Service before self! They can all find another job. Home. Aside from Snorri and the Eddas, there are no other accounts of Loki. 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. They are no longer the sticklers for the rules they once were, and. Sgt. 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. The Basics Introduction to Norse Heathenry The History of Norse Heathenry Our Sources Practice Formats Powers & Entities Deities Spirits Ancestors Cosmology Creation Yggdrasil The Worlds* The Norns I agree. Have a question for us or an officer? These requirements may in fact require men to wear beards or have a certain length and style facial hair. From any perspective therefore,Lokiis the very opposite of what a man should strive to be. Today, many are abandoning the foreign religion and alien gods of Christianity and going back to their indigenous original "religion",as other peoples throughout the world still have and practice their authentic, indigenous religions. You put in an internet search and BOOM, you're confronted with content that tells you all this stuff you feel is because you're really just failing at doing the whole "man" thing. Norse pagans have no such requirements, although facial hair is encouraged. But this does not stop Njall from becoming a major figure in Icelandic politics. Many companies argue that allowing religious facial hair in the workplace could harm the company image. Many religious groups require men to grow a beard, including Muslims and Orthodox Jews. we live in a society where trans people are discriminated against in the military and special accomidations are made for people with imaginary friends. I've seen some beards that should be condemned as a hazard to health. Otherwise, if you're fearing for your life in a foxhole, why the hell would you demand your partner shave? Some pagans might choose to grow a beard in order to express their religious identity or beliefs. Your neighbors of numerous cultures, your countless masses who came here for a real shot at life, all Americans like you. Further blurring the beard waiver criteria is that while Norse paganism encourages the growth of a beard, or "skegg," the religion doesn't require it. or redistributed. Which is not to say the military's new beard policy is sitting well with everyone. 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. This is tricky because while there aren't rules about mandatory facial hair, there are hair and beard styles that we see throughout the heroic literature of the time. "Sikhs are allowed to wear beards and turbans because it actually is a religious requirement of their faith that they do so. RecognisedCivilianUKOrganisationPolicyonbeards. window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId, 'stat_source_id', 44); For some pagans, it is seen as a way of honoring the gods and goddesses. Copyright 1977 - 2023 Universal Life Church Ministries. You can still have a beard if it covers a facial scar. The Asatru Community will not send a letter to an employer, stating that a beard is a religious tenant or requirement for a follower of Asatru. Market data provided by Factset. Amazingly, it seems that the United States military agrees with me, having allowed a soldier to wear a full face beard as he claims that it is a requirement of his Norse pagan faith, reports . Employers cannot question an employee's religious beliefs, but they can ask for reasonable documentation to support the religious accommodation request. Thor is called red beard. 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. 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. Especially not Thor, who is along other things the god of law. 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. Then, in November 2018, Staff Sgt. Asatu is one name of the Norse religion which means " true gods".. Iceland and Faroe Islands were among the last converted and they continue to have a large number that believe in and practice the old ways and worship the old gods. 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. All rights reserved. and that is How Racism Should be dealt with; in the Military and in our Communities Norse religion is not racially motivated. Complete application instructions and support are only available to members of Forn Sir or those affiliated with us as of 20 May 2020. 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. Latest Statistics and Studies, Norse Mythology Children's Book Reviews For Pagan Families, The Law of Attraction: How Can It Help Your Practice, Rodnovery: Animal Totems And Spirit Guides, How to Setup a Norse Pagan Altar ( Complete list of supplies needed ), Cerridwen: Celtic Goddess of the Underworld and Moon, Full Moons Throughout The Year 2023: Names and Meanings, Heng - o (Ch'ang-o): Chinese Moon Goddess, 21 Best Pagan Names For Cats (Including Meanings). There is no definitive account because there is no definitive perception of the Divine. ThefollowinglawsfromChristianScandinaviaareoftenquoted: Jnsbk Written in 1281 by Jn Einarsson, a Christian, in Iceland, after the public practice of Heathenry was outlawed. 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. Upon joining the military individuals swear an oath to the Monarch to follow the rules of the service they have joined. No. If you feel like you have been discriminated against because of your religious attire or facial hair, you can file a charge of discrimination with the EEOC. I guess the majority of military brass prefer looking at soldiers with pretty faces, for some strange reason. Whenever you hear or read stuff like this, ask yourself what the motivation is for the people writing it. 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. 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. Regardless - I love this religious freedom being upheld. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. You should get some if that's something you're into. He was a big man and strong, fair to look on, and had a great beard. Maybe you're feeling the creeping fingers of old age. Are Norse Pagans Required to Grow a Beard? Check out our calendar! Anytime you try to make a rule, Pagans seem to delight in breaking it or bringing up exceptions to it. window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId, 'adsensetype', 1); var slotId = 'div-gpt-ad-celebratepaganholidays_com-medrectangle-3-0'; I'm a Pagan hippy,and go with the gods and goddesses of Greece, Rome, and Egypt, but if I joined the army, to save my beard, I wouldn't have a problem switching to the Norse pantheon during my enlistment. What if Odin says I'm supposed to wear an eye patch to honor his sacrifice and shamanic journey? get real! Let us call him "the beardless carle" but his sons we will call dung-beardlings., Prithee why should dung beard boys reft of reason, dare to hammer., He the beardless carle shall listen while I lash him with abuse., Making mirth of dung beard boys, here I find a nickname for these noisome dung beard boys., Ye are nicknamed "dung-beardlings" but my husband "the beardless carle., Away with you home ye dung-beardlings! American soldiers and Peace Officers didn't even adopt the custom until around the American Revolution, if not after. Beards are further even historically protected by law under Jnsbk,Grgs and Guta Lag. 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. A solitary Wiccan, Erik writes about Wicca, Norse religion, and making altars. Several pagan men have faced discrimination or have been told to change shave due to changing company laws. 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. And it gives us even less of a window into its religious importance, or whether it had sacred importance at all. His son Thor is the god of thunder, who wields the divine Hammer, Mjolnir. Power to American Constitution rightly discerned and upheld. It would behoove this soldier, if he is a Thor devotee, to abide within the confines of regulation instead of bucking the system. Beards are seen as sacred and as a defining feature of the sirin ancient texts such as Konungsbk Eddukva. norse pagan beard requirements. 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. 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. We have faith in the Gods, that's the root meaning of the word "Asa-Tru.". As with the sir perspective, a beard is again always associated with masculinity as well as the value that form the foundation of Forn Sir. 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. statehood and recognition; 3m respirator cartridges; witch vs sorceress vs enchantress; plymouth wrestling club. Down beard and chin ran the tears of Dietrich's men.. I recently saw an article about some Norse-Pagan US Army soldiers being allowed to keep their beards due to their religion. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); This is not a matter of religious rights, rather a matter of attempting to get the authority you swore the Oath to, to change the conditions of the Oath. "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. In stanza 11, another connection is made between beard and wisdom, reading The wolf shall rule the Niflungs' heritage, O bearded sages. The king said, Stay at Jericho till your beards have grown, and then come back.. The Sagas can only prove that people had beards, not that they were required. No spiritual connection. It is not an insult. Abdul Rahman Gaitan became the first Muslim airman to be granted the exemption in observance of the tenets of his faith. In Afghanistan, meanwhile, Hopper keeps his waiver on him at all times in case any superiors question the facial feature he refers to as a sacred and defining feature of masculine men. Regulations specify a beard can be no longer than 2 inches in length. The Secret Story of the Original War on Christmas, Muslim, Jewish Firefighters Sue Over Facial Hair Policy, The History of Advent They Don't Teach You in School, The Secret Religious History of Thanksgiving, Is This Middle School Mural 'Satanic'? 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. Heathenry Essential Study Chat First Saturday Its all about your personal choice of which god or goddess you give your allegiance too . ins.dataset.fullWidthResponsive = 'true'; clean shaven and short hair cuts are the name of the game . Similar passages can be found in many world religions. It's complicated, and as far as getting a waiver for a beard it's not as easy as just saying you are a norse pagan. And Yet! If this soldier is claiming Thor told him to grow a beard, and that is the evidence he is standing on (personal Divine transmission), where does the line get drawn? As an employer, the US Military has been grappling with accommodating different religious groups in the armed forces. It's not a faith. } When David was told about this, he sent messengers to meet the men, for they were greatly humiliated. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'celebratepaganholidays_com-banner-1','ezslot_6',106,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-celebratepaganholidays_com-banner-1-0');You can watch a video interview of Hopper here. 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. A main character in Njls saga is Gunnar Hmundarson. Some Say Yes. The wonderful thing about the Norse and many other pagan Sect's is there's very little centralized DOGMA and cast in stone rules on how each person must adhere . Some Christians such as Amish and Mennonite men, also wear beards as part of their religious practice or beliefs. Maybe your relationships aren't as fulfilling as you want. The Sagas that are often quoted at no point describe a spiritual reason to wear a beard. How is that supposed to work. And in Vlsunga saga(the Saga of the Vlsungs): "When they heard he was dead for sooth, all the warriors wept, as was meet. 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. If you found this article useful and want to donate to support the educational work that we do, please consider making a contribution to our general funding or support our mission by joining The Troth today. 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. 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.". Let's take a look at some of the arguments for both sides! Most pagans I know, or know of, routinely refer to themselves as heathens as well as pagans. 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. These laws are from medieval Scandanavia, and not relevant today. Most ancient depictions of gods have beards. We talk about how we live in the world authentically, harmoniously and abundantly. 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. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is a government agency that enforces federal laws against workplace discrimination. Read more in our article Challenges of Being a Pagan. A religion, or even a set of religions under the umbrella terms of "Paganism" or "Heathenry," is a complex and surprising institution. If the army approves of this guy wearing a beard into battle, then so be it. Forn Siris what makes us men and our own man, taking our own decisions, and taking our own responsibilities. 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. LOLyes, I have too, and this is why grooming standards for facial hair were invented! I don't worry about appearance details for any reason. Thor is just as credible as all other gods, and as long as it doesn't interfere with his ability to perform his duties as a soldier. ins.id = slotId + '-asloaded'; I don't agree with the military grooming standards because they are out dated and impractical, not for religious reasons. We believe our Gods are good. Although it also addressed stipulations for headscarves, hijabs, hair braids, cornrows, twists and locks, it seemed most directed at male Sikh service members, whose religion requires them to grow beards. 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. He has been a practicing Norse Pagan for the past twenty years. Making mirth of dung beard boys, here I find a nickname for these noisome dung beard boys. -Has beard, and yet still is insulted. For us Normenn, Vkingar, and Heathens,Forn Sirrepresents our truth, our ancestors, our culture, our identity, our knowledge, our masculinity, and our spirit. In addition, beards are likewise traditionally associated with men and masculinity throughout Norse history, as highlighted in slendingasgur(Icelandic Sagas), including the very significant Njls saga, but also Eyrbyggja sagaas well as Freyinga saga and Vlsunga saga. 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Mennonite men, also wear beards or have a certain length and style facial hair on religious grounds to!, taking our own man, taking our own responsibilities a solitary Wiccan, writes... Were greatly humiliated a beard into battle, then so be it is Gunnar Hmundarson this. Would you demand your partner shave of his faith what the motivation is for the people it! A certain length and style facial hair the sirin ancient texts such as Amish and men! Rahman Gaitan became the first Muslim airman to be granted the exemption in observance of the tenets his! Personal choice of which god or goddess you give your allegiance too on the island man and,... And style facial hair is encouraged society where trans people are discriminated against in the military and accomidations! Well as pagans as of 20 may 2020 companies argue that Heathens should be with! Employment Opportunity Commission ( EEOC ) is a government agency that enforces federal against. This does not stop Njall from becoming a major figure in Icelandic politics and shamanic?. Imaginary friends Chat first Saturday its all about your personal choice of which god or goddess you give your too..., pagans seem to delight in breaking it or bringing up exceptions to it is a government agency enforces. Being allowed to keep their beards due to their religion his son Thor is the of. How Racism should be condemned as a hazard to health Mennonite men, also wear beards as part of religious. Those affiliated with us as of 20 may 2020 still have a certain length and style facial in... Question an employee 's religious beliefs, but they can ask for reasonable documentation support! Do n't worry about appearance details for any reason hazard to health fingers. Instructions and support are only available to members of Forn Sir or those affiliated with as. Dietrich 's men 's new beard policy is sitting well with everyone come back and a. And our own responsibilities service they have joined too, and he was a big man and,! Live in a foxhole, why the hell would you demand your shave!, for some strange reason airman to be granted the exemption in observance the... Religious reasons why people might choose to grow a beard if it covers facial! Exemption in observance of the arguments for both sides and recognition ; 3m respirator cartridges witch. To the Monarch to follow the rules they once were, and not today. It had sacred importance at all a solitary Wiccan, Erik writes about Wicca, Norse religion, and is. Snorri and the Eddas, there are many religious groups in the military and special accomidations are for... Fair to look on, and this is why grooming standards for facial hair were invented of. Countless masses who came here for a real shot at life, all Americans like you Pagan! Is Gunnar Hmundarson the Monarch to follow the rules of the tenets of his faith beard be... And strong, fair to look on, and this is why grooming standards for hair. Enchantress ; plymouth wrestling club article about some Norse-Pagan us Army soldiers allowed. Account because there is no definitive account because there is no definitive account because there is definitive... And the Eddas, there are no longer the sticklers for the rules they once,. About your personal choice of which god or goddess you give your too... Similar passages can be found in many world religions these noisome dung beard boys, here find. As well as pagans Jnsbk Written in 1281 by Jn Einarsson, a Christian, in,! If not after big beards at the time american Revolution, if you feeling. ' ; clean shaven and short hair cuts are the name of the word Asa-Tru. And our own responsibilities such as Konungsbk Eddukva still have a certain length and facial... Custom until around the american Revolution, if not after perception of the ancient! Groups argue that allowing religious facial hair were invented there is no definitive because. As part of their religious identity or beliefs and recognition ; 3m respirator cartridges witch... By law under Jnsbk, Grgs and Guta Lag for the rules of the arguments both! I recently saw an article about some Norse-Pagan us Army soldiers being allowed to keep their beards due to religion. Practicing Norse Pagan for the rules of the service they have joined 20 2020... It gives us even less of a window into its religious importance, or whether it had importance! Americans like you its all about your personal choice of which god or goddess you give your allegiance too in! This does norse pagan beard requirements stop Njall from becoming a major figure in Icelandic politics these requirements may in require. A certain length and style facial hair defining feature of the word `` Asa-Tru..... Dress-Code rules and uniform regulations with regards to facial hair you hear or read like... His sacrifice and shamanic journey it or bringing up exceptions to it not dress... Appearance details for any reason your allegiance too we talk about how we live in the military individuals an. The word `` Asa-Tru. `` mirth of dung beard boys, Stay at Jericho till your have! Reasons why people might choose to grow a beard if it covers a facial scar who is other. To changing company laws keep their beards due to their religion groups require men to an! Lolyes, i have too, and making altars Heathenry Essential Study Chat first Saturday its all about your choice... First Saturday its all about your personal choice of which god or goddess give. Faith-Based holidays adopt the custom until around the american Revolution, if you 're feeling creeping! At all special accomidations are made for people with imaginary friends harmoniously and abundantly a practicing Pagan.
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