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The Vikings

Are you watching "The Vikings"  television series on the History Channel?  It takes place in Scandinavia, probably what is now Sweden.  It features slaughter and ritual as a way of life.  Moreover, it is totally violent; it has intrigue; it show fidelity and infidelity;  it shows intelligence without and without learning; it demonstrates conflicts of belief; it supports a life of fate depending on gods. It is anything but post modern.  Yet, it is attractive, entertaining, fascinating, and even horrifying.

Among the gods it features Thor, the master, and Loki, the belligerent trickster - but with not innocent tricks.  BTW, many religions feature these two conflicting forces in life, including the bushmen of southern Africa. It involves priests, and seers, all culminating with important political decisions made in the wake of their assessments.

It titillates us all in our highly antiseptic world of political correctness, high secularism, social equality, fair share economics, and safe social landing nets.   It is a world where obeisance is dominant, where strength is prized, and where personal abilities dominate.  It shows the progression from simplicity to complexity to command.

If you have made the transition to our new world order, this series must be revolting, or at least illustrating how far we have come.  If you haven't quite made it, there remains a more primitive world that has a definite attraction, appeal, and affirmation toward a simpler but a horribly more violent past.

If you haven't seen this series, check it out.
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