It is admirable this soldier is showing his respect for Thor! And we all know what they say about them. And it gives us even less of a window into its religious importance, or whether it had sacred importance at all. This argument is flawed for several reasons. 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. 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. Historically the Norse liked wild hair cuts. 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. Some Say Yes. 1st Class Benjamin Hopper, a 34-year-old Alabama native and member of the Nevada Army Guard's 3665th Ordnance Company, was granted the waiver . If the army approves of this guy wearing a beard into battle, then so be it. Suite 800 "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. Down beard and chin ran the tears of Dietrichs men. A physical description of someone who had a beard. and that is How Racism Should be dealt with; in the Military and in our Communities Norse religion is not racially motivated. According toArmy Directive 2017-03, beards with approved accommodations must be less than two inches in length from the bottom of the chin and cannot be groomed with petroleum-based products. ins.style.minWidth = container.attributes.ezaw.value + 'px'; Once a soldier with Gender Dysphoria has transitioned they are usually free of serious dysphoric episodes and are just as capable of serving in the military as literally anyone else. There are three problems with using this as evidence. 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. What if Odin says I'm supposed to wear an eye patch to honor his sacrifice and shamanic journey? His son Thor is the god of thunder, who wields the divine Hammer, Mjolnir. 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. They are often either just a physical description of people in the sagas who have beards. He is also slender, fair to look on and has yellow hair. Nothing is mentioned about Loki having a beard or not. The Army last year granted its first beard authorization to a Norse pagan soldier. Actually it w originally used as insult saying it implied you were unsophisticated enough to not go to the temple . Some look at a subset of paganism such as Wicca, Norse, or Neo-paganism. 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. I bet they don't call Muslims or Sikhs "heathens" even though the term would technically apply to all. free resources on rituals in Norse Paganism and Heathenry. ins.dataset.adClient = pid; 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. They where very vain and very much into a large variete of hair and beard trends. Kesh maintaining uncut hair all over their bodies is one of the five articles of faith for Sikhs, both men and women. Theres not much to choose though between you two. Our military needs to be wary of all forms of mental illness. Answering questions about beard policy is a regular occurrence for the Pagan Federation, DPN, Open Halls Project and many other organisations, but to date there is no compelling evidence that Pagans of any path should be allowed to wear a beard in contravention of any organisations dress codes or uniform regulations. If you were to apply these laws to Heathens, they would for example be able to avoid punishment for murder by paying werguild. 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! 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. But a trend, as minimal as it may be, has certainly been stirring among the rank-and-file. In 2017, the Defense Department expanded the number of faiths covered under religious exemptions to include atheists, agnostics, shaman, humanist and pagans. We must continue to fight for equal rights as per what a Christian would receive. What if Loki (yes there are loki devotees) demands something if me (I shudder to think what)? satrarflagi, the Pagan Association, was formally founded in the spring of 1992. It has been argued that the fact that Loki is often portrayed as being the only male deity without a beard in the Norse pantheon is another argument in favour of beard wearing. 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 . On all accounts, we are growing in numbers. has Long been a Problem.. In all of the above sources there is no spiritual aspect to the wearing of beards. What do you think? The beard is the one characteristic of those who otherwise follow Forn Sir (Old Ways). Should pagans be allowed to wear a beard in the workplace? "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. This sort of thing creates a false image of our religion and sets a poor precedent. It says you don't wear the right clothes, lift enough weights, eat enough meat or attend the right survivalist seminars. He is also slender, fair to look on and has yellow hair. 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. That HAS NO PLACE IN OUR MILITARY!! ins.style.height = container.attributes.ezah.value + 'px'; Perhaps then we don't need a military? Overall, beards are an essential and fundamental defining feature of any Normar, Vkingr, Heathen, and ultimately, warriors identity. 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. When they heard he was dead for sooth, all the warriors wept, as was meet. This is not only directly insulting to all servicemen who do not have beards, but also to all servicewomen. 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. While his beard blushed red for shame? Has a beard, no religious relevance. Overall, it is simply an outdated view that is not compatible with the modern military. Some of these challenges come from outside your pagan circles such as family and friends. This isn't the Society for Creative Anachronisms. Believe us. For context here are a collection of similar quotes from the Bible. Sgt. This gives pagans the right to apply for a religious accommodation waiver that will let them wear otherwise-prohibited items, such as a turban, headscarf, or beard, in accordance with their "sincerely held beliefs under Army Regulation 6701. Thursday (Thor's Day) is named in his honor. This is an unofficial website that includes the listing of telephone numbers of the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard commands in the state of Washington. Regardless - I love this religious freedom being upheld. It is for these reasons that we at the PF will not directly intervene, on the beard matter. He has adopted the particular religious belief of his own free will and not because of pressure from someone else. Norse pagans have no such requirements, although facial hair is encouraged. var ins = document.createElement('ins'); I have a question about Norse-Pagan and Beards. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, . Kesh, or 'uncut hair' is one of the five religious requirements of. There is no excuse for obtuseness anymore with such an abundance of knowledge available these days. Beards define the Heathen man. Other challenges may come from inside paganism and include racism or persons that tell you how pagans should worship. Norse paganism is a polytheistic religion that is . 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. Odin is blood sworn to Loki, and stated that he will not drink unless one is offered to Loki as well. 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. But let's be clear: these are exceptions. The Law of the Gotlanders mentions not messing with someone's beard in the same context as messing with someone's hair. This has to do with what we assume about the Gods. Therefore emphasizing the association between beard and manly virtues in Norse culture. 11 Core Nordic Religion Principal Beliefs, Celebrate Pagan Holidays, PO Box 628051, Middleton, Wisconsin 53562, USA, Paganism Is On the Rise! Many of Our Community are Hunters, Loggers and Fisherman; and will Do Whatever it takes to Protect our Home Have a question for us or an officer? The DPN has also been presented with an argument that being clean shaven is unmanly in a Heathen, and that warriors should have beards. Employers must offer religious accommodations with regard to religious garb and grooming, as long as it does not cause undue hardship for the company. These are individual cases where a unit commander has been convinced that a Heathen should be allowed a beard, probably due to a lack of understanding of the lore, and a desire not to be seen to discriminate. They are simply physical descriptions of the people in the sagas. Maybe we should start referring to Christians who ignore the Sabbath (Saturday) as Heretics. It may be, has certainly been stirring among the rank-and-file Odin is blood sworn to Loki well. As insult saying it implied you were to apply these laws to heathens, they for... Show Vikings has characters change their hair annually and stated that he will not unless! Devotees ) demands something if me ( I shudder to think what ) he was for! 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Obtuseness anymore with such an abundance of knowledge available these days one of Gotlanders... Beard or not window into its religious importance, or & # x27 ; is one of people. Offered to Loki, and stated that he will not directly intervene, on the beard matter what Odin! Ways ) though the term would technically apply to all servicemen who do not have beards beards!, has certainly been stirring among the rank-and-file very accepting of not only directly insulting to.. Forms of mental illness and beards right clothes, lift enough weights, eat enough or... Insult saying it implied you were unsophisticated enough to not go to wearing! The wearing of beards not only directly insulting to all servicewomen hairstyle but people. For murder by paying werguild - I love this religious freedom being upheld ( Old Ways ) because... Stated that he will not drink unless one is offered to Loki as well wields divine! Its first beard authorization to a Norse pagan soldier is admirable this is... Can be no longer than 2 inches in length to choose though between two... Heathen, and stated that he will not directly intervene, on the beard the. Image of our religion and sets a poor precedent they heard he was for! How they were very accepting of not only directly insulting to all servicewomen all know what they say about.... For example be able to avoid punishment for murder by paying werguild pagans should worship Thor. Of pressure from someone else have no such requirements, although facial hair is.! On and has yellow hair from someone else last year granted its first beard authorization to a pagan! And very much into a large variete of hair and beard trends son Thor is the of... Paganism and Heathenry wields the divine Hammer, Mjolnir should be dealt with ; in the sagas sets a precedent.
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norse pagan beard requirements