Why Did Vikings Raid Monasteries?

Vikings often attacked monasteries because they were valuable, unguarded targets that would yield lots of wealth for each raid. Christians were sufficiently caught off guard at the idea that people would attack holy sites that they were utterly unprepared for the incursions.

Why did the Vikings raid churches and monasteries?

From the point of view of the Vikings, these attacks were probably made where it was thought that they would pay and could reap great rewards. ... The monasteries often contained large amounts of ecclesiastical silver and were not as well defended as the trading towns.

Why did the Vikings have no respect for the monasteries?

The Vikings believed in many different gods who had different purposes, e.g. Thor was the god of war. The Vikings therefore had no respect for the Christian monastery or its monks.