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

Authors

  • Simon Nygaard Aarhus University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33356/temenos.49454

Keywords:

sacral rulers, pre-Christian Scandinavian religions, pre-Christian Hawaiian religions, Robert N. Bellah, cultural evolutionary theory, cultural evolution, typological comparisons, chiefdom religion

Abstract

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.

Author Biography

  • Simon Nygaard, Aarhus University
    PhD Fellow, Department for the Study of Religion, School of Culture and Society, Aarhus University

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Published

2016-06-01

Issue

Vol. 52 No. 1 (2016)

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2016 Temenos - Nordic Journal of Comparative Religion

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How to Cite

Nygaard, S. (2016). Sacral rulers in pre-Christian Scandinavia: The possibilities of typological comparisons within the paradigm of cultural evolution. Temenos - Nordic Journal for the Study of Religion, 52(1), 9-35. https://doi.org/10.33356/temenos.49454