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Grex Synthesis Item 78: Four Ways of Thinking about Ragnarok
Entered by bjorn on Wed Sep 13 17:17:53 UTC 1995:

This item is about the common theories (or way myths are written) of
Ragnarok.

Despite its inconsitiency, the thing I see holding all Norse Myths
of Ragnarok together is the ending, with eight gods living, and moved
to Gimle.

But I digress.  On to the theories.

1.) Ragnarok has already happened

2.) Ragnarok has yet to happen

3.) The Christians brought Ragnarok in addition to creating it

4.) The Christians merely created Ragnarok

As a Volsung, I will not tell you which theory I live by.  But I will
tell you that as long as a Christian (or any one else for that matter)
does not try to force his/her beliefs on me, I can tolerate them.  I say
this now because I used to have an adamant, perhaps unfounded, hatred
of Christianity, but that time is over.  Discuss and Contemplate.

4 responses total.

#1 of 4 by iggy on Wed Sep 13 19:29:46 1995:

i think it is yet to happen.
balder and hodr will be released from hel... and the
offspring of the other gods will survive in the new world.
and they find that one abode of theirs, <gimili??> remains standing.
maybe some dwarves and giants survive too..
now, my point is that i see a cycle going here.
ymir and buri were encased in ice, and were freed by the cow mother.
this implies that they were remnants of a previous civilization, and
went on to create life in this cycle. 
after ragnarok, a few survive <fire, i believe> and go on to create
a new civilization.
fire and ice are the main creative forces in the norse belief system.
ymir and buri survived ice, which can be assumed wreaked havok
on the past cycle. this one has inhabitants who survived fire.
presumably they will go out with ice..
the idea of fire and ice alternating at the cycle's end wasnt
expressley spelled out in any literature i have studied. but
i think it is a fair conclusion to draw.
<i like all things cyclical ;-) >

#2 of 4 by bjorn on Wed Sep 13 21:49:17 1995:

Kind of seems like the Norsemen believe in reincarnation, eh?  Interesting
enough that man begat god in this instance.  However, the workings of the
Nine Worlds are a little weird.  It is difficult enough with the
thousands of correct speelings of the names of the gods, but only one
or two correct annunciations per god.

The creation of the world to the Norsemen, involves in additon to the death
of Ymir, Muspellheim and Niflheim meeting.  Think on that, fire and ice makes,
water, which in turn makes 80% of our bodies.  Seems like the Norsemen were
handy with science.

Actually, your conclusion is quite logical.  Though to be honest, I must
admit that I hate logic.  I feel that logic is fatal, for it causes you
to align yourself too far with reality.  Maybe not though.  Maybe logic is
fiction.

#3 of 4 by kami on Thu Sep 14 01:34:33 1995:

Someone pointed out to me that the Norse creation story sounds a lot like
the "big bang"...

#4 of 4 by bjorn on Thu Sep 14 15:30:38 1995:

More like an implosion instead of an explosion.

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