Rise in popularity of interest in old European religion and heritage

David1967 · May 20, 2019

I have noticed an increase of interest in ancient European culture and religion in my area among the younger generation which is right in the middle of the bible belt. I'm speaking of various types of "Paganism" as well as interest in finding out more about the ancient cultures of those areas. A few years ago I seldom heard much about it. Thoughts as to why the rise in interest?

viole · May 20, 2019

David1967 said:
I have noticed an increase of interest in ancient European culture and religion in my area among the younger generation which is right in the middle of the bible belt. I'm speaking of various types of "Paganism" as well as interest in finding out more about the ancient cultures of those areas. A few years ago I seldom heard much about it. Thoughts as to why the rise in interest?

Thor was not so obsessed with what sex is allowed or not.

Ciao

- viole

Estro Felino · May 20, 2019

viole said:
Thor was not so obsessed with what sex is allowed or not.

Ciao

- viole

Well...Greco-Roman deities were obsessed with sex...lol

The Kilted Heathen · May 20, 2019

I, too, have noticed an increase in both Heathens and people who properly recognize my various articles of jewelry and tattoos for what they are. I have no true explanation for it, but it's not something that I don't enjoy seeing.

David1967 · May 20, 2019

The Ragin Pagan said:
I, too, have noticed an increase in both Heathens and people who properly recognize my various articles of jewelry and tattoos for what they are. I have no true explanation for it, but it's not something that I don't enjoy seeing.

I own a guitar shop, and I have noticed several of my customers wearing jewelry with things like runes and Thor's hammer and such. The old Norse imagery is becoming very popular in the Metal crowd.

The Kilted Heathen · May 20, 2019

Yeah, that's a point of some confusion/frustration in Heathen communities. Whether or not it's "right" for non-Heathens to use symbols like that. I personally don't care, and it's still pretty easy to tell who's actually Heathen and who's not

David1967 · May 20, 2019

The Ragin Pagan said:
Yeah, that's a point of some confusion/frustration in Heathen communities. Whether or not it's "right" for non-Heathens to use symbols like that. I personally don't care, and it's still pretty easy to tell who's actually Heathen and who's not

I imagine that to some extent it could be due to the popularity of shows like "Vikings".

Gandalf · May 20, 2019

David1967 said:
I own a guitar shop, and I have noticed several of my customers wearing jewelry with things like runes and Thor's hammer and such. The old Norse imagery is becoming very popular in the Metal crowd.

In the metal crowd it has always been popular going to the 80s, that is nothing new whatsoever as a matter of fact it is less common in the heavy metal community as it stands.

Quintessence · May 20, 2019

David1967 said:
I have noticed an increase of interest in ancient European culture and religion in my area among the younger generation which is right in the middle of the bible belt. I'm speaking of various types of "Paganism" as well as interest in finding out more about the ancient cultures of those areas. A few years ago I seldom heard much about it. Thoughts as to why the rise in interest?

It isn't new, but you're becoming aware of a religious movement that has existed for decades. Contemporary Paganism has been going strong since... well... around the 1960s and has its roots in late 18th century Romanticism. But as a movement, it doesn't proselytize, doesn't get up in your face, and is invisible to most people unless you happen to know someone else who is a Pagan.

I wager the mass media is actually paying attention to the fact we exist now for... probably all the wrong reasons, as usual. But I don't know for certain as I don't really follow such media.

The Kilted Heathen · May 20, 2019

They do tend to focus on the negative minority a lot more. Especially with Heathenry.

Quintessence · May 20, 2019

The Ragin Pagan said:
Yeah, that's a point of some confusion/frustration in Heathen communities. Whether or not it's "right" for non-Heathens to use symbols like that. I personally don't care, and it's still pretty easy to tell who's actually Heathen and who's not

Even better are the people thinking that you worship Thor as in the Marvel Comics superhero, right? E'gads... I don't envy you guys.

David1967 · May 20, 2019

Gandalf said:
In the metal crowd it has always been popular going to the 80s, that is nothing new whatsoever as a matter of fact it is less common in the heavy metal community as it stands.

Quintessence said:
It isn't new, but you're becoming aware of a religious movement that has existed for decades. Contemporary Paganism has been going strong since... well... around the 1960s and has its roots in late 18th century Romanticism. But as a movement, it doesn't proselytize, doesn't get up in your face, and is invisible to most people unless you happen to know someone else who is a Pagan.

I wager the mass media is actually paying attention to the fact we exist now for... probably all the wrong reasons, as usual. But I don't know for certain as I don't really follow such media.

As a whole, you are both correct. In my general area, it is a pretty new thing.

Gandalf · May 20, 2019

David1967 said:
As a whole, you are both correct. In my general area, it is a pretty new thing.

I am talking about California and the LA region which is pretty much always promoting trends ahead of time so I understand

Deeje · May 20, 2019

David1967 said:
I imagine that to some extent it could be due to the popularity of shows like "Vikings".

Yes, the popularity of violence and immorality has dominated the world scene, gradually getting worse and worse, over the last few decades. That is how desensitisation works.

This love of violence has never been so prevalent among humans since the times of uncivilised ignorance, when they knew nothing else, but today violence is glorified in many ways and the entertainment industry revels in it. It's connection to the violent gods of war attract those who have come to love their example as portrayed by the entertainment industry. And as many young ones are rebelling against the restrictions of Christianity.....they have somewhere inviting to go. It's not a coincidence IMO.

Movies, computer games and the invention of computer generated imagery have made violence, bloodshed and immorality so real and commonplace that no one seems to notice the path that they have been led down. People young and old appear to be totally desensitised.....with no respect for morality or human life anymore.

The Bible likens it to their conscience being marked with a branding iron....rendered insensitive to the inhumanity and complete disregard for human life that is taking place before their eyes in very graphic fashion. This love of violence spreads to the school yard and onto the streets fuelled by alcohol. Social media becomes another vehicle to share acts of violence. It's like they can't get enough.

We see the after effects in the medical response to this violence where ambulance paramedics and ER personnel are under threat of violence like never before. These are now dangerous occupations.

As I believe that we are deep into "the time of the end" of this present world system, we expect to see the devil's activity increase. The hallmark of his MO is violence and immorality, "like the days of Noah". (Matthew 24:37-39)

He is like the Pied Piper.....he plays the tune and those who like his music follow him down a path to their death. (Matthew 7:13-14)

That is how I see it.....

lewisnotmiller · May 20, 2019

David1967 said:
I have noticed an increase of interest in ancient European culture and religion in my area among the younger generation which is right in the middle of the bible belt. I'm speaking of various types of "Paganism" as well as interest in finding out more about the ancient cultures of those areas. A few years ago I seldom heard much about it. Thoughts as to why the rise in interest?

Vikings (the series)

anna. · May 20, 2019

David1967 said:
I have noticed an increase of interest in ancient European culture and religion in my area among the younger generation which is right in the middle of the bible belt. I'm speaking of various types of "Paganism" as well as interest in finding out more about the ancient cultures of those areas. A few years ago I seldom heard much about it. Thoughts as to why the rise in interest?

I wouldn't rule out Neo-pagan white supremacism/nationalism.

The white supremacist and murderer Frazier Glenn Miller Jr., convicted of killing three people outside the Overland Park, Kansas Community Jewish Center, was a convert to a Neo-Nazi form of Odinism. In his own words, from his book A White Man Speaks Out:

"I’d love to see North America’s 100 million Aryan Christians convert to the religion invented by their own race and practiced for a thousand generations before the Jews thought up Christianity. Odinism! This was the religion for a strong heroic people, the Germanic people, from whose loins we all descended, be we German, English, Scott [sic], Irish, or Scandinavian, in whole or in part. Odin! Odin! Odin! Was the battle cry of our ancestors; their light eyes ablaze with the glare of the predator, as they swept over and conquered the decadent multi-racial Roman Empire. And Valhalla does not accept Negroes. There’s a sign over the pearly gates there which reads, "Whites only."

Shad · May 20, 2019

David1967 said:
I have noticed an increase of interest in ancient European culture and religion in my area among the younger generation which is right in the middle of the bible belt. I'm speaking of various types of "Paganism" as well as interest in finding out more about the ancient cultures of those areas. A few years ago I seldom heard much about it. Thoughts as to why the rise in interest?

Traditional religion in the US and EU is declining. Those that are leaving are not all becoming agnostic or atheist so are discovering exotic religions to fill the gap of the established religions. Most leave those religions once the trendiness and fad no longer has appeal. Those religions are often pop-culture caricatures anyways.

SomeRandom · May 20, 2019

Deeje said:
Yes, the popularity of violence and immorality has dominated the world scene, gradually getting worse and worse, over the last few decades. That is how desensitisation works.

This love of violence has never been so prevalent among humans since the times of uncivilised ignorance, when they knew nothing else, but today violence is glorified in many ways and the entertainment industry revels in it. It's connection to the violent gods of war attract those who have come to love their example as portrayed by the entertainment industry. And as many young ones are rebelling against the restrictions of Christianity.....they have somewhere inviting to go. It's not a coincidence IMO.

Movies, computer games and the invention of computer generated imagery have made violence, bloodshed and immorality so real and commonplace that no one seems to notice the path that they have been led down. People young and old appear to be totally desensitised.....with no respect for morality or human life anymore.

The Bible likens it to their conscience being marked with a branding iron....rendered insensitive to the inhumanity and complete disregard for human life that is taking place before their eyes in very graphic fashion. This love of violence spreads to the school yard and onto the streets fuelled by alcohol. Social media becomes another vehicle to share acts of violence. It's like they can't get enough.

We see the after effects in the medical response to this violence where ambulance paramedics and ER personnel are under threat of violence like never before. These are now dangerous occupations.

As I believe that we are deep into "the time of the end" of this present world system, we expect to see the devil's activity increase. The hallmark of his MO is violence and immorality, "like the days of Noah". (Matthew 24:37-39)

He is like the Pied Piper.....he plays the tune and those who like his music follow him down a path to their death. (Matthew 7:13-14)

That is how I see it.....

You know, that’s exactly what many groups said when a new fangled mode of entertainment started up. I believe they were called “Operas.”
The same consternation occurred when audiences were aghast at the burgeoning scene called the “novel.” It happened again when cinema was born. Again when comics were born. Games became the new scapegoat. I’m sure VR will be too.
TV, music, plays, poems, sculptures, paintings, drama ect. All fought and defeated those who blamed societal ills on them. For literally generations.
It’s true humans are fascinated by violence. It’s been a constant in entertainment since oral folklore. We’re living among the safest period of all of human history, statistically speaking, which should tell you something about humans overall. So it could also be that people nowadays are simply bored and need an outlet for our more primitive tendencies.

People will dismiss those who rally against entertainment as immoral.
Perhaps it’s possible that that side has cried wolf one too many times? So can you really blame people for that?
I mean even in the Bard’s day people were already rolling their eyes at the Helen Lovejoys.

Kangaroo Feathers · May 20, 2019

David1967 said:
I have noticed an increase of interest in ancient European culture and religion in my area among the younger generation which is right in the middle of the bible belt. I'm speaking of various types of "Paganism" as well as interest in finding out more about the ancient cultures of those areas. A few years ago I seldom heard much about it. Thoughts as to why the rise in interest?

I suspect it's just the latest form of exoticism. These things go in cycles, with "exotic" religious and cultural practices rising and falling in popular prominence. I'm generally for anything that get's people to look beyond their own cultural horizons, but an awful lot of it is made up stuff that "sounds" right, at best based on third or fourth hand garbelled retellings.

Subduction Zone · May 20, 2019

I blame Marvel Comics

On a serious note I recently read Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology. A very good retelling of a series of tales.

Rise in popularity of interest in old European religion and heritage

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