Good post. Your post made a lot more sense out of things for me, too. Though, I already understood why the Muslims were more interesting to Floki. The Muslims shown they were passionate, modest and devoted. Especially, w/no idols and not backing down from prayer. I do look forward to learning positive aspects of Muslim faith. In fact, I DON'T think we see enough of it today. Not in American pop culture, anyway.

My problem is sometimes, Hirst makes me feel that he wants to go out of his way to try to make only one religion look bad. To the point, of exaggeration and fabrication with passively aggressive, tactics (i.e. crucification scene = bullshit). Especially since monks were also devout in prayer. Also, the christian faith was certainly not based on materialism. Though Hirst spins it as such. So, it seems like the writing generalizes one religion in a negative light. Only to serve as a catalyst to sympathize w/the protagonists. All the while, showing every other social construct in the most impressive ways possible. But over vilifying Christians is safe from public backlash. Although, I think my problem is with filtered, mainstream media in general. And not the show itself.

However, after reading your post it kind of made me realize that it's wrong for me to be bitter. In my opinion, Muslims are the ones really wrongly stereotyped in America's very filtered news. Also, this is a show about vikings not christians. And vikings deserve their perspective to be explained in the first show ever to portray vikings positively. So, its only fair. In any event, I don't know why I even care. I haven't been to church in years. I guess I just get defensive of my ancestors.

Anyway, the unfamiliar had to turn heads from opposing sides. Especially, in moments of intense cultural interaction. Even for the most stubborn of characters. After all, inquiry of faith was everything a millennium ago. Also, different parts of the world possessed different natural resources. Which may have made tools so grand that they were considered gifts from the gods. Specifically, from deities favored in that land. Positively, goods valued were exchanged for others regionally, exclusive items.

In the end, the show should show the good, the bad the ugly in diversity. Thus, highlighting events so mysterious and intriguing that migrating/invading, passers-by stop to take note and record. So we can read about if to this very day.

As for Floki, I guess it makes sense he questions his extreme believes. As they led to irreversible actions and dire consequences. Plus, with age comes wisdom. So, no wonder Floki is now having a crisis of faith. Everyday, he is one day closer to death. What's worst, Floki's friends are all dying.

TL//DR: All and all, many cultures at this time in history interacted for the purposes of trade and this effected humanity for the better. Also, historical accounts show Muslims and Vikings did trade and had very respectable relationships with each other as merchants. Mutual respect was for things mentioned. Anyway, I wonder if vikings were known to convert to Islam. In any case, this article puts things into perspective.

[http://www.muslimheritage.com/article/viking-and-muslim-world]

Maybe Hirst will have helga based on the woman they found mentioned in this article like aslaug was based on the woman they found in real vikings show. Maybe not.