Why be an Ásatrúar?

[Toxikmynd]

So after Ragnarok, we would be dead permanently without afterlife? (That is what I got out of it and if that's not what you mean't I apologize)

 

[Nietzsche]

So after Ragnarok, we would be dead permanently without afterlife? (That is what I got out of it and if that's not what you mean't I apologize)

Yes. Us, the Gods, the world we knew. All of it.

 

[Toxikmynd]

Sweet.

 

[Toxikmynd]

I've done some research and everyone says that man will survive, I'm not opposed to your opinion, I'm open to it, I'm just sharing with others what some other people are saying/believing.

 

[Nietzsche]

I've done some research and everyone says that man will survive, I'm not opposed to your opinion, I'm open to it, I'm just sharing with others what some other people are saying/believing.

Yes, Ask & Embla. But that was added after Christianity came around, it would seem. Do note; I'm not saying there won't be life. The universe will come back into being to start the thing all over. But the details will be different.

 

[Toxikmynd]

Yes, Ask & Embla. But that was added after Christianity came around, it would seem. Do note; I'm not saying there won't be life. The universe will come back into being to start the thing all over. But the details will be different.

I'm not saying you're wrong, I personally believe having some form of life, even if it would be just a memory, would be more favorable. Yet if I don't exist, I won't be able to care.

 

[Nietzsche]

I'm not saying you're wrong, I personally believe having some form of life, even if it would be just a memory, would be more favorable. Yet if I don't exist, I won't be able to care.

Was just explaining why I said it the way I did.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

I'm not an Asatruar (I suppose I'm really a Theistic Luciferian at the end of the day), but I have certainly considered the path and it is one of my favorite religions. I like it because it meshes well with my anarchism, the Gods aren't viewed as superior Beings that you must kow-tow towards (They're more like ancestors), I love the symbolism of the World Tree and it's shamanic aspects. I also have a love for Hellenic religion and I did try that, but it was way too ritual-heavy and concerned with doing things "the proper way" for my tastes. Germanic Heathenry is much more of a wild, outdoorsy religion whereas Hellenismos is very much a temple religion. That's not a bad thing, but it's not for everyone (duh).

Thor is has been one of my very favorite deities for years. I still rock a Thor's Hammer and World Tree pendant from time to time. I suppose I have my own personal pantheon.

 

[Nietzsche]

I'm not an Asatruar (I suppose I'm really a Theistic Luciferian at the end of the day), but I have certainly considered the path and it is one of my favorite religions. I like it because it meshes well with my anarchism, the Gods aren't viewed as superior Beings that you must kow-tow towards (They're more like ancestors)

Ancestors and fellow-travelers, really. This is hammered home in the Hávamál;

Cattle die, kinsmen die, the Gods themselves too shall die. But that which lasts forever is the fair-fame of them that earn it.

 

[amorphous_constellation]

Well, because I think paganism might be making a comeback, and in some ways it has a potentially more progressive line of religions than Christianity for example, if part of the stress is on worldly knowledge, love of the world, and care for the world/earth.

Did you know that Iceland is building its first Pagan temple since the Viking Era? I wonder how that will turn out, hopefully they will make into something positive.

 

[Jainarayan]

Ancestors and fellow-travelers, really. This is hammered home in the Hávamál;

Cattle die, kinsmen die, the Gods themselves too shall die. But that which lasts forever is the fair-fame of them that earn it.

I love that verse.

 

[Jainarayan]

I'm not an Asatruar (I suppose I'm really a Theistic Luciferian at the end of the day), but I have certainly considered the path and it is one of my favorite religions. I like it because it meshes well with my anarchism, the Gods aren't viewed as superior Beings that you must kow-tow towards (They're more like ancestors), I love the symbolism of the World Tree and it's shamanic aspects. I also have a love for Hellenic religion and I did try that, but it was way too ritual-heavy and concerned with doing things "the proper way" for my tastes. Germanic Heathenry is much more of a wild, outdoorsy religion whereas Hellenismos is very much a temple religion. That's not a bad thing, but it's not for everyone (duh).

Thor is has been one of my very favorite deities for years. I still rock a Thor's Hammer and World Tree pendant from time to time. I suppose I have my own personal pantheon.

One of the sites I read stated that the Norse probably prayed standing up, maybe with arms held in a way indicating their independence and feeling the Gods are more powerful helpers and family. There is a text or three that says they occasionally did kneel or bow to the Gods. At my altar I do get down on one knee at the beginning and/or end of prayers, with my fist over my chest (clenched fist makes a hammer shape). I don't overdo it because I can imagine Thor or even the All-Father saying "will you get up!".

 

[Jainarayan]

Well, because I think paganism might be making a comeback, and in some ways it has a potentially more progressive line of religions than Christianity for example, if part of the stress is on worldly knowledge, love of the world, and care for the world/earth.

Did you know that Iceland is building its first Pagan temple since the Viking Era? I wonder how that will turn out, hopefully they will make into something positive.

I have been wondering if the interest in all forms of Paganism is tinged by new-ageyness, much as I think western Buddhism was. If so I think eventually it will all sift out, the serious Pagans from the faddists. But as much as people diss the internet I think people like Diane Paxton and Raven Kaldera can help, as well as sites like The Troth. For the serious adoptees of Paganism(s) I think it is a realization of the validity of the old ways.

 

[Nietzsche]

I have been wondering if the interest in all forms of Paganism is tinged by new-ageyness,

I really cannot fully express my loathing of the New-Age movement, especially certain forms of Wicca. In regards to the latter it makes claims that it's somehow just as ancient & thereby underwent organic development like genuine paganism/polytheism.

You can believe what you want, but don't dare pretend that the path you've chosen has the same historical & cultural significance as the traditional pagan faiths, be they Hellenistic, Norse, Slavic, Celtic, Egyptian, so on and so forth. I find it rude & rather insulting.

 

[Jainarayan]

I really cannot fully express my loathing of the New-Age movement, especially certain forms of Wicca. In regards to the latter it makes claims that it's somehow just as ancient & thereby underwent organic development like genuine paganism/polytheism.

You can believe what you want, but don't dare pretend that the path you've chosen has the same historical & cultural significance as the traditional pagan faiths, be they Hellenistic, Norse, Slavic, Celtic, Egyptian, so on and so forth. I find it rude & rather insulting.

Adding to the rude and insulting aspect it unquestionably trivializes traditions that have continued to influence us to this day. It's too easy for the new-ageyness to make it appear as if we have fantastical mythical imaginary friends. I know I would get that reaction from my family. It is disrespectful all around.

 

[Toxikmynd]

I really cannot fully express my loathing of the New-Age movement, especially certain forms of Wicca. In regards to the latter it makes claims that it's somehow just as ancient & thereby underwent organic development like genuine paganism/polytheism.

You can believe what you want, but don't dare pretend that the path you've chosen has the same historical & cultural significance as the traditional pagan faiths, be they Hellenistic, Norse, Slavic, Celtic, Egyptian, so on and so forth. I find it rude & rather insulting.

I shouldn't say this, but my personal opinion on Wiccans is that they're a bunch of dull knives. I don't see a problem with practicing magic, magic is everywhere, but as you stated, they are not following some ancient faith, its hardly even a religion for most Wiccans because so many are atheist, it really just becomes more of a lifestyle.

 

[amorphous_constellation]

I have been wondering if the interest in all forms of Paganism is tinged by new-ageyness, much as I think western Buddhism was. If so I think eventually it will all sift out, the serious Pagans from the faddists.

I really cannot fully express my loathing of the New-Age movement, especially certain forms of Wicca. In regards to the latter it makes claims that it's somehow just as ancient & thereby underwent organic development like genuine paganism/polytheism.

I've been trying to read about ancient Paganism for a long time and have mostly been baited along by hints from imaginative minds. Northern European paganism was largely an oral tradition, and that tradition was to my mind, put to an end even before Christianity, by Roman legions killing the last druid who needed 20 years of study at Anglesey, by their armies destroying the sacred grove of Tanfana in Germany.

Whatever refractions of the faith that followed that great destruction in the 1st century couldn't have been as whole or complete as it once was. However if you really did want to go back to that faith, hints are left of what that might involve. 1st century North Europeans did not actually build temples, they cultivated extremely old trees. By Roman accounts they may have went about by and large wearing very little clothing. Their judicial system may have included the use of a giant wicker man.

Arguably, everything has changed since then. Here we have the internet, machines, books, new ideas, international dialogue, individualism, homogenization, science, world crisis, mathematical theories, rock guitars, and much more. What tale can be weaved, what legend can possibly be wedded upon all of that? Does your version of the Old Faith also for example, make room for secularists? Or is this going to be just has unsharing of the social mind sphere as a medieval Christianity might be? You have to explain how you are bringing whatever ethics you are prepared to dole out into a modern age which appears to have some of kind of forward momentum, or is that something you want to put an end to, or is it somehow a non-issue?

 

[Jainarayan]

@ideogenous_mover If you live by what have been gleaned from the texts and distilled down to the Nine Noble Truths you would be pretty much living Asatru. The two main, if not only rituals, the blôt and symbel are really nothing more than shows of hospitality to the Gods, spirits, ancestors, and kith and kin.

 

[GoodbyeDave]

Northern European paganism was largely an oral tradition, and that tradition was to my mind, put to an end even before Christianity, by Roman legions … destroying the sacred grove of Tanfana in Germany.

How on earth did that affect all the Germanic peoples?

1st century North Europeans did not actually build temples… By Roman accounts they may have went about by and large wearing very little clothing. Their judicial system may have included the use of a giant wicker man.

They were certainly building temples later: we have descriptions of them. Archeology shows us what clothing they wore: not much different to that of the Middle Ages. As for the wicker man, I think you watch the wrong sort of films!

Here we have … rock guitars

I'd love to learn the religious significance of the rock guitar!

Does your version of the Old Faith also for example, make room for secularists?

Obviously there's no room for atheists in any faith. But so long as they keep their big mouths shut, I wouldn't actually suggest stoning or burning them. On second thoughts, I might make an exception for Stephen Fry — I think slug pellets would be suitable in that case.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

The wicker man was supposed to be Celtic (Druid, specifically), not Germanic. Plus, it comes from negative Roman accounts when they were destroying the Druids. It's probably atrocity propaganda.

As for temples: Temple at Uppsala - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia