovah's Witness]], [[Mormon]]s, [[Muslim]]s and others. [http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:ym3PEyj1JKYJ:www.metrowestdailynews.com/travel/view.bg%3Farticleid%3D117772%26format%3Dtext+Icelander+belief+in+elves&hl=en] ==Norse religion period== Many of the early [[Icelandic sagas]] concerned the Norse religion period. The [[Hrafnkels saga]] is perhaps one of the more well-known examples to deal with the Norse period as its main character is initially dedicated to [[Freyr]]. ==Conversion to Christianity== {{Main article|Christianization of Iceland}} Around [[1000]] Iceland initially converted to Christianity in a partial and diplomatic way. The compromise measure came about due to the Norse-pagan [[Þorgeirr Ljósvetningagoði]] and is also dealt with in the article on the [[Íslendingabók]]. In the compromise the old laws allowing [[Infanticide]] and eating horsemeat would stay. Furthermore pagan sacrifices remained legal if they were done in private. However in public and officially the nation became Christian. This was in part to please the Christianized kings of [[Norway]], a main trading partner for Medieval Iceland, and in part to satisfy Iceland's growing Christian faction. Over time the allowances for paganism dwindled. Still their relationship to the rest of Christendom remained strained for the first few centuries. The Catholic Church officially disproved of several variance they had from the rest of the Christian world. For example the [[Althing]] could, and did in cases like [[Jón Ögmundsson]], vote to make someone a [[saint]]. Although the standards of [[canonization]] were not yet regularized this was considered unusual. Added to that the Church was subservient to the chieftains as churches were often on their land. The priests often had [[concubines]] or were themselves children of concubines. Lastly the convent was often made up of older widows of wealthy Icelanders. This meant a Nun could, and sometimes was, both widow of a previous bishop and mother of the current one. This gave nuns an unusual position. Two bishoprics were established in Iceland, one at [[Skálholt]] (created 1056) and one at [[Hólar]] (1106). These became Lutheran during the Reformation, and were later amalgamated in 1801 into a single diocese under the [[Bishop of Iceland]] in the Lutheran [[Church of Iceland]]. ==The Reformation== The [[Reformation]] almost completely obliterated [[Catholic]] Iceland. Two local men, [[Oddur Gotskalksson]] and [[Gissur Einarsson]], became disciples of [[Luther]] and soon secured followers, particularly after King [[Christian III of Denmark and Norway]] declared himself for [[Lutheranism]] and began to enforce the change in his kingdom. The imprisonment of [[Oejmundr Pálsson]], [[Bishop of Skálholt]], left only [[Jón Arason]], [[Bishop of Hólar]], to resist in the name of Catholicism. The Reformation proved to be more violent in Iceland than in most of the lands ruled by [[Denmark]], partly from Arason's proto-nationalistic resistance, which escalated nearly to the point of civil war. Though he succeeded for a time, he was betrayed and executed on [[November 7]], [[1550]]. With the bishops gone, a religious transition was inevitable. Following the pattern of the Reformation, Catholicism was outlawed and Catholics persecuted. Meanwhile, the rulers of the land pounced upon Church property and divided the loot among themselves and their supporters. Though [[Latin]] remained the official language of the Lutheran [[Church of Iceland]] until the year [[1686]], and a good part of the former Catholic terminology and other externals were retained, the doctrinal substance was obviously very different. Moreover, the rigorous laws of Denmark, which were enforced in Iceland, prohibited, under severe penalties, the celebration of Catholic services. For more than three hundred years no Catholic priest was permitted to set foot on that soil. ==Catholic revival== The Catholic Church established on [[December 8]], [[1855]] a jurisdiction under the name ''Prefecture Apostolic of the North Pole'' (Praefectura Apostolica Poli Arctici) that included Iceland. Several years later, the two French priests [[Bernard Bernard]] (1821-1895) and [[Jean-Baptiste Baudoin]] (1831-1875) settled in Iceland in 1857 and 1858 respectively. They met with a difficult reception and in 1862 Bernard left the country, while Baudoin persevered until 1875. On [[August 17]] [[1869]] Pope [[Pius IX]] had set up ''Prefecture Apostolic of Denmark'', to which Iceland had passed. Freedom of worship was enacted in [[1874]]. After an interval [[Catholic]] missionary efforts were resumed, with church, school and even a hospital run by nuns by the turn of the century. The former jurisdiction became a ''Vicariate Apostolic of Denmark'' on [[March 15]], [[1892]]. Thereafter the island territory became for the [[Catholic Church]] an independent unit, first as the ''Prefecture Apostolic of Iceland'' on [[June 23]] [[1923]] and then, not many years later, on [[June 6]], [[1929]], as the ''Vicariate Apostolic of Iceland''. It was on [[October 18]], [[1968]] that this entity matured into the ''[[Diocese of Reykjavik]]''. Even though the Catholic population remains small as a percentage of the overall population and in absolute numbers, it grew from about 450 in 1950 to 5,590 in 2004, during which time the total population grew from 140,000 to 290,000. ==Pietism== Starting in the eighteenth century [[Pietism]] rose in importance due to activity from Denmark. The pietists expanded printing and literature in Iceland. However education and literacy for the Pietists was primarily or solely to have a religious function and they discouraged anything without religious meaning.[http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:kDBFs836DksJ:www.ennenjanyt.net/2-01/olafsson.pdf+Pietism+in+Iceland&hl=en] This led to encouraging a certain dourness to Iceland by discouraging dancing or other entertainments.''' ==Modern Iceland== In modern times the Icelanders are mostly a secular people with low church attendance. However some religions still have some impact on the culture. ===Christian=== Officially, the nation is religiously homogeneous. Non-Christian religions account for less than 5% of the population and the vast majority of Christians are Lutherans. Church attendance, however, remains low, and the Eurobarometer poll ([[#Eurobarometer Poll 2005|below]]) indicates that like most modern Europeans, Icelandicers are not as religious as their church membership suggests. ====Lutherans==== Official statistics place Iceland as overwhelmingly Lutheran. The main church is the [[Church of Iceland]] which represents 85.5% of the population. The Church of Iceland is also the [[State religion|State Church]], but religious freedom is practiced. There are several "free Lutheran" churches as well which total 4.5% of the population. In recent years there has been an increase in the proportion linked to the free Lutheran churches. In total 90%, or perhaps more, of the population is registered as some form of Lutheran, these statistics are by some considered misleading since most people are automatically registered as members of the state religion. However estimates indicate that only 10% of the population attends religious service regularly and that 43% never attend. ====Catholics==== In contemporary times Catholicism has had a greater acceptance and success in Iceland. It is perhaps the largest non-Lutheranism faith in Iceland, but at the same time it remains a small minority. There is a Roman Catholic [[Diocese of Reykjavík]] with [[Pierre Bürcher]] as Bishop.<ref>Cf. [http://212.77.1.245/news_services/bulletin/news/21029.php?index=21029&po_date=30.10.2007&lang=it#RINUNCIA%20DEL%20VESCOVO%20DI%20REYKJAVIK%20(ISLANDA)%20E%20NOMINA%20DEL%20SUCCESSORE Holy See Press Office, ''Daily Bulletin of 30.10.2007, Rinunce e nomine, Rinuncia del Vescovo di Reykjavik (Islanda) e nomina del successore''] {{it icon}}</ref> It is estimated that half of the nation's Catholics are foreign born with the main groups being Filipinos and Poles. In the twentieth century Iceland had some notable, if at times temporary, converts to the faith. For a time [[Halldór Laxness]] was Catholic. Although this did not last his Catholic period is of importance due to his position in modern Icelandic literature. A more consistently Catholic writer in Icelandic was [[Jón Sveinsson]]. He moved to France at 13 and became a [[Jesuit]]. He remained in the [[Society of Jesus]] for the rest of his life. He was a well-liked as a children's book author who wrote in Icelandic and he even appeared on a postage stamp there.[http://www.manresa-sj.org/stamps/1_Sveinsson.htm] ====Pentecostals==== The Pentecostals are the next largest religious group in Iceland. There are Pentecostal churches in [[Keflavík]], [[Akureyri]] and the capital. A website, [http://www.gospel.is/ Gospel Iceland] a site in Icelandic, also exists for the movement in Iceland. Vörður Traustason is a contact person for the Pentecostal assembly in Iceland. ====Anglicans==== The [[Anglican Communion|Anglican]] Church is in an unusual position in Iceland. Although significant as a world faith (with 80 million members) there is a limited presence in Iceland, and future expansion has been effectively ruled out by entering instead into an "agreement of full communion" with the Lutheran Church of Iceland, known as the [[Porvoo Communion|Porvoo agreement]]. Thus Anglicans may effectively consider themselves to be Lutheran whilst in Iceland, and the two bodies have a full inter-recognition of each other's faith and practice, sacramental life, and ministry. Nonetheless, a single Anglican congregation meets monthly in Reykjavik, using the Lutheran [[Hallgrímskirkja]] church building, to worship in the English language according to the rites of the [[Church of England]]. ====Seventh-day Adventists==== The [[Seventh-day Adventists]] have some organization in Iceland. They have their own [http://www.adventistar.is/ website] and also a local conference. Gavin Anthony is a leading figure in Adventism in Iceland. [http://news.adventist.org/data/2005/06/1120489617/index.html.en] That said growth has been static for ten years and the Adventists tend to indicate this is caused by the generalized secularism of the nation. The group represents less than .3% of the population. ====The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints==== The [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|Mormons]] have a fairly small presence in Iceland, but worth mentioning for historical reasons. In the nineteenth century LDS missionaries came to Iceland and converted a few local residents. In [[1855]] these residents would become the genesis of the first Icelandic community overseas in [[Spanish Fork, Utah]]. [http://www.nat.is/travelguideeng/icelandic_language.htm] The Mormons are also said to be the only group currently proselytizing in Iceland.{{fact|date=March 2008}} ====Independent Baptists==== Iceland's history has no record of Baptists establishing a church in Iceland until the 1980s. Fewer than 10 missionary families have attempted to start a work in Iceland since the early 1900s. On the southern peninsula of Iceland Patrekur Vilhjálmsson (Patrick Weimer) has a congregation of fewer than 30 registered members. That congregation holds services in both Icelandic and English. According to the national registry of Iceland there is and has only been one Baptist church in the history of the island. It is appropriately named The First Baptist Church, or as it is spelled in Icelandic, Fyrsta Baptista Kirkjan. It claims to be a Christian church that follows the teachings of the Bible. Pastor’s website is [http://www.simnet.is/vweimer/]. Michelle Harrison and the Nannini family are missionaries serving with the First Baptist Church. The Baptist Church building is located on the southern peninsula of Iceland in Njarðvík: (representing 25,000 people living on that portion of the island). Weekly attendance (75% of which is youth) is usually 80 - 120 people in spite of having only 30 are registered. Other Baptists in Iceland: According to the registry in Iceland there is only one Baptist church however; Jeremy Gresham and Andy Hansen are Baptist missionaries that have seen a Baptist work begin in Garðabær, a suburb of Reykjavík. ====Other Christian==== Several of the other groups, like the Jehovah's Witness, are in fact larger than the Mormons. The Watchtower estimates the nation has 289 [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] in five congregations [http://www.watchtower.org/statistics/worldwide_report.htm]. The Iceland census (below) estimates them at over twice that number. Eastern Orthodoxy, both Serbian and Russian, has a small presence on the island. Various other Christian denominations are represented with under 100 registered adherents. ===Non-Christian=== A small minority practice a variety of non-Christian faiths, whose total numbers account for about one percent of the population. Of these, the Íslenska Ásatrúarfélagið is probably the largest non-Christian faith native to the island. ====Asatru==== {{main|Íslenska Ásatrúarfélagið}} In the 1970s there was interest among some Icelanders to revive the pre-Christian faith in some form. This issue is dealt with in more detail at the article on [[Íslenska Ásatrúarfélagið]]. ====Bahá'í Faith==== The [[Bahá'í Faith]] in Iceland [http://www.bahai.is/] has a membership of just over 400, governed by 13 [[Local Spiritual Assemblies]]. This is the highest percentage, by population, in all of Europe,<ref>[http://bahai-library.com/asia-pacific/Europe.htm Bahá'í Library]</ref> even though the Bahá'í Faith, having been introduced to Iceland by American [[Amelia Collins]] in 1924, was only recently established in Iceland (1972). This relatively high rate is not reflected in other Nordic countries. Danish scholar of religion Margit Warburg speculates that the Icelandic are culturally more open to religious innovation.{{fact|date=March 2008}} ====Buddhism==== There are [[Buddhist]] websites based in Iceland such as [http://www.karuna.is/v2/karuna_is/index.htm Karuna] from the [[New Kadampa Tradition]]. Óskar Ingólfsson is a contact person for Zen in Iceland. There is also an Icelandic Buddhist association with a few hundred members. In addition, Rev. José M. Tirado, a Jodo Shinshu priest, poet and activist with an extensive background in Zen, Vajrayana and Fourth Way studies, has taught an eclectic blend of each in a meditation-based counseling program several times in Iceland. [http://www.thepathofmyexperience.com] ====Islam==== {{Main|Islam in Iceland}} Salmann Tamimi is a contact person for the nation's Muslim Association. ====Judaism==== {{main|History of the Jews in Iceland}} The number of Jews is uncertain, but generally agreed to very low. The Jewish population is small enough that it has not registered and is listed as unspecified/other groups. There is no synagogue or prayer house. There was no significant Jewish emigration to Iceland until the twentieth century, though some Jewish merchants lived in Iceland temporarily at times during the nineteenth century. Icelanders' attitude toward the Jews has ranged from sympathy for their plight to blaming them for "Bolshevism", among other things. Although most Icelanders deplored their persecution, they usually refused entry to Jews who were fleeing Nazi Germany, so the Jewish population did not rise much during the Second World War. [http://notendur.centrum.is/~snorrigb/Jewicel.htm#Jews%20in%20Iceland] Today the Jews remain a minor element of Iceland. Up to 60 people do attend occasional Jewish holiday parties or lectures by Jewish immigrants, but this does not necessarily reflect the actual Jewish population. The [[World Jewish Congress]] had no figures for Iceland in 1998, suggesting that the numbers are under 120 (and likely well under that figure). [http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/rel_jew] The web site for the Catholic diocese indicated there are only 30 Jewish people in Iceland [http://www.vortex.is/catholica/endex.html], but as their estimate of Muslims is unusually low they might be underreporting Judaism as well. Still, it seems that, save for the European [[micro-states]], Iceland might have the lowest Jewish population of any European nation. Despite the small population, the [[First Lady of Iceland]], [[Dorrit Moussaieff]], is a [[Bukharian Jew]] and is likely the most significant Jewish woman in Icelandic history. Moussaief was born in [[Israel]] and carries both Israeli and Icelandic citizenship. She still follows some aspects of [[Judaism]] – lighting, for example, the first candle of the [[Menorah (Hanukkah)|menorah]] on the eve of [[Hannukkah]] and teaching her husband about the holiday. [http://shlomomoussaieff.blogspot.com/2005/04/from-bukhara-to-iceland-dorrit.html] She has introduced Jewish culture to the country in a positive way in order to counter anti-Semitism. [http://news.walla.co.il/?w=//903179&tb=/i/7276770] ===Non-religion or secularism=== Eleven percent of Icelanders "don't believe in any sort of spirit, God, or life force", according to a 2004 [[Eurobarometer]] study '''Social Values, Science and Technology.''' [http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/eb_special_en.htm] This is lower than in [[Norway]] or the [[United Kingdom]], while expressed belief in God was about the same in Iceland as in the UK and higher than in most of [[Scandinavia]]. The majority of Icelanders preferred to express belief in a "spirit or life force" rather than in God or a generalized disbelief. [[Siðmennt]] [http://www.sidmennt.is/] is an organization promoting [[secularism]]. It is similar to the [[Human-Etisk Forbund]] in Norway and claims a membership between 100 and 200, a far lower proportion of the nation than the Norwegian organization. Also unlike the Human-Etisk Forbund, Siðmennt is not recognized as a religious community by the state and thus does not receive any funds from the state like registered religious organizations do. People outside religious organizations still pay the "church tax" but the money goes to the [[University of Iceland]]. There are other Icelandic instutitions for the secular branches within society, such as the [[SAMT]] or ''Samfélag trúlausra''. [http://www.vantru.is Vantrú] is a vocal association of [[Atheism|atheists]] that criticizes all things supernatural. [[Skeptíkus]] is an association of atheists on the [[University of Iceland]] campus. ==Table from 2006 census== {| ! Religious group !! number !! % of population |- | [[National Church of Iceland]] || 252261 || 82.09% |- | [[Reykjavík Free Church]] || 7009 || 2.28% |- | [[Hafnarfjörður Free Church]] || 4757 || 1.55% |- | [[Roman Catholic Church]] || 7283 || 2.37% |- | [[Reykjavík Independent Church]] || 2716 || 0.88% |- | [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostal]] Church || 1882 || 0.61% |- | [[Seventh-day Adventist Church]] || 765 || 0.25% |- | [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] || 684 || 0.22% |- | The Way, Free Church || 706 || 0.23% |- | The Cross || 669 || 0.22% |- | The Icelandic Christ-Church || 249 || 0.08% |- | [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] || 176 || 0.06% |- | [[Serbian Orthodox Church]] || 161 || 0.05% |- | Kefas - Christian Community || 148 || 0.05% |- | Parish of St. Nicholas of the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] || 171 || 0.06% |- | The Church of Evangelism || 97 || 0.03% |- | First Baptist Church || 31 || 0.01% |- | Asa Faith Society || 1039 || 0.34% |- | Buddhist Association of Iceland || 650 || 0.21% |- | [[Bahá'í Faith]] || 400 || 0.13% |- | [[Islam|Muslim]] Association || 352 || 0.11% |- | Betania || 157 || 0.05% |- | Sjónarhæð Congregation || 59 || 0.02% |- | [[Zen]] in Iceland - Night Pasture || 63 || 0.02% |- | The Believers' Fellowship || 40 || 0.01% |- | Other and not specified || 16744 || 5.45% |- | Outside religious organizations || 7997 || 2.60% |} ==Eurobarometer Poll 2005== According to the most recent [[Eurobarometer|Eurobarometer Poll]] [[2005]],<ref name=EUROBAROMETER>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_225_report_en.pdf|title=Eurobarometer on Social Values, Science and technology 2005 - page 11|accessdate=2007-05-05}}</ref> * '''38%''' of Icelandic citizens responded that <font color="#884400">''"they believe there is a God"''</font>. * '''48%''' answered that <font color="#884400">''"they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force"''</font>. * '''11%''' answered that <font color="#884400">''"they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, God, or life force"''</font>. * '''3%''' responded that they <font color="#884400">''"don't know"''</font>. ==See also== *[[Roman Catholicism in Iceland]] *[[Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland]] *[[Islam in Iceland]] *[[Judaism in Iceland]] *[[Religion by country]] ==Notes== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.vortex.is/catholica/endex.html Roman Catholic Diocese of Reykjavík] ==References== *'''Medieval Iceland:Society, Sagas, and Power''' by Jesse L. Byock ([[University of California]] Press, [[1988]]: Specifically pages 137-164) *'''The History of Iceland''' by Gunnar Karlsson ([[University of Minnesota]] Press, [[2000]]) ISBN 0-8166-3589-7 *[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2005/51557.htm US Department of State Report] *[http://www.mcc.is/page.asp?Id=793&sid=251&topid=0 Information center on religious groups in Iceland] {{Iceland topics|state=autocollapse}} {{Religion in Europe}} [[Category:Religion in Iceland| ]] [[fr:Religion en Islande]]