Ask a pagan

[gangleri2001]

Well, if theologists, economists and mormons can have their thread, why can't pagans have their own too? Here I'll try to give the best answer I can on my religion. Since there are lots of pagan religions, I got to tell you that I follow Ásatrú (a branch of germanic paganism), so if you're asking for another pagan religion, maybe my answer won't be that good. Anyways, here we go! Let's start the thread with pagan music (Týr's version).

Ormurin Langi

Spoiler :

Lyrics

[1.]
Viljið tær hoyra kvæði mítt,
viljið tær orðum trugva,
um hann Ólav Trygvason,
og hagar skal ríman snúgva.

Refrain
Glymur dansur í høll,
dans sláið í ring:
Glaðir ríða Noregsmenn
til Hildarting.

[3.]
Knørrur var bygdur á Noregis landi,
gott var í honum evni:
átjan alin og fjøruti
var kjølurinn millum stevna.

Refrain

[8.]
Har kom maður á bergið oman
við sterkum boga í hendi:
"Jarlurinn av Ringaríki
hann meg higar sendi."

Refrain

[10.]
"Einar skalt tú nevna meg;
væl kann boga spenna,
"Tambar" heitur mín menskur bogi,
ørvar drívur at renna."

Refrain

[11.]
"Hoyr tú tað, tú ungi maður,
vilt tú við mær fara,
tú skalt vera mín ørvar-garpur
Orminn at forsvara."

Refrain

[12.]
Ganga teir til strandar oman,
ríkir menn og reystir,
lunnar brustu og jørðin skalv:
teir drógu knørr úr neysti.

Refrain

[70.]
Einar spenti triðja sinni,
ætlaði jarl at raka;
tá brast strongur av stáli stinna;
í boganum tók at braka.

Refrain

[71.]
Allir hoyrdu streinginn springa;
kongurinn seg forundrar:
"Hvat er tað í mínum skipi,
so ógviliga dundrar?

Refrain

[72.]
Svaraði Einar Tambar-skelvir
- kastar boga sín -:
"Nú brast Noregi úr tínum hondum,
kongurinn, harri mín."

Refrain

[30.]
Nú skal lætta ljóði av,
eg kvøði ei longur á sinni;
nú skal taka upp annan tátt;
dreingir, leggið í minni!

Refrain

See the whole original poem here

See the English translation here

 

[amadeus]

Were you born into it, or did you just adopt it because you wanted to rebel against your parents?

 

[Gabryel Karolin]

Why Asatro of all pagan religions? Are you even Norse?

 

[gangleri2001]

Were you born into it, or did you just adopt it because you wanted to rebel against your parents?

I'm a converse, like many others. I've never tried to rebel against my parents. In fact, we get on well and they respect my beliefs. BTW, my mother is catholic (well, not catholic, she is one of those catholics that belive in the catholic beliefs but not in the church. I know there's a term to call these catholics but I've forgotten) and my father is some sort of philopagan agnostic.

 

[gangleri2001]

Why Asatro of all pagan religions? Are you even Norse?

No, I'm not norse, I'm from southern Europe and I've both, latin (roman) and frankish ancestors. Ásatrú has never been a racial religion, but lots of people think this because they think that germanic gods = nazism. Understand why I'm an Ásatrúar (or -úr or whatever, damn old norse grammar) is very easy: I chose Ásatrú because is the pagan religion that I really belive in. I don't belive in druidism, wicca or any other religion.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

Can you explain the basic tenets of your religion and religous practices to us? Who are your gods? Is there any sort of dogmatic organization? How many follow your faith? Do you have a unique religious calendar, or do you follow the normal Gergorian calendar? Is there any sort of missionary service with your religion, who goes out and tries to convert others?

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

How were you first exposed to Ásatrú?

How well do members of the various self-described pagan religions get along? Not just you personally, but in general?

 

[Rhymes]

Your parents respect your choice!?

http://objurgate.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/WTH-cat.jpg

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

It happens.

 

[holy king]

aah... paganism....

“When men stop believing in God, it isn't that they then believe in nothing: they believe in everything.”

Umberto Eco

 

[Gabryel Karolin]

No, I'm not norse, I'm from southern Europe and I've both, latin (roman) and frankish ancestors. Ásatrú has never been a racial religion, but lots of people think this because they think that germanic gods = nazism.

Well, yes, it has nothing to do with Nazism obviously since that's a 20thc idea. You might argue that it has some elements of it though since according to some sources iron age Norse kings sometimes claimed ancestry to the Gods which gives they must have been Nordic, since the kings were.

Understand why I'm an Ásatrúar (or -úr or whatever, damn old norse grammar) is very easy: I chose Ásatrú because is the pagan religion that I really belive in. I don't belive in druidism, wicca or any other religion.

I'm just asking since in many cases it seems adopting old beliefs and traditions comes more from a want to get to know ones culture and heritage than from a genuine belief in that religion. I didn't ask that in a negative way. A southern European adopting Asatro makes no less sense to me than an Irishman adopting some old Hebrew cults beliefs.

Since that is not the case with you I'd like to ask you, if you'd like to share, what in particular made you choose Asatro .

 

[onedreamer]

I was born pagan. My parents never baptized me and therefor respect my decision. And I highly respect their decision to let me decide. How many of you will have the courage to do the same ?

 

[gangleri2001]

First I'll answer to Eran, since Cheezy the Wiz's question requires lots of time.

How were you first exposed to Ásatrú?

I've always had polytheistic beliefs. Thanks to the internet, I was able to know what was going on and heard of Ásatrú.

How well do members of the various self-described pagan religions get along? Not just you personally, but in general?

I can only answer this question from the Ásatrú and germanic paganism POV. I've said, that lots of neonazis belive that germanic gods is a very nazi arian thing (though I think they should know what thought Hitler about this) and therefore there're lots of nazis in our religion (thanks Hitler for your crap!), so we don't get on well between the nazi and no-nazi belivers (I'm a no-nazi one). Anyways, I think that among pagan religions we get on reasonably well, since we all got to fight the misunderstoods caused by the New Age crap.

 

[gangleri2001]

Your parents respect your choice!?

http://objurgate.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/WTH-cat.jpg

Yes they do. Ásatrú is not a "fight your parents" teenagers' club, it's a religion.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

I've always had polytheistic beliefs. Thanks to the internet, I was able to know what was going on and heard of Ásatrú.

What was it specifically that led you to polytheism? Did it just seem to make more sense than any of the alternatives?

I've said, that lot's of neonazis belive that germanic gods is a very nazi arian thing (though I think they should know what thought Hitler about this) and there're lots of nazis in our religion (thanks Hitler for your crap!), so we don't get well between the nazi and no-nazi belivers (I'm a no-nazi one).

Well, I think we can all understand that.

Anyways, I think that among pagan religions we get on reasonably well, since we all got to fight the misunderstoods caused by the New Age crap.

What is New Age, more or less, as it relates to paganism?

 

[holy king]

What is New Age, more or less, as it relates to paganism?

the ultimate belief in ultimately everything available...

 

[Rossiya]

Did you have mod consent prior to posting this thread?​

​

 

[holy king]

what???????

 

[gangleri2001]

Well, yes, it has nothing to do with Nazism obviously since that's a 20thc idea. You might argue that it has some elements of it though since according to some sources iron age Norse kings sometimes claimed ancestry to the Gods which gives they must have been Nordic, since the kings were.

Of course it has. It's what's called an ethnic religion. What I meant is that has never been neither a racial religion nor a religion closed to these who don't belong to this specific folk (just like shintoism).

I'm just asking since in many cases it seems adopting old beliefs and traditions comes more from a want to get to know ones culture and heritage than from a genuine belief in that religion. I didn't ask that in a negative way. A southern European adopting Asatro makes no less sense to me than an Irishman adopting some old Hebrew cults beliefs.

Well, I've frankish ancestors, so I've some part of my heritage there (and in the roman paganism too). But I'm Catalan, so I'm Latin.

Since that is not the case with you I'd like to ask you, if you'd like to share, what in particular made you choose Asatro .

Well, if I got to say why I'm Ásatrúar, I'd probably say that I'm Ásatrúar because of their sense of loyalty, brotherhood and ancestorship. It's not a easy thing to explain, anyways I'll try. You see, our main beliefs say that we got to be loyal to something to make our lifes have sense (generally our family, our blood, our people). That we got to share in this fight everything with our brothers of fight. I also belive in ancestorship. Respect your ancestors, praise them and make sure that their work keeps getting built. Well, it's not a great explaination but I think you'll understand.

 

[gangleri2001]

Did you have mod consent prior to posting this thread?​

​

Do I have to do this? Everyone can post any thread as long as it fits to the rules of the forum.