I was impressed at how they were very accepting of not only dress and hairstyle but allowed people days off to observe faith-based holidays. There is no religious requirement for beards in Heathenry, the post read. Viking Warriors are Men. From any perspective therefore,Lokiis the very opposite of what a man should strive to be. As for Muslims, they are monotheistic, which makes them a sister faith to Judeo-Christianity. He is also slender, fair to look on and has yellow hair. 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. Perhaps then we don't need a military? Heathenry Essentials Study Chat Third Saturday. 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. 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. Especially not Thor, who is along other things the god of law. Sikh soldiers seeking to preserve religious traditions. This is not the case in Paganism. The appearance of advertisements on this website does not constitute an endorsement by the Department of Defense or the Army, Air Force, Navy, or Marine Corps or Coast Guard of products or services advertised. More recently, in August of 2021, Airman 1st Class Braxton Comer, a practicing Norse Pagan at Maxwell Air Force Base received religious accommodation for a beard. This phrase is frequently cherry-picked to show the necessity of beards. Let's take a look at some of the arguments for both sides! 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. Its just hair. He has been a practicing Norse Pagan for the past twenty years. No. Heathen?? In Heathenry in particular all of the Gods have flaws, many of which are set out in Lokkasenna and include dishonesty, incest and fratricide to name but a few. Thou hast hangnails on every finger and Njal is beardless. Simply a physical description of 2 people, one has a beard, one does not, but there is no implication that this makes one more spiritual than the other. It is purely societal, and even if it were spiritual, these are Christian laws, from a period where the practice of Heathenry was outlawed. ins.id = slotId + '-asloaded'; This isn't to say you shouldn't get those things if you enjoy them. Folks On 19 April 2018, one of our bros made history by receiving a religious accommodation for a Norse Pagan beard from the U.S. Army. Ye are nicknamed dung-beardlings but my husband the beardless carle. Repetition of the above descriptions. 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. The DPN has also been presented with an argument that being clean shaven is unmanly in a Heathen, and that warriors should have beards. We believe our Gods are good. Sgt. As a community, we need to continue to support the right for pagans to receive religious accommodations so they can practice their faith and have free access to good jobs. Looking to celebrate pagan holidays? that si the military if you want to join a club then do not join the us military weirdest. Per the latest version of AR 670-1, beards with approved accommodations must be less than 2 inches long, measured from the bottom of the chin, and cannot be groomed with any petroleum-based. This includes following dress regulations. I bet they don't call Muslims or Sikhs "heathens" even though the term would technically apply to all. var lo = new MutationObserver(window.ezaslEvent); The military first prohibited beards during the First World War, when the introduction of chemical warfare greatly increased the risk they could get in the way of life-saving gas masks. or redistributed. Thrond was a big man of growth, and red haired he was, and red bearded. A physical description of someone who had a beard. While his beard blushed red for shame? Has a beard, no religious relevance. [Robert Heinlein, "Notebooks of Lazarus Long," from Time Enough for Love (1973).]. Employers must offer religious accommodations with regard to religious garb and grooming, as long as it does not cause undue hardship for the company. Perhaps that God may or may not exist, but represents your morals, your constructed way of life stemming from a sense of right and wrong. 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. In short, it is honoring the pillars of heathenism, our ancestors and ancient gods and way of life.. ins.dataset.adClient = pid; Many of Our Community are Hunters, Loggers and Fisherman; and will Do Whatever it takes to Protect our Home Naval Institute):Nobody Asked Me, But Beards Can Save Lives, Task and Purpose:A Soldier Just Got Permission To Rock A Beard Because Hes A Metal Heathen, Fox News:Army allows soldier to have beard because of his 'Norse Pagan' faith, Army Times:A soldier just got authorization to wear a beard because of his Norse pagan faith, Business Insider:A US soldier who worships the Norse thunder god Thor just got permission to keep his beard, Washington Times:Army allows soldier to grow a beard in observance of his Norse Pagan faith, Newsweek:Army soldier allowed to grow beard for norse religion, a heathen tradition, Stars and Stripes:Soldier allowed to have a beard because of his Norse pagan faith, Daily Mail:Soldier allowed to keep his beard because of his Norse pagan faith. Some Christians such as Amish and Mennonite men, also wear beards as part of their religious practice or beliefs. RecognisedCivilianUKOrganisationPolicyonbeards. It is not an insult. So, as a Norse Heathen, I find this whole thing upsetting. free resources on rituals in Norse Paganism and Heathenry. Keep in mind that any affiliate product we recommend is one that we use ourselves. Ah, the "tolerance" of the Christian majority. The army's recent decision to lighten up on religious beards, turbans and hijabs is suiting one unknown Norse pagan soldier just fine. 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. We have advice like Proverbs. It is sometimes pointed out that there have been cases in the US military whereby Heathens have been allowed to wear beards. Norse Pagans, Heathens, or Asatruar are not in general all required to grow a beard There is no general religious requirement for anyone to have facial hair, nor is there any universal religious requirement for hairstyle or any personal grooming choice But if you want to murder someone based on your religious beliefs, go find another country that will uphold that for you cuz our American Constitution doesn't uphold that. Norse Pagans may. He is very much a real and true god as much as any other god of any other religion. 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 accommodations provided in Army Regulation (AR) 670-1, Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia, stated a memo, authenticated by an Army spokeswoman, that circulated on social media. Maybe we should start referring to Christians who ignore the Sabbath (Saturday) as Heretics. HUGE difference. As Heathens and members of The Troth, we want to help people create fulfilling relationships with The Gods, the people in their lives and the world around them. 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. The Open Halls Project, an advocacy group for heathens serving in the military, sought to clarify any existing confusion in a 2017 post about beard exemptions. 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. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'celebratepaganholidays_com-leader-1','ezslot_10',107,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-celebratepaganholidays_com-leader-1-0');If there are any concerns about health and safety, the employer can ask that the employee keep their religious attire or facial hair trimmed to a reasonable length. Guta Lag, the laws of Gotland in Sweden were also written over a century after the Christianisation, and reflect a heavily Christianised version of the older laws. In stanza 11, another connection is made between beard and wisdom, reading The wolf shall rule the Niflungs' heritage, O bearded sages. I agree. Ultimately, the kinds of content that makes you feel like crap is designed to get you to want to buy something to make you stop feeling like crap. All Rights Reserved. "Heathen" simply means a person who does not conform to christian norms in some way. This isn't the Society for Creative Anachronisms. God, Country, Family, Self. Market data provided by Factset. What if Loki (yes there are loki devotees) demands something if me (I shudder to think what)? Market data provided by Factset. All products and services advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. (Erick Studenicka/Army). Once I present my memorandum for record and cite all of the applicable regulations and directives, the focus on the beard tends to go away, for the most part, he said in the release. ins.style.minWidth = container.attributes.ezaw.value + 'px'; Odin has one eye because of his insatiable search for secret wisdom. They say that it could make customers and clients feel uncomfortable, or like they're not being taken seriously. It is for these reasons that we at the PF will not directly intervene, on the beard matter. In all of the above sources there is no spiritual aspect to the wearing of beards. Historically the Norse liked wild hair cuts. Overall, beards are an essential and fundamental defining feature of any Normar, Vkingr, Heathen, and ultimately, warriors identity. A main character in Njls saga is Gunnar Hmundarson. The Telegraph:Facial hair's formative years: what the Vikings and Romans did for male grooming. Him,thatchurl,thebeardlesscarle.Physicaldescription. var cid = '6036397256'; A notable exception is Loki (Mischief, lies). I respect my servicemen, and I respect their God-given and American-given right to believe and practice. This is often cited in restaurants or other companies with food preparation. Yay!!! She asks, is it the beardless carle? Physical description of someone who doesnt have a beard. ins.dataset.adChannel = cid; The state granted the association formal recognition as a religious organization on May 16 1973. 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. Whenever you hear or read stuff like this, ask yourself what the motivation is for the people writing it. Down beard and chin ran the tears of Dietrichs men. A physical description of someone who had a beard. And we all know what they say about them. And to be fair, there has been some method to the army's clean-cut madness. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. There are many pagan religions that consider it important for one to have facial hair in order to express the person's religious identity. The fact that he is beardless is an easy way to identify someone in an era where most people had beards, but it doesnt imply any religious requirement to do so. This is it really a religious question in so much as it is a legal question. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no cost to you. Norse pagans have no such requirements, although facial hair is encouraged. No matter the religious requirements, the Army interpreted Hoppers request as genuine. ;( apparently due to the Racist attitudes of our "Commander in Chief" open White suppremacists have grown in our military.. Not GOOD! Chaplains cannot officially approve or deny requests, but recommendations based on perceived sincerity can be made on the service members behalf. It is simply too bad that in the 70's the Air force believed in only three religions and enforced their beliefs upon everyone. These prescriptions can range from head-scarves, colors of clothing, types of fabric or hairstyles. Neither of the two largest inclusive Heathen organisations in the UK, namely Heathenry UK and Asatru UK recognise any religious requirement for Heathen men to wear a beard. Your own conscience. 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. Maj. John Troxell, the senior enlisted adviser to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently insisted beards remain both a distraction and a "gimmick.". They are simply physical descriptions of the people in the sagas. Author, Erik studied Anthropology in college and is currently completing an internship with the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Njall was beardless, in fact, in the story. Thor is worshipped, honored and believed in today as he has always been by Germanic people of old and by modern decendants of those people. "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 accommodations," the . Many misinformed groups argue that Heathens should be allowed exemptions from dress-code rules and uniform regulations with regards to facial hair on religious grounds. There's no shortage of people out there who are going to look to exploit someone's insecurities. Copyright 1977 - 2023 Universal Life Church Ministries. Disclosure: This site contains affiliate links to products and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Tamed Wild, among others. Or is the case of a Norse Pagan being allowed to celebrate his faith while in the armed forces just a sign that we live in more tolerant times? Any thought about what Loki looks like is only within the perception of people who claim to have "seen" them. The Pagan Federation, Heathenry UK, Asatru UK, the Confederation of UK Heathen Kindreds as well as The Open Halls Project in the US and DPN in the UK all agree on this. The TV show Vikings has characters change their hair annually. I don't really see an issue with this, Religious views aside. The Military should respect their right to appropriate medical care, which is decided by their medical care provider and not the religious views or whims of the White House or other non medical authority. Snorri was middling in height and somewhat slender, fair to look on, straight faced and light of hue, of yellow hair and red beard. A physical description of someone who had a beard. If you have a mind capable of believing all three of these attributes simultaneously, I have a wonderful bargain for you. 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. But the Army choosing to accommodate the soldier's request shows that: They are no longer the sticklers for the rules they once were, and They've come to respect (at least to some degree) individual faith beliefs that stray from the mainstream as well. Sometimes those who are new to Heathenry read the arguments made by these groups and are convinced by them as they often claim to be based on historical sources. The Law of the Gotlanders doesn't say why it's not cool to mess with someone's beard. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: Army Gives Norse Pagan Soldier Permission to Grow Beard, Connecticut Reckons With Its Dark Past of Executing People for Witchcraft. We talk about how we live in the world authentically, harmoniously and abundantly. If you were to apply these laws to Heathens, they would for example be able to avoid punishment for murder by paying werguild. ins.style.display = 'block'; As a member, along with supporting our mission to promote our faith, you will also get access to more community resources, events and a vote in our elections. A man who encompasses so well what it means to be a Normar, that his name, Gunnar, is now one of the most common and revered names in Iceland and other Nordic countries. Why? As such, we can only honor them, and be one with them, if we share similar characteristics, in virtues and behvaior, but also in appearance and traditions, including by sporting a beard. Employers must offer religious accommodations with regard to religious garb and grooming, as long as it does not cause undue hardship for the company. There are many challenges to being a pagan. Let's look at the texts. var container = document.getElementById(slotId); This document is generally accepted to be the codification of the oral tradition of the early Christian period in Iceland, not the Heathen period. there are a lot of reasons for that. A solitary Wiccan, Erik writes about Wicca, Norse religion, and making altars. In our country I dont believe that religious freedom was ever meant to infringe upon other individuals, and I base this upon what the Declaration of Independence says. 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.". 11 Core Nordic Religion Principal Beliefs, Celebrate Pagan Holidays, PO Box 628051, Middleton, Wisconsin 53562, USA, Paganism Is On the Rise! Lokiis is known to have wrecked havoc among the sir, even being responsible for the death of some of them, including Baldur. So be it But Mask Tech is Way Beyond what it was During WW 1 for that Matter due to Geneva Convention Etc There should be no need for gas masks.. Maybe you try to do a 5K but get gassed only 1K in and you feel like you're not as fit as you used to be. Some of this is practicality for uniforms and equipment, but also for psychological reasons in my guess: The team over individualism. Ironically, Whitsel had worked at his job as a hospital security guard for 12 years when a new employee rule went into effect stating no facial hair. Likewise, they would not be able to worship the old Gods, as these laws specifically forbid it. During training theres many good reasons to eliminate hair mostly having to do with how much times wasted on cleaning and grooming . I, as a Trans Soldier, 100% agree with you. There are many religious reasons why people might choose to grow a beard. An event greatly frown upon in a culture that emphasizes gender polarization and strongly stigmatizes feminization of men. 1st Class Benjamin Hopper, a 34-year-old Alabama native and member of the Nevada Army Guards 3665th Ordnance Company, was granted the waiver following a lengthy review process that concluded with the Armys acknowledgement of his sincerity as a heathen. Having website issues? norse pagan beard requirements. Judges 16:17 So he told her all that was in his heart and said to her, A razor has never come on my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mothers womb. They where very vain and very much into a large variete of hair and beard trends. The words "religious accommodations "usually give a picture of a Abrahamic follower with a beard or a Sheik warrior with a beard and turban. In order for religious beliefs to qualify as a religious belief under Title VII, an employee must believe that: The practice is required by his religion or mandated by his religious community and cannot be modified even if the result is discipline from their employer. There is no mention of any Heathen practice in the document. It is admirable this soldier is showing his respect for Thor! We have faith in the Gods, that's the root meaning of the word "Asa-Tru.". Therefore emphasizing the association between beard and manly virtues in Norse culture. I've seen some beards that should be condemned as a hazard to health. 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. 1st Class Benjamin Hopper is the first guard soldier to receive a religious accommodation approval for a beard. Beards are a popular fashion right now across society, regardless of religious belief. It seems he and you are attending different denominations of the Norse Heathen religion. Forn Siris what makes us men and our own man, taking our own decisions, and taking our own responsibilities. Employees should be prepared to provide this information if requested. Legal Statement. Nothing is mentioned about Loki having a beard or not. While the religious accommodation is pretty much set in stone for the soldiers career, it may be temporarily suspended if there is a threat of exposure to certain toxic agents which require all soldiers to be clean-shaven, and, because of the beard, the soldier is also barred from attending military schools with toxic agent training or being assigned to positions that require compliance with biological, chemical, or nuclear surety requirements. This is real, modern and vibrant religion with people who are genuinely passionate about our faith. Please add it so we can review and approve. Hoppers exemption is the latest example of the militarys effort most notably the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force to acknowledge the diverse religious practices represented in its ranks. This Icelandic saga not only encompasses all the fundamental and essential Norse values that form the basis of Forn Sir, but the saga has also established the foundation of Icelandic culture for the past millennium. You WILL NOT ESCAPE! If "They can all find another job. } When I was in the Marines in the late 1960's, black Marines were allowed "Afros" while the rest of us had crew cuts with white sidewalls. 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. This is a question that many religious people have been asking themselves lately. The Army Times reported in April 2018 that under those regulations, a soldier at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., had been granted permission to wear a beard in accordance with his Norse pagan faith. This is because the Norse gods are seen as our ancestors, they are ideals we strive to achieve, they are ourselves, they are us. Some reference the law of the Gotlanders as proof positive of the sacral nature of beards. And indeed there were European tribes in the Heathen period where being clean shaven was the fashion, or in the case of the Lombards, long moustaches! Odin is blood sworn to Loki, and stated that he will not drink unless one is offered to Loki as well. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'celebratepaganholidays_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_3',104,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-celebratepaganholidays_com-medrectangle-4-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'celebratepaganholidays_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_4',104,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-celebratepaganholidays_com-medrectangle-4-0_1'); .medrectangle-4-multi-104{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:7px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:7px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}Beards can also be seen as symbols of power, strength, and virility. 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. Have a question for us or an officer? Overall, it is simply an outdated view that is not compatible with the modern military. Regardless - I love this religious freedom being upheld. They'll make you feel like you aren't man enough, like you aren't good enough or like you're just not enough in and of yourself. "Why are beards so important in Nordic paganism?" We don't have rules like the 10 Commandments. Therefore was he called Most-Beard, and he was the noblest man on the island. Proof that some men had big beards at the time. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. And at least two airmen who follow the Norse Heathen, or pagan, faiths have been granted permission to wear a beard. If you like how vitamins make you feel, great. He has adopted the particular religious belief of his own free will and not because of pressure from someone else. Next, vaccines are based off of *the previous year's strain," especially in cases like flu shots. ;). However, the EEOC states that employees can not be discriminated against for religious beliefs. This is because they believe him to be perfect, and so attempting to emulate him is a quest for perfection. "; a rather intolerant statement. When David was told about this, he sent messengers to meet the men, for they were greatly humiliated. 1987-2023 The Troth Are Norse Pagans Required to Grow a Beard? Other challenges may come from inside paganism and include racism or persons that tell you how pagans should worship. Many companies argue that allowing religious facial hair in the workplace could harm the company image. Nowhere in any of the eddas, our closest thing to source texts, does it mandate or even concern itself with facial hair. But let's be clear: these are exceptions. var ins = document.createElement('ins'); Proudly keeping the military connected since 1988. norse pagan beard requirements. Some Racist; Supposedly Norse Group; Made Open threats To Appear and Disrupt the Fest if she was not replaced with one of "Pure Blood" The Police Chief Responded with All are Welcome to our Town and Fest; But if Yo come toDisrupt with Acts of Violence KNOW THIS: There are Limited Exits Off our peninsula! By Elana Glowatz On 4/26/18 at 5:12 PM EDT. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The beard is the one characteristic of those who otherwise follow Forn Sir (Old Ways). Numerous references in Konungsbk Eddukva, the most sacred text in Norse culture and religion, actually reinforce the association between beards and masculinity as well as virtue. window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId, 'adsensetype', 1); They will renew us. The beard is and has always been a defining feature of being Heathen, and a religious symbol of Forn Sir.In fact, the beard is a religious symbol of Forn Sir or Heathenry as much as the kippot is a religious symbol of Judaism, or the beard and the pagri are a religious symbol of Sikhism.
Jay Winters Son Of Jonathan,
Articles N