Black Metal & Christianity

Artist Bjarne Melgaard Exhibit on Black Metal

The black metal community feels that the forced conversion that took place over a millennia ago is at the root of cultural problems today. First, Vikernes has studied and written on the differences between Christianity and paganism and believes that today’s problems are due to Christianization and acceptance of (what he believes are) hypocrisy, nihilism, and ignorance. He begins on his website by discussing his personal beliefs about paganism. Mainly, Vikernes believes that as a pagan, following original pagan teaches, he should trust science, not “spirits” and must scorn rights for all races, homosexuals, and unborn children. ¹

Black Metal & the Christian Cross

Further, he believes that the problem with Christianity is not necessarily Christian morals but the Christian obsession with making themselves “humble sub-human slave-men, ordered by [Jesus] to serve the criminal jews as [Jesus’] ‘chosen people’ with special rights at the expense of everyone else.” ² He also says that the problem with Christianity is that it is dogmatic, hypocritical, and based on misconceptions and ignorance and that its followers are stupid, unfit races. ³ He says Christians practice hypocrisy all the time—here, Vikernes speaks specifically of the biblical tale of David & Goliath. Vikernes says that David did not win because he was stronger and better, but rather because he cheated and used a hidden weapon. ⁴ Vikernes also dislikes the traditions surrounding conversion to Christianity: “baptism is the ritual murder of the non-jew pagan soul.” ⁵

Church burnings in Norway began in 1992, mainly because of anger towards christians for building churches on sacred pagan groups. Vikernes was convicted for three and strongly suspected for involvement in one other. ⁶ In interviews in Until the Light Takes Us, Vikernes is unashamed and is willing to discuss his involvement. Others have become increasingly vocal in the black metal community. Notably, the lead singer of band Gorgoroth stated in 2007 that “Church burnings and all these things are, of course, things that I support 100 percent and it should have been done much more and will be done much more in the future. We have to remove every trace from what Christianity and the Semitic roots have to offer this world.” ⁷

Vikernes Then & Now

Vikernes has been released from prison but still holds many of his original beliefs. He said in 2009 that he is still motivated by hatred for Christianity and wants to continue to reclaim land that early Christians had forcibly taken from pagans. ⁸ Vikernes apparently did not learn his lesson while he was in prison: in July of 2013 Vikernes and his wife were arrested in France on suspicion that they were planning terrorist attacks. The two were released due to lack of evidence for acts of terrorism but were still charged with inciting racial hatred against Jews and Muslims. ⁹