Heathens (Asatru, Saxons, et al).. your thoughts?

Question

I came across this article on witchvox and would love to get your input.
Thank you in advance for your time and attention:
http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=uswv&c=words&id=12081

Answer 1

I think it fair to say that not all Heathen consider themselves Asatru, but all Asatru consider themselves Heathens.
The kindred that I work with is Theodist. Lovely people and I love them to death but they see themselves as Theodist first and Heathen second. They are an Anglo-saxon tradition with in Heathenism.
Heathenism in general does encompass the germanic traditions which are growing as more information becomes available. Some choose to distance themselves with the term Asatru for some of the reasons stated in that essay (Overuse and universalism) and some choose to distance themselves because of white supremist abuse.
I personally use Heathen because it was the original "term". I don't deny Asatru, I AM Asatru. But I prefer the term Heathen and MOST of us you meet you do. NOT all of us. Most feel the term is interchangable, which I can bet a 20 a certain person will say when they get home :P
I think in the end, the essay is splitting hairs. You will always have people with in any movement who want to seperate everything out into nice little boxes. We, as a tradition in general, are RECONS. Many who call themselves Asatru are NOT such. You either are or you aren't. I don't mean to offend my Wiccan friends, because I do respect them and thier beliefs but:
We are not crystal carrying, spell laying, hippy pagans. We follow the path of our ancestors. We keep the context and the worldview of those who went before us. We do not change that to suit our needs or our "beliefs". They ARE our beliefs. If you do not practice OUR gods with us, then you ARE NOT ASATRU. Period. The more who claim that title who are not, the furthur people will distance themselves from that title.

I know Wiccans feel our pain on this one LOL They get the same kind in thiers.

Answer 2

I may change my opinion after I've re-read it a few times, but at first glance, this article looks like one of those wonderful pseudo-scholarly pieces that makes my teeth hurt.

There are some facts, a lot of assumption on the author's part, and some information that borders on flat-out inaccurate.

Until I figure out a way to go back in time and get it straight from some ancient godhi, I'll keep using the term Asatru.

I've got a hunch, anyway, that even if I could go back in time and get the "real word" it would translate into something that simply meant "faith" or "the way."

Answer 3

Well I agree with it for the most part but it is a little one sided. The term Heathen literally means "People of the Hearth". This was applied to peoples (mainly northern europeans) with in whoms belief system, the homes hearth (fire place) was an important if not essential part of it. This is where you can also find other Pagan Recons who call themselves Heathens, that may not be of the Asatru or Norse faiths. For instance I am Celtic Pagan, and I have been referred to at times as a Heathen for my particular faith. And while technically it is true, I tend not to refer to myself as that out of respect for those that find a more symbolic meaning in the word than I do. That and I prefer a word out of my peoples native tongue (gaelic).

Answer 4

It's quibbling to little purpose.

Seems to me that the author refutes his own argument by the simple (and notice, well buried) definition of the word Asatru: "True to the Gods."

To me, that means not just as they were honored in certain places at certain times, but throughout those lands where Germanic peoples once held sway and wherever the Gods of our ancestors are being hailed anew today.

I'm Asatru. I'm heathen. The term I use mostly depends who I'm speaking with. I prefer heathen but that term raises instant resistance among monotheists. Saying Asatru instead provides the opportunity describe it as the indigenous faith of the Northern European peoples. That opens doors instead of closing them.

Answer 5

pondering the Vikings might have had little touch with different "races" (properly aside from paying for and advertising, yet it relatively is diverse) i might think of that...by utilising on the instant's suggestions of racism they might not be racist. although, their priorities have been their ethnicity, all others have been diverse and that's basically style of ways early societies artwork. One has to guard their very own, it relatively is the genetic crucial. authentic racism is issues like instituted separation, rules that divide the persons, movements that are meant to reason concern and harm. yet yeah, there is unquestionably many racist communities who're Asatru and are overly proud of their "background" to the element of being d**ks to everyone else. it would seem to me that it is not a lot human beings of a Germanic background in common terms being "allowed" to prepare Asatru, yet as many Pagan ideals revive the previous techniques of closed ethnic communities...why might, say somebody who's in many situations Greek be interested in worshiping Odin? would not Zeus be the greater acceptable selection? yet although, think of with regard to the fashionable international - a lot of human beings, no count number the race have slightly persons's in them. possibly the Germanic blood is there and it has a enhanced call than the Italian? If somebody has an journey with a god/dess then it relatively is not significant what Pantheon they arrive from. that's a valid question to ask although. it relatively is greater significant, concept or genetic background?

Answer 6

It's a bit of nitpicking.

To me, if you're true to the Aesir and Vanir... you're Asatru.
If certain groups want to dissociate themselves with the Asatru community in general... that's up to them.
No sweat off my back. And I'm not going to change my views on what they are, just for feel-good relations.
*shrug*

Answer 7

I'll answer this when I get home, damm web filter at work won't let me view withcvox.

EDIT: Got home way late yesterday and didn't have the chance to read it. I see everyone here has a good grasp and gave good input so my .02 aren't needed, TU for everyone, well, except the first dude who didn't post anything worth TU'ing........

Answer 8

There's nothing like a Dane.