When I play Skyrim I often find myself wondering why the Temples in the province belong the Nine Divines, yet I feel I decently often hear about Shor(as well as Sovngarde), Ysmir and Kyne(and Mara as her Handmaiden, so the temple in Riften is kinda not a part of this) and that I hear about these second only to Talos.

From what I(think I) know most of the provinces under the Septim Empire had harsher terms imposed on their cultures than Morrowind had. Is it out of touch to think that the Temples in Skyrim was changed in under the 3rd Empire by the Imperial Cult, but that many Nords still worship their old pantheon(+ Talos) anyway? Seems decently reasonable to me, but I'd like some input from the Lore forum.

Imperialism.

The Empire's Temples ended up casting a shadow over older traditions.

There's numerous explanations. Akatosh could have come to be accepted after the events of Oblivion. The fall of the Empire created a Holy Roman Empire scenario with the Medes. The Medes might have been more forceful in their dealings regarding the conversion of the Nine Divines compared to the Septims.

Besides, it isn`t really old pantheon+Talos. Ysmir is already part of the nordic pantheon, he just gained the name Talos.

Talos has replaced Shor.

A Cult of Hippies on Hrothgar and Hroki are the only real signs of Kyne Worship in Skyrim.

The only hope for the Nord People and Skyrim is a leader having a vision under the Gildergleam or Edlergleam, and enforcing a reinstatement of the Old Gods, and pulling a purge like Ysmir of the Imperialised versions of the true Eight and One.

At least Talos is not Tiber, yet.

I don't think the Nords (Aside from the Dragon Cult it seems) ever really had a centralized religion. They always came off to me that deeds speak louder then actively sitting around some temple and meditating. They probably did have priests dedicated to them, how they actually functioned is another story. But yeah, the lack of a Nordic pantheon in Skyrim was rather jarring. Not that the Nords in Skyrim seemed all that devout, save for Talos worshipers.