Is Estonia going Pagan?

Estonia has a rep for being both sceptical about Christianity but also rather proud of their own local paganism. What is that about? It appears to have been a hail-Mary strategy to protect their culture and national identity.

[@haalsaalist1143]

The effort you have put into this - WOW!
I'm humbled!
I'd just like to add this (comment)
As someone who has identified as a pagan or atheist for most of my life I have come to the conclusion (in my 40's) that I'm not either. I am what the culture I was brought up in has encoded in me and most of that has been unintentionally (meaning children learn from what they see, by mimicking, rather than from preaching). Thus I'd say the values we hold dear and express/show/communicate has more to do with our parents and grandparents and .... (enter Bible reference for 7 generations) rather than what is actually said in any religious text.
The way we rationalize something is another matter altogether.

[@rehrmbacher]

Very fascinating and enlightening! Didn't have a clue about Estonia, history & believes. It's great to know there are resilient people who were able to maintain their culture, identity, and believes despite all the adverse pressures throughout history, especially in Europe, between East and west. Thank you! Marlin:)

[@svenkristjan8553]

Public opinion surveys show that more than half of the Estonian population believes in the spirituality of nature. But still there is constant pressure to these natural holy places by wood industry. There are sacred groves that have been destroyed by logging companies. Places that where protected by the law. Money corrupts people who believe only in money.

[@KohaAlbert]

Kuid esineb ka vastuolu, kus Eesti paganlust tunnistab vaid mõni tuhat - samas kui enamus isegi ei tea mis need, maausk ja taarausk, on.

[@JDoeX]

The paganistic traditions, such as folk singing is actually what started the Singing Revolution and ended the Soviet Union's domain in the Baltics.
Also, another fun fact; the Saaremaa Vikings were called Oeselians or Osilians in english (Ösels in Estonian) and they were the absolute LAST stronghold of Paganism. Several crusades failed and when one finally succeeded, the vikings there pretended to convert but burnt down the church as soon as the forces left. This happened the exact same way once more until the final conversion.
You can read all about it here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oeselians

[@marlin4429]

@@JDoeX thanks for the comment and link. The people of Saaremaa were totally badass.

[@stevenleslie8557]

After watching your video, Estonia's pagan practices makes more sense.

[@BFWRT]

Perhaps because of "maausk" but more likely because of Stalins "war on food" and what my elders endured...
"Don't play with food" is what I was thought/told by my parents and grandparents, almost religiously, starting as early as I can remember.
However, we were also told to respect our surroundings and not to waste in any way.
To me "maausk" is more about the energy of all things and about avoiding needless harm.

[@davinkugaming]

great video!

[@cwpv2477]

thank u for the video

[@tiitsaul9036]

Thanks 👍

[@templaraxion]

Fantastic work making this video

[@marlin4429]

Thank you.

[@lacallewalktours]

Very interesting!

[@Vanasuss]

that was good

[@megaotstoy]

as far as I can remember (being born and raised in Tallinn) Christianity historically had been a religion of colonial powers (Dutch, Swedish, German and Russian) while Baltic native people used to be Pagan, like Celtic Britons

[@eeroving9770]

Dutch ? 🙃🙃🙃🙃. You mean Danes, I quess.

[@megaotstoy]

@@eeroving9770 do I really look like I give a flying F?

[@karlkarl93]

@@megaotstoy i mean you cleary do give at least a little bit of a f

[@daivapetrikaite]

Nice job😊

[@marlin4429]

Thanks Daiva. Had I seen your videos I would have looked you up in Lithuania. I traveled everywhere by bicycle.

[@nowhere474]

REJECT THE MIDDLE EASTERN GODS

[@gcanaday1]

I have no idea where you got your idea about what monotheism is.