It would be fair to argue that until the current administration, the average American did not think about Greenland from one day to the next. With fewer than 57,000 people, its population is about the same as the city of Terre Haute, Indiana. Its geographical size is about three times the size of Te xas, making it the world’s largest island. Greenland is a territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. Sometime around 2500 B.C. began the first human population with the arrival of the people of the Saqqaq culture, who disappeared around 800 B.C. They were replaced with people known as the Dorset culture. But beginning in 986 A.D. came the arrival of the peoples of Iceland and Norway. Eric the Red arrived with 14 ships. In 1261, the Norse settlers came under the dominion of the Kingdom of Denmark. Changes in climate caused a colder environment, reduced food production and the Nordic cities declined. By the 15th century, the Norse peoples had abandoned the territory. Between 1606 and 1607, King Christian IV of Norway and Denmark sent explorers back to Greenland to renew claims on the land and a number of old sites were repopulated. When the Kingdoms of Norway and Denmark separated in 1814, Denmark got Greenland and has been its protector ever since. In 1979, they gained home rule but remained Danish citizens. The United States attempted to buy Greenland in 1867 and also in 1910, but the efforts were refused. The U.S. and Denmark signed a treaty in 1916 that allowed the Americans to purchase the Danish West Indies, today’s U.S. Virgin Islands, for $25 million. As part of the arrangement, the U.S. ceded to Denmark rights to Greenland. Nonetheless, in 1946, President harry Truman attempted to purchase Greenland, but the offer was rejected. Today the United States has a very small number of troops there as part of its NATO obligations. Greenland is a predominantly Christian country. It came in Roman Catholic form around 1000 B.C., and was known as the Diocese of Garor. Its first bishop was Arnaldur and bishops continued to be appointed for centuries, until the Norse settlement went into decline. When the Europeans returned to Greenland, the form of Christianity they brought with them was Lutheranism. Today they have their own Lutheran bishop, 19 parishes, 40 actual churches and 25 priests. Lutherans compose about 90% to 95% of the population. There is a smattering of other religions, including Mormons, Eastern Orthodox and Catholics. A number of indigenous beliefs remain among the current Inuit population, existing alongside Lutheranism, who deserve some mention. Traditionally the Inuit possess a variety of gods such as Nanook, the Master of Polar Bears; Pookeengak, the goddess of domestic life; and Agloolik, an evil spirit who lives in the water and flips over fishing boats but might also help wandering travelers. Many of their spiritual powers are not specific gods, but spirits, such as Qailertetang, the spirit of the weather, or Silap Inua, the personification of the air. One of the main purposes of honoring the gods and spirits is to restore harmony to the cosmos when something unusual has happened. There is no Inuit afterlife and no supreme god or creator. The purpose of the religion is not avoiding hell or gaining heaven, but dealing with the universe around them. This recognition of spirits and ritual has become an active part of the spirituality of Greenland Christians and it is not possible to do justice to such a culture in these short words. Related Articles A Kentucky cathedral called ‘America’s Notre Dame’ gets a rehab, gargoyles and all Erika Kirk calls for a Christian revival as tour starts at Riverside church Christian leaders urge protecting worshippers’ rights after protesters interrupt service US Catholic cardinals urge Trump administration to embrace a moral compass in foreign policy Professing Faith: A look at the ancient Egyptian calendar and its holy days The expression “ends of the earth” is a well-known phrase — indeed it is used 46 times in the Christian Bible, such as when the resurrected Jesus tells the perplexed apostles, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) The devout of Greenland who dwell at the very limits of the world may take some comfort in knowing that they are not forgotten. Gregory Elder, a Redlands resident, is a professor emeritus of history and humanities at Moreno Valley College and a Roman Catholic priest. Write to him at Professing Faith, P.O. Box 8102, Redlands, CA 92375-1302, email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @Fatherelder. ...read more read less