Not really any time period sadly.Any particular time period you thinking of OP?
Any religion is going to borrow off of elements at the time. It's all well and good having Sven the prophet claim that there is but one god and Odin is his name, but without any kind of gradual reason or exclusionary arguments then you are not going to get far.
I would imagine as others have said that any major Germanic religion without going too far back is going to have roman involvement. Any earlier and the druids dominate the religious show which beyond conjecture we know jack all about.
Ok.Not really any time period sadly.
It depends on which of the gods is leading the pantheon. While it was traditionally Odin/Woden - the allfather, the wanderer, the wisest being - the Norse pagans supposedly came to favour Thor for his prowess during the Viking Age. If the Germans are forced to fight several wars against Christian neighbours in order to survive and maintain their way of life, it's possible that the shift to Thor will occur here too, meaning their morals may be based around violence and vengeance.
Pre-Christianity, maybe some Mithras/Baldr hybrid could work? It would be the most utterly manly man religion of all time though.
Most hybrid stuff I have heard of used Baldr just because he is the proposed god of the next world. Nothing else.Why Baldur and not Thor?
The result relies largely on the cause. If it's because of Roman influences (which seems necessary in order to get everyone looking the same way), that'd rather change a lot since I doubt the ceremonial role of Germanic kings in their religion would sit well with the Romans. Germanic paganism, as did Roman, was heavily intertwined with the ruling classes, which is part of why both gave way to Christianity amongst the common people. (as far as I know) Unless something radical happens I doubt you'd see a separate clergy develop.
Actually, according to some, Christianity spread earlier and faster in the Roman upper and urban classes then in poorer and more rural areas, and that this process repeated itself in northern Europe.
The Germanic and Norse Pagans didn't really proselytise. I imagine that any converts would come to their side for the sheer liberation of it, since their religions don't have strict doctrines and rules. Are you a warrior? Die on the battlefield and go to Valhalla. Want the crops to grow? Slaughter a cow and drench the soil in blood and give your prayers to Thor. Getting married? Cover yourself in chicken blood and lie naked under the moon for Frigge, or something. Have sex. Father bastards. Drink. Take mushrooms. Feast. Fight. Worship however you please in your every-day actions, rather than in overt acts of devotion.
For someone forced to toil under a Christian king, pay high taxes or risk severe punishment, see the bishops and priests grow fat with meat and gold, and drop everything to attend mass every Sunday, the idea of kicking back with a cold beer and a couple of women might be a very attractive prospect. The Pagans were also more poetic in their religion than the Christians, I'd say; it wasn't just the church and the king telling you to obey that had you believing. They believed they could hear the gods' in the thunder, see them in the sun and in the shape of a person's body. They saw ravens and believed Odin was watching over them. They had signs, things they could reach out to with all their senses to affirm their beliefs. The Christians had the scriptures.
The Germanic and Norse Pagans didn't really proselytise. I imagine that any converts would come to their side for the sheer liberation of it, since their religions don't have strict doctrines and rules. Are you a warrior? Die on the battlefield and go to Valhalla. Want the crops to grow? Slaughter a cow and drench the soil in blood and give your prayers to Thor. Getting married? Cover yourself in chicken blood and lie naked under the moon for Frigge, or something. Have sex. Father bastards. Drink. Take mushrooms. Feast. Fight. Worship however you please in your every-day actions, rather than in overt acts of devotion.
For someone forced to toil under a Christian king, pay high taxes or risk severe punishment, see the bishops and priests grow fat with meat and gold, and drop everything to attend mass every Sunday, the idea of kicking back with a cold beer and a couple of women might be a very attractive prospect. The Pagans were also more poetic in their religion than the Christians, I'd say; it wasn't just the church and the king telling you to obey that had you believing. They believed they could hear the gods' in the thunder, see them in the sun and in the shape of a person's body. They saw ravens and believed Odin was watching over them. They had signs, things they could reach out to with all their senses to affirm their beliefs. The Christians had the scriptures.
It spread mainly in the cities, yes, but calling that an upper class phenomenon is a bit of a stretch. While there undoubtedly was a portion of the elite that turned to Christianity (it's a big part of how they spread, and their homes were ideal places to congregate) it couldn't have been as successful without extensive outreach amongst the urban poor.Actually, according to some, Christianity spread earlier and faster in the Roman upper and urban classes then in poorer and more rural areas, and that this process repeated itself in northern Europe.
Snip Snap Snop.
Not talking about neopaganism (although that could be cool).Well, I haven't heard of those, but then again I'm not that interested in neopaganism.