--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Paganism, it turns out, was the original…" description: "\"“Paganism, it turns out, was the original Icelandic religion before a mass conversion in the year 1000. That was largely seen as a business decision, a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/437/eric-weiner-1843_christianity_paganism-it-turns-out-was-the-original-i_1835254.jpg" --- # Paganism, it turns out, was the original Icelandic… ![“Paganism, it turns out, was the original Icelandic religion before a mass conversion in the year 1000. That was largely seen as a business decision, and Icelanders have never been particularly good Christians. They attend church if someone is born or wed or dies, but otherwise they are, as one…” quote by Eric Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/437/eric-weiner-1843_christianity_paganism-it-turns-out-was-the-original-i_1835254.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/437/eric-weiner-1843_christianity_paganism-it-turns-out-was-the-original-i_1835254.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/437/eric-weiner-1843_christianity_paganism-it-turns-out-was-the-original-i_1835254.jpg) > ““Paganism, it turns out, was the original Icelandic religion before a mass conversion in the year 1000. That was largely seen as a business decision, and Icelanders have never been particularly good Christians. They attend church if someone is born or wed or dies, but otherwise they are, as one Icelander put it, “atheists with good intentions.”” [Eric Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-weiner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Iceland’s early religion was pagan; after conversion, many Icelanders remain culturally secular, attending church only for life events. **In simple terms:** Icelanders are largely secular with occasional religious participation. Key Takeaway Respect cultural traditions while acknowledging personal belief. Themes religion secularism culture identity tradition Mood curious analytical Type historical cultural When to use this quote - family ceremonies - public holidays - community gatherings - personal reflection Key Concepts anthropology history social norms Questions to Reflect On - How do cultural histories shape modern belief systems? - What role does tradition play in personal faith? A Different Perspective The statement may generalize an entire population’s beliefs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Good intentions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-intentions/) [Paganism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paganism/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [“Yet the ailment is virtually nonexistent in Iceland. There is a higher prevalence of the disorder in the northeastern United States than in Iceland.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-weiner/yet-the-ailment-is-virtually-nonexistent-in-iceland-there-is-a-higher/) [Eric Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-weiner/) > [“Island populations often breed strange and interesting genomes. 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Bucchianeri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-a-bucchianeri/) > [“Tea was the order of the day, neat for the hardened drinker or containing a tot of whiskey for those who liked it watered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carole-carlton/tea-was-the-order-of-the-day-neat-for-the-hardened-drinker-or/) [Carole Carlton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carole-carlton/) ## More by Eric Weiner > [We can't love a place or a person if we always have one foot out the door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-weiner/we-can-t-love-a-place-or-a-person-if-we-always-have-one-foot-out-the/) [Eric Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-weiner/) > [“Money sometimes buys happiness. You have to break it down, though. Money is a means to an end. 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