A comparison between a Christian & pagan
account of Hel's domain

Even after the birth of the Christian religion, the Pagan concept of the world after death as a place of great joy clearly survived. In Scandinavia it was a Goddess called Hel's domain (Closely related the the Goddess in her main aspect called Freya whose appearance is associated with fire), the holy land of the underworld. The underworld halls were places filled with great light, where the dead ate and drank, and gave their attention to the well being of their kin or clan in the world of the living.

The dead were located within the underworld in "barrows" situated near dwellings so that they could watch over the living and the living could honor the dead. It was believed that too much mourning or sorrow by those who remained would bring pain and harm to the dead.

The dead were not cut off from the living. They could rejoin their loved ones in the world above for short periods of time. They could communicate with the living through dreams as well, and often appear to children as nymphs. The Danish called their dead ancestors elves or fallen angels. In Sweden they were called fairies and were seen dancing in circle dances. In Hel's domain the dead lived well and joyously. While they dwelled in their underworld forever, their spirits could also be reborn to the tribe.

As Christianity found a hold in Scandinavia, teachings of Hel's domain changed. It became feared as a place of sorrow and suffering (hell). The influence of Christianity can be seen in the change that dictated that the manner in which one died, and the purity of one's heart decided where one would end up. It became the place of punishment for the retribution of "sin" - transgressing the moral code as dictated by leaders of the church.

Right through the Dark ages technology and progress were suppressed because the Church, which has gained political power, feared free thought lest they lose their control over the people. The Reformation started the slow change in history, yet to this day people only associate the word Hel (hell) with punishment after death, as opposed to the Goddess, Hel's domain of the underworld. Even I was ignorant of it until several months ago.

Don't misunderstand my dissection of the Christian faith. I come from a very strict "born again Christian upbringing" and went off the Bible college after school (of my own choice). And have a very thorough knowledge, experience and insight in the Bible and the Christian faith. So, what went wrong?

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