The Viking Leif Ericson was a Christian Evangelist

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Even if that is true... so what? And, of course, he did not "discover" North America, since there were already people here.
 
Even if that is true... so what? And, of course, he did not "discover" North America, since there were already people here.

Well, I thought it was kind of interesting. I mean I knew the
Pilgrims were very religious and the settlers who founded Jamestown
planted a cross on their first landing
point -- but Leif Ericson, the Viking -- now that was a surprise.
 
Umm, what about this contradicting part:"His mother listened to his words and became a Christian. So devout in her belief was she, she asked Eric to have a church built for worship. Grudgingly, Eric fulfilled her request, but he himself never accepted the faith or visited the finished church."

I bolded the area of interest.
 
Umm, what about this contradicting part:"His mother listened to his words and became a Christian. So devout in her belief was she, she asked Eric to have a church built for worship. Grudgingly, Eric fulfilled her request, but he himself never accepted the faith or visited the finished church."

I bolded the area of interest.
And, really, that doesn't matter either. :p
 
Well, I thought it was kind of interesting. I mean I knew the
Pilgrims were very religious and the settlers who founded Jamestown
planted a cross on their first landing
point -- but Leif Ericson, the Viking -- now that was a surprise.
Is that all you have to say? Because, frankly, it is one step away from some kid saying "I saw Justin Timberlake wearing Nikes... I WEAR NIKES!!! WOOHOOO!!!!"
 
Umm, what about this contradicting part:"His mother listened to his words and became a Christian. So devout in her belief was she, she asked Eric to have a church built for worship. Grudgingly, Eric fulfilled her request, but he himself never accepted the faith or visited the finished church."

I bolded the area of interest.

Well, Just for the record, Eric was Leif's father. I'm just
putting some history out there about the religious foundations of North America.
 
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Well, Just for the record, Eric was Leif\'s father. I'm just
putting some history out there about the religious foundations of North America.

Again, so what? Your post doesn't show any such "religious foundation"... the first people here weren't Christians, and if you are claiming otherwise then you're showing both religious AND racial bigotry.
 
Well, Just for the record, Eric was Leif\'s father. I'm just
putting some history out there about the religious foundations of North America.


History. Okay.


CAN ONE OF THE MODS PLEASE MOVE THIS THREAD TO THE HISTORY SUBFORUM?

THANKS!
 
Yes, I was surprised to learn that Leif Ericson (the man who discovered North America about 500 years before Columbus) and all of his men were Christians. And he was an evangelist to the country of Greenland.

http://www.viking.no/e/people/leif/e-leiv.htm

This is wrong! Leif Ericson discovered America before he became a christian. He made his wealth on his famed voyage to Labrador and then returned home. He was at loggerheads with his father and there were few prospects for him in Greenland. He was still exiled from Iceland at the time. He sailed to Norway, probably in 997, his trip to America was 995-996.

I don't think he became a christian to spread its goodness. He became a christian in an attempt to usurp his father's leadership.
 
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This is wrong! Leif Ericson discovered America before he became a christian. He made his wealth on his famed voyage to Labrador and then returned home. He was at loggerheads with his father and there were few prospects for him in Greenland. He was still exiled from Iceland at the time. He sailed to Norway, probably in 997, his trip to America was 995-996.

I don't think he became a christian to spread its goodness. He became a christian in an attempt to usurp his father's leadership.


Do you have a source for this.
 
Minor point, but rather pertinent to DOC's stated reason for starting this thread.

Leif Ericson had absolutely nothing to do with the founding of the United States of America.
 
To Slingblade, If you don't like the forum than stay out, it's very simple. Maybe the fact that many of the first explorers from Europe were Christians tells us something. Even Columbus was heavy into the bible. I realize Columbus had his faults and did some bad things but we shouldn't ru away from history or ask that it be hidde somewhere.

As you ca see the 14th letter of the alphabet is ot workig o my keyboard. A-y advise out there. Also earlier whe I hit E-ter it would go to the -ext li-e & pri-t a letter p. Looks like I might be out for awhile. Ca- a virus do this.
 
To Slingblade, If you don't like the forum than stay out, it's very simple.
She was simply pointing out that the topic of this thread is history, not religion (as you yourself stated), so it rightly belongs in the history subforum.

Maybe the fact that many of the first explorers from Europe were Christians tells us something.
I think it tells us that almost everyone in Europe at the time was a christian.

Even Columbus was heavy into the bible. I realize Columbus had his faults and did some bad things but we shouldn't ru away from history or ask that it be hidde somewhere.
Indeed, history should be taught exactly as it occurred, warts and all. Things like the Spanish inquisition, the many religious justifications for slavery and racism, the complete lack of corroborating accounts of Jesus' life.......

As you ca see the 14th letter of the alphabet is ot workig o my keyboard. A-y advise out there. Also earlier whe I hit E-ter it would go to the -ext li-e & pri-t a letter p. Looks like I might be out for awhile. Ca- a virus do this.
Have you tried cleaning you keyboard?
 
Even if that is true... so what? And, of course, he did not "discover" North America, since there were already people here.
I've posted this theory on another thread, but I think it bears repeating...

This is DOC's MO. In his Jefferson and "Peter in Rome" thread, he posted a point that was minor and, even if true, didn't mean anything. All direct questions asking him what his point was for raising these issues were usually ignored or simply would accuse the questioner of personal attacks.

I am left to assume(since he refuses to say it) his point is to "prove" that christianity is great and wonderful and is the only thing that is worthwhile because
1.) Peter was in Rome
2.) Jefferson was devoutly religious
3.) Communism would have succeeded if it was christian
4.) only christianity can rescue someone from drugs
5.) Secular humanism is a religion
6.) ACLU hates christianity
7.) Leif Errickson is a christian

Unfortunately, all of these claims are "not even wrong".

However, this fact doesn't seem to matter to him. It is the quantity of arguments rather than the quality of the arguments that he is going for. Eventually, I expect him to post something along the lines of, "How can you continue to deny? Look at all of these points, christianity must be valid..." It is with the hope that at this point that all contrary arguments will sound like the ones coming from a petulant child.

I could be wrong, but we'll see. In any case, such strategy is only effective in debate theater. On this internet, which can be read at leisure, truth wins out.
 
I don't think he became a christian to spread its goodness. He became a christian in an attempt to usurp his father's leadership.

There was another very good reason for Leif to convert. To trade or do any sort of business in Norway in Norway by this time, you had to be a Christian. So people really had no choice, except becoming an outlaw on the still pagan Iceland.

It really doesn't paint Christianity in a good light. Norway was converted with the sword, or the threat of the sword, and the One True Religion was enforced heavily.

ETA: Just wanted to add, it doesn't matter what religion Leif was. He was an awesome person either way.
 
Even if that is true... so what? And, of course, he did not "discover" North America, since there were already people here.
Discovered North America for the benefit of Europe. Or do you correct your friends when they say "I discovered this nice little bookstore"? ;)
 
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