Something that is a core tenant of Heathenry is the importance of oaths. The Nevada Army Guard says Sgt. Many of Our Community are Hunters, Loggers and Fisherman; and will Do Whatever it takes to Protect our Home And in Vlsunga saga(the Saga of the Vlsungs): "When they heard he was dead for sooth, all the warriors wept, as was meet. Maybe you're lonely. This argument seems to be more rooted in Christian dogma than any form of Paganism. container.appendChild(ins); You might gravitate towards one artistic rendering of a God or another, but we don't mistake the rendering for the reality. has Long been a Problem.. The vikings didn't grow large beards very often. The Sagas can only prove that people had beards, not that they were required. They where very vain and very much into a large variete of hair and beard trends. password? A religion, or even a set of religions under the umbrella terms of "Paganism" or "Heathenry," is a complex and surprising institution. Why not? Your neighbors of numerous cultures, your countless masses who came here for a real shot at life, all Americans like you. Its just hair. The Telegraph:Facial hair's formative years: what the Vikings and Romans did for male grooming. If you were to apply these laws to Heathens, they would for example be able to avoid punishment for murder by paying werguild. The religious belief is sincerely held, whether or not the employee has discussed it with others or attempted to convince other employees of its truthfulness. You would be surprised how a general can look like a private when close to the front line. Some of this is practicality for uniforms and equipment, but also for psychological reasons in my guess: The team over individualism. Artists are inspired by their own vision of our Gods, which is informed by their experiences and perceptions. Statistically, it is growing quickly in the United States and Europe. The first such accommodation came in 2017 following years of beard-exemption requests and legal pressure from Sikh soldiers seeking to preserve religious traditions while wearing a U.S. uniform. Lokiis also known for having turned himself into a mare in order to be impregnated by the stallion Svailfari, eventuallygiving birth to Sleipnir,inns 8-legged horse. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Employers must offer religious accommodations with regard to religious garb and grooming, as long as it does not cause undue hardship for the company. But consider a couple philosophical things first. It is a badge of honor. "In observance of your Heathen; Norse Pagan faith, you may wear a beard, in accordance with Army uniform and grooming standards for soldiers with approved religious accommodation," the memo said. All proper procedures outlined in Army Directives 2017-03 and 2016-34 were followed when requesting and approving this religious accommodation, a spokeswoman from Missouri's Fort Leonard Wood told Fox News. A notable exception is Loki (Mischief, lies). Norse Pagans, Heathens, or Asatruar are not in general all required to grow a beard, There is no general religious requirementfor anyone to have facial hair, nor is there any universalreligious requirement for hairstyle or any personal grooming choice. This might include a letter from a religious leader or another official document that shows that the practice is required or preferred by the religion. The beard is and has always been a defining feature of being Heathen, and a religious symbol of Forn Sir. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. This isn't the Society for Creative Anachronisms. What we do isn't a "lifestyle brand" either. This could equally be applied to dress codes in civilian organisations where an individual has signed a contract, stating that they will follow the rules. Heathen, with a capital, refers to Norse Paganism, unless it is starting a sentence, with a small "h" refers to someone who lives on the heath, much like pagan refers to someone who lives in the countryside, rather than a city dweller. This time the Army declined, but only after Hoskins request made it all the way to the desk of a deputy chief of staff. var cid = '6036397256'; The things we say about how the Gods "look" from mythology is more saying something about their character than about any kind of actual physical appearance. Once a soldier with Gender Dysphoria has transitioned they are usually free of serious dysphoric episodes and are just as capable of serving in the military as literally anyone else. Overall, it is simply an outdated view that is not compatible with the modern military. Our culture as part of the United States is a melting pot of cultures, ideas and yes, religion--no matter what certain portions of the population like to believe. A distinct and defining feature of the sir(also known as the Norse gods) is their beard. I don't agree with the military grooming standards because they are out dated and impractical, not for religious reasons. "Sikhs are allowed to wear beards and turbans because it actually is a religious requirement of. Beards define the Heathen man. Loki is not evil as evil is another Christian concept, and as we have seen above all Heathen Gods have good qualities and bad ones, Loki is no different. It seems he and you are attending different denominations of the Norse Heathen religion. The chaplain corps will work with any military member to aid them in a genuine pursuit of an accommodation, Joint Force State Chaplain Maj. Donald Crandell said. The word myth has been used out of context for so long that it's definition seems to mean untrue, comic NOT SO. Attending a Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving. The Army takes pride in sustaining a culture where all personnel are treated with dignity and respect and not discriminated against based on race, color, religion, gender and national origin, Cathy Brown Vandermaarel, an Army spokeswoman, told Army Times when asked about the decision to deny Hoskins request. He has adopted the particular religious belief of his own free will and not because of pressure from someone else. Beards are a popular fashion right now across society, regardless of religious belief. However, the EEOC states that employees can not be discriminated against for religious beliefs. For this reason many Heathens believe that if you want Odin to accept your offering, you must offer to Loki too. There's no shortage of people out there who are going to look to exploit someone's insecurities. But the fact is, in Heathenry, we always have hope that's beyond what people can buy. If all you want people to remember about you is that you had a big beard, that's a recipe for a life with very little meaning. ins.style.width = '100%'; If you like how vitamins make you feel, great. Whether we go to Heaven, Nirvana, Valhalla, or wherever, when we DIE IN SERVICE TO THIS COUNTRY, in this life we protect the American ideal and in fact, part of that ideal is respecting the diversity this country defends! Ie folk with a simple earthy country religion, not the cool new urban religion they have in the cities. In this section we will examine the evidence that is often put forward. Any resemblance to news may be purely coincidental. What if Odin says I'm supposed to wear an eye patch to honor his sacrifice and shamanic journey? This has to do with what we assume about the Gods. We, as Heathens, have no such religious requirement with regards to hair.. This includes Eyrbyggja saga (The Saga of the People of Eyri): He was a big man and strong, fair to look on, and had a great beard. Hathen: "an unconverted member of a people or nation who does not acknowledge the God of the Bible" https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heathen therefore neither christians, muslims, nor jews are not heathens. Otherwise, if you're fearing for your life in a foxhole, why the hell would you demand your partner shave? 12-13 yrs ago a Small city on the west side of the Puget sound with Scandinavian Heritage Chose a Mixed race Highschool girl for the Queen of their yearly Festival. Federal and state laws guarantee Mr. Whitsel the right to practice his faith without interference from his employer. In all of the above sources there is no spiritual aspect to the wearing of beards. I was going to give a favorable comment here, until the "author" had the stupidity to state "religious families claiming exemptions from standard vaccinations have put entire communities at risk in recent years.". These laws also specifically outlaw the practice of Heathenry. had i not received so much harassment over beard standards i would have remained in and wished to have retired . But it's not a religion. 11 Core Nordic Religion Principal Beliefs, Celebrate Pagan Holidays, PO Box 628051, Middleton, Wisconsin 53562, USA, Paganism Is On the Rise! The Gods are here for you, your ancestors are here for you, the spirits all around you are here for you regardless of whether you are struggling in life or you are feeling at the top of your game. From an sirand traditional Norse god perspective, a beard is therefore always associated with masculinity and virtue, including moral strength, manliness, valor, excellence, and worth, while the absence of a beard expresses feminization as well as depravity and immorality. This is because they believe him to be perfect, and so attempting to emulate him is a quest for perfection. Moreover, it is our view that focusing on this issue not only detracts from far more important issues, but also makes Pagans appear foolish and uneducated in our own religious beliefs in the eyes of wider society. The Military SHOULD be respectful of mental illness, Gender Dysphoria is a serious condition, and the treatment of such is to transition into the gender of identity. Keep in mind that any affiliate product we recommend is one that we use ourselves. Throughout this extensive text, in fact the longest and most developed Icelandic saga, countless references are made to not only associate beards with masculinity and virtue, but also to greatly insult and disparage any man who does not sport a beard: Chapter 35There's not much to choose though between you two. A member of the Norse Pagan Faith, serving in the 795th Military Police Battalion at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., has been granted permission to wear a beard under a 2017 Army policy directive which . Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. And the same principle as above applies here too. that si the military if you want to join a club then do not join the us military weirdest. We believe our Gods are good. Check out our calendar! Which is not to say the military's new beard policy is sitting well with everyone. var alS = 2021 % 1000; There are three problems with using this as evidence. They will renew us. He was told to shave or be fired. Kesh, or 'uncut hair' is one of the five religious requirements of. Have a question for us or an officer? Philadelphia, PA 19106, In-Reach Book Donation Request (Chaplains Only), Heathenry Essential Study Chat and Social First Saturday (Public), Heathenry Essential Study Chat and Social Third Saturday (Public). However, we are not actively promoting a trend in this direction or seeking to normalize it.. This would allow religious people to practice their faith without affecting company image or safety standards. The state granted the association formal recognition as a religious organization on May 16 1973. Prithee why should dung beard boys reft of reason, dare to hammer. These people have beards, they just have dung in them, no religious relevance. Takes very little time to rub soap on ur head and face than trying o shampoo and comb hair if your bald . Are Norse Pagans Required to Grow a Beard? A soldier serving in Afghanistan with the Nevada Army Guard has been granted a religious accommodation to grow a beard in accordance with a Norse pagan faith that traces its origins to Scandinavia. Its all about your personal choice of which god or goddess you give your allegiance too . I am fairly new to Norse Mythology culture and have barely scratched the surface. I respect those who risk their lives for our country and it's citizens. Are the Holidays Going Woke or Getting More Inclusive? But a trend, as minimal as it may be, has certainly been stirring among the rank-and-file. ins.style.height = container.attributes.ezah.value + 'px'; Many companies argue that allowing religious facial hair in the workplace could harm the company image. Employers must offer religious accommodations with regard to religious garb and grooming, as long as it does not cause undue hardship for the company. At no point do any of these sagas state that there is a religious requirement to wear a beard. If nice smelling soap is your deal, then get the nice smelling soap. Please add it so we can review and approve. ThefollowinglawsfromChristianScandinaviaareoftenquoted: Jnsbk Written in 1281 by Jn Einarsson, a Christian, in Iceland, after the public practice of Heathenry was outlawed. Away with you home ye dung-beardlings! It is also worth noting that Royal Navy and Royal Airforce dress code regulations allow the wearing of beards for anyone who can grow a full set regardless of religious beliefs. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Discrimination in the workplace is a very real threat for pagans - men, women, and non-binary. What if Loki (yes there are loki devotees) demands something if me (I shudder to think what)? Looking to celebrate pagan holidays? The Law of the Gotlanders was written at the earliest in 1220 CE, which was after the conversion of Gotland. donate to support the educational work that we do, No. In addition, Section 19/25-30 uses beards as a point of reference for an offense, causing a scar on the face between hat and beard, resulting in specific penalties, half a mark in silver or a mark in silver if the scar is very noticeable. She asks, is it the beardless carle? Physical description of someone who doesnt have a beard. We have faith that our Gods return "a gift for a gift" and that if we sacrifice to Them, They will return with a gift to us. A well-groomed and healthy beard is an important aspect of Heathenry and Forn Sir., It added: As a practicing Heathen, Norse Pagan, there has been a conflict in an inability to fully embrace the tenants of his faiths traditions, values, and beliefs.". 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Christian, in Heathenry, we always have hope that 's beyond people... Out of context for so long that it 's citizens popular fashion right across. Against pagans does occur throughout the world any of these Sagas state that there is no spiritual aspect to front., however, the EEOC States that employees can not be discriminated against for reasons. Them, no religious relevance nice smelling soap is your deal, then get the smelling! Above sources there is no spiritual aspect to the front line notable is! Want to join a club then do not join the us military weirdest his and! Regards to hair the vikings didn & # x27 ; t grow large beards very often standards...
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