Joining Asatru - advice and such

[lrnmlr]

I'm an atheist and I want to make the transition to asatru. I've read a few relatively helpful articles and done my research however I'm looking for some personal advice. My family is catholic so I know I won't get any help from them and I don't know any asatrur. I'd really be grateful for anything.
~ Thanks, Lauren.

 

[Riverwolf]

Will you remain atheist even after becoming Asatru? That would be interesting, since the word "Asatru" means "Loyal to the Aesir".

Either way, from what little I can guess from a person coming from a Catholic family, my personal advice is this: monotheistic thinking and polytheistic thinking are very, very different. Far more different, in fact, that a lot of people realize. Understand that by "monotheistic/polytheistic thinking", I don't necessarily refer to a state of theistic belief. Monotheistic thinking permeates virtually all of Western Culture, even among those who are atheist. There are very few who have either made the transition to, or already had, polytheistic thinking. Conceptions like pluralism and tribalism are common here. We also do not hold fast to any book or text. Lore is dynamic and ever-shifting. A story highly relevant to one generation is barely remembered the next.

Understand that the Old Way, as I prefer to call it as a Modern English translation of the Old English term "forn sidu" (Old Norse "fyrn siðr)", is hidden not just in the obvious places like the Edda Lays, Icelandic Sagas, and Wagnerian Operas. You'll find them in the fairy tales collected by the Brothers Grimm, in the legends of Arthur and Robin Hood ballads, in the Finnish Rune Songs, in many of the songs we sang as children, and even in our very language. Sure a lot of these now have a Christian coat on them, but they still contain faint echoes of the Old Way.

 

[lrnmlr]

No, I don't intend to remain atheist as it would defeat the point of converting to Asatru. I believe I'm more monotheistic as I used to be Catholic, however, I also believe that I can alter my thinking and transition to that of polytheistic thinking. I am very much drawn to a religion based of concepts and a malleable set of beliefs or lore rather than one following an unchanged document such as the Bible.
Although I currently don't own any books containing prose, stories or songs, I look forward to interpreting Asatru through those I can find online.
Thank you very much for your help.
~ Lauren.

 

[Riverwolf]

No, I don't intend to remain atheist as it would defeat the point of converting to Asatru. I believe I'm more monotheistic as I used to be Catholic, however, I also believe that I can alter my thinking and transition to that of polytheistic thinking. I am very much drawn to a religion based of concepts and a malleable set of beliefs or lore rather than one following an unchanged document such as the Bible.
Although I currently don't own any books containing prose, stories or songs, I look forward to interpreting Asatru through those I can find online.
Thank you very much for your help.
~ Lauren.

No prob. Do stick around; one aspect of pluralists, polytheists, and pagans is that one person's beliefs and practices are likely to widely differ from that of another's. Other Asatruar who have been doing this for longer than me are likely to give advice on things I have little or no knowledge of.

 

[nickateenrapper]

I have been on the path of Asatru for over a year now and am still learning to this day. From knowing nothing of the lore to basics and knowing the histories of our ancestors. The thing about this path is that everyone practices it a bit different.

I to came from a catholic family and its a bit difficult of a transition but have strength and you can do it. Most of my family just found out or have known for a short while of my conversion they are starting to get comfortable with it, upon realizing I am not running around with a helm with horns wanting to get a battleaxe and cause havoc everywhere. They are starting to realise its a self betterment and community based faith wile keeping peace and respect for the land.

The stories and the lore help us in many ways. They are IMO a base from what us modern day Asatruar built from this is a new age and we don't reject that we grow and evolve with it without forgetting were we came from and have love for our many ancestors that got us here.

If I may recommend to get the Prose Edda and the Poetic Edda as they are some of the oldest surviving lore about the Aesir and the Vanir.

I hope this helped

-Skál

 

[Jainarayan]

Kveðja ok heilsa, @nickateenrapper

 

[nickateenrapper]

Hello and Hailsa to you as well @Thorbjorn had to brush up on the Icelandic greeting quickly. *laugh*

 

[Jainarayan]

Hello and Hailsa to you as well @Thorbjorn had to brush up on the Icelandic greeting quickly. *laugh*

I actually don't speak either Icelandic or Old Norse, which should be obvious to anyone who does but I'm learning a little here and there. Unfortunately because Icelandic is really only a modern dialect of Old Norse, I'm sure I'm mixing them. They differences are slight but noticeable to native Icelandic speakers.

 

[nickateenrapper]

I actually don't speak either Icelandic or Old Norse, which should be obvious to anyone who does but I'm learning a little here and there. Unfortunately because Icelandic is really only a modern dialect of Old Norse, I'm sure I'm mixing them. They differences are slight but noticeable to native Icelandic speakers.

Right, I figured as much. Just the greeting I rarely see so I had to do a quick Google search to make sure my hunch was correct.

Yes Icelandic is the closest you can get to Old Norse. Would be pretty cool to learn it but probably pretty difficult. I'm actually learning a bit of German myself and then I'm going to try some Swedish. I use an app called Duolingo its pretty cool. [emoji41]