Asatru/Heathenism Information Thread (moral, translation, elder, myths, after life)

[Darkdale]

I just noticed that this section existed... so if anyone has any questions, feel free to post them.

[Jaymes]

How do most Asatru view Loki?

[Darkdale]

Originally Posted by Jensa

How do most Asatru view Loki?

Well, that is actually one of the more contentious issues to date. I look at Loki as a recognition of mischief and misfortune, but the gods always used Loki's obstacles to their advantage. We should learn to do the same. Some of the neo-heathens (Norse-Wiccans and so forth) look at Loki as being evil, but there is no basis for reading dualism into Germanic religion. So to look at Loki as being evil is clearly incorrect. However, obstacles and misfortune are a part of life, and we must learn to make the best of things and to use everything to our advantage.

I think of Loki as the restless spirit - he can only see himself as having value when he is interfering with the lives of others. This is something that should not be admirable or duplicated.

[Ody]

What is the modern Asatru view on the after life?

[Darkdale]

Originally Posted by AlanGurvey

What is the modern Asatru view on the after life?

Well, I'm not sure what you mean by modern. There have always been myths about the afterlife, but again, there is no real concept of spirit. The afterlife is a very mythological place/idea. The superstition goes, that when we die we go to Helheim , the house of Hel, and land of the dead. Those that die in battle go to the houses of Odin & Freya, to prepare for Ragnarok (the final battle before the end of the universe and the death of the gods).

From what I can tell, common folk had no real concept of the afterlife in the Greek/Middle Eastern sense, as a place that you go to live forever. Helheim is thought of as the underworld, but specifically as the underground. You are buried into Helheim. Many modern, or neo-heathens, believe in an actual afterlife spent with the gods, but they have essentially adopted a Greek, or Christian, idea of dualism and the eternal life.

[Zephyr]

I guess this is a bit more of an opinion question than anything, but...

I know a few Asatruar with different opinions on this issue. One feels that only those of Norse ancestry should really look into Asatru, while the others feel that it is really open to anyone. Where do you stand on this issue?

[Darkdale]

Originally Posted by Zephyr

I guess this is a bit more of an opinion question than anything, but...

I know a few Asatruar with different opinions on this issue. One feels that only those of Norse ancestry should really look into Asatru, while the others feel that it is really open to anyone. Where do you stand on this issue?

Well, this is a tricky one, because it brings up the problem of racism. I believe that Asatru is for people of Northern European decent. However, Heathenism has become quite broad and can include anyone that simply likes the morality, worldview, and lifestyle involved. I've met black, asian, indian, and hispanic folk who were more "heathen" than many of these neo-heathens and neo-nazis that we have to deal with (especially in the prison system, which is where they belong).

Here is the important thing, and the only reason why I would discourage people not of Germanic Heritage from getting involved with Asatru or Heathenism - and that is because each ethnicity has their own ancient, and beautiful religions. It would be disrespectful to their ancestors to encourage them to worship our gods, without first encouraging them to worship and honor the gods of their ancestors.

Asatru is an ancestral religion (this creates a problem for me - I'll explain in a second), so it appeals to people with an ancestral link to the old ways. Now the problem this creates, is that for the last 500 years (as far as I can tell) my family has been Christian. So, how do I justify dishonoring those relatives by worshipping a totally different religion... a religion they grew to believe was evil?

All I can say at this point, is that I am fixing their mistake. They left their own religion, at some point in history, for a foreign religion and a foreign (greek, roman, middle eastern) worldview. I am honoring them, by honoring where they came from. I also honor them by honoring my parents and grandparents, irrespective of religion.

[Zephyr]

Thanks for being so helpful dude. I have one more question now. Do you know of anywhere that I could get a good english translation of the Eddas, preferably in a type of english that I would understand (I suck at working with old english)?

[Darkdale]

Originally Posted by Zephyr

Thanks for being so helpful dude. I have one more question now. Do you know of anywhere that I could get a good english translation of the Eddas, preferably in a type of english that I would understand (I suck at working with old english)?

Yes. http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/poe/index.htm

This is the best free resource I could find, however my own copy of the Eddas is fantastic. Poems of the Elder Edda, Rvised Edition, Translated by Patricia Terry.

[Klaufi_Wodensson]

I have a question. I am descended of French, Italian, English, Scottish, and some sort of Germanic country (due to the fact that my brother and sister have blue eyes, and my brother has light hair). As you were saying why you discourage people of non-Germanic descent to follow Asatru or Heathenism, according to that, do I fall into the category of "Germanic"? My interpretation is that the French descended from the Gauls and Franks, who are Germanic, and the English from Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, and the Scottish from Picts and other Celts. In my view, I am Germanic in a sense. However, I would like a second, or third, opinion. I felt that I connected to Asatru, which is why I took it up. I agree that people of different cultures should follow the religion of their ancestors. How do you feel about my situation?