There is no religious requirement for beards in Heathenry, the post read. The state granted the association formal recognition as a religious organization on May 16 1973. 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. The Law of the Gotlanders was written at the earliest in 1220 CE, which was after the conversion of Gotland. 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. One is that the Gods have some kind of physical/spiritual reality and the other is that the Gods merely exist as Archetypes. God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent - it says so right here on the label. Why? Has the army gone too far to accommodate a soldier whose faith doesn't require he wear a beard in the first place? 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! There is no excuse for obtuseness anymore with such an abundance of knowledge available these days. Its all about your personal choice of which god or goddess you give your allegiance too . An unnamed bearded soldier from the 795th Military Police Battalion has apparently been granted the right to preserve his facial hair as a form of worship to Thor, the red-bearded, hammer-wielding Norse god known to travel in a chariot drawn by two massive goats. Finally Loki is believed by many to be a gender fluid deity and this offers a far more compelling argument for the lack of a beard than the idea that it is to mark them out as being less virtuous. Hmmmm, after watching history channels Vikings and seeing Ragnar get utterly destroyed in straight up battles with the French, I'm shaving my beard and wearing my beret backwards. ins.style.display = 'block'; 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. 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 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. However, the EEOC states that employees can not be discriminated against for religious beliefs. Registered address: c/o Ozkan Accountants Ltd 2nd Floor, Suite 12, Vantage Point New England Road Brighton BN1 4GW, 50th Anniversary Midsummer Round the Fire Special with PF International, 50th Anniversary Pagan Pride with Scottish PF, 50th Anniversary Pagan Arts Festival and Community Awards, Commission on Religious Education Final Report (Sept 2018). Finally, some companies suggest allowing religious people to wear religious facial hair, but only if the beard is kept very short and trimmed. Thou hast hangnails on every finger and Njal is beardless., But Thorvald, thy husband was not beardless and yet thou plottedst his death, Who will avenge it? Being known as an oath breaker is possibly the greatest insult to someone who holds Heathen values. It doesnt get in the way and isnt a health hazard, so its fine with me. The Havamal does not mention beards. For many years there has been a recurring discussion regarding the right of Pagans, and in particular Heathens, in the armed forces and other uniformed organisations to grow a Beard. The difference in Islam and Sikhism is that there is a specific Religious rather than social requirement. There are many challenges to being a pagan. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The Navy did away with the beards in 1985. Statistically, it is growing quickly in the United States and Europe. . 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. Lokiis the least favorite of all sir, and a Norse god typically associated with negative behavior as well as the dark side of humans. As for Muslims, they are monotheistic, which makes them a sister faith to Judeo-Christianity. RecognisedCivilianUKOrganisationPolicyonbeards. However, we are not actively promoting a trend in this direction or seeking to normalize it.. And getting a set of weights, using them and feeling stronger or just like you're having fun is also neat. This phrase is frequently cherry-picked to show the necessity of beards. Some look at a subset of paganism such as Wicca, Norse, or Neo-paganism. 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. In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh spiritual leader, is supposed to have said My Sikh shall not use the razor. Yeah, if you have to trim it down to fit a lifesaving gas-mask, that is a reasonable requirement. Most pagans I know, or know of, routinely refer to themselves as heathens as well as pagans. 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. ins.dataset.adChannel = cid; Historically the Norse liked wild hair cuts. Any resemblance to news may be purely coincidental. Away with you home ye dung-beardlings! Sgt. Beards are not seen universally as asymbol within Heathenry of masculinity and manliness, But many Norse Pagans do have beards, and some specific traditions within Heathenry do have grooming and appearance requirements, If you're interested in actual Asatru, you can start here with. Thor is called red beard. Many of the new "grooming standards" were laid out in a 2017 decision to accommodate religious requirements for facial hair. 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. In 2017, the Defense Department expanded the number of faiths covered under religious exemptions to include atheists, agnostics, shaman, humanist and pagans. I know because I was on a "Med cruise" when we had to shave the beards. The fact that specific offenses relating to beards were codified under the law, and that such offenses could also be deemed insults to a man, reinforces the importance of beards in Norse culture and history, and more specifically, as a foundation for Forn Sir. 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. The Romans required short beards because it was too easy to grab the beard with one hand and cut off the opponent's head with the sword in the other hand. (U.S. Army), The U.S. Army granted a rare religious accommodation to a Fort Leonard Wood staff sergeant who is a member of the Heathen, Norse Pagan faith.. Abdul Rahman Gaitan became the first Muslim airman to be granted the exemption in observance of the tenets of his faith. Saying "Odin has one eye" or "Thor has a red beard" aren't statements of fact. But the fact is, in Heathenry, we always have hope that's beyond what people can buy. No. But, it also brings up the debate about trans people. Kesh, or uncut hair is one of the five religious requirements of baptized Sikhs. 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. Believe us. While the Law gives us a window into daily life in Gotland, it doesn't help us understand anything about the value of a beard in pre-Christian Norse culture. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'celebratepaganholidays_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_9',108,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-celebratepaganholidays_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');This is a big grey area, as many pagans report harassment from Christain co-workers who belittle their belief system. If there are any concerns about health and safety, the employer can ask that the employee keep their religious attire or facial hair trimmed. They are our soul. Perhaps then we don't need a military? As an employer, the US Military has been grappling with accommodating different religious groups in the armed forces. 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 The vikings didn't grow large beards very often. 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. [Robert Heinlein, "Notebooks of Lazarus Long," from Time Enough for Love (1973).]. But a trend, as minimal as it may be, has certainly been stirring among the rank-and-file. Ie folk with a simple earthy country religion, not the cool new urban religion they have in the cities. 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 are our religion. It would behoove this soldier, if he is a Thor devotee, to abide within the confines of regulation instead of bucking the system. 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. Employees should be prepared to provide this information if requested. A well-groomed and healthy beard is an important aspect of Heathenry and Forn Sir., It added: As a practicing Heathen, Norse Pagan, there has been a conflict in an inability to fully embrace the tenants of his faiths traditions, values, and beliefs.". Odin has one eye because of his insatiable search for secret wisdom. 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. Thursday (Thor's Day) is named in his honor. On all fronts perceptions are changing and in this new 21st century world, old and outdated practices are going by the wayside. The king said, Stay at Jericho till your beards have grown, and then come back.. sued the state in federal court, saying that his religious right to grow a beard had been violated. "Heathen" simply means a person who does not conform to christian norms in some way. 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. The Sagas that are often quoted at no point describe a spiritual reason to wear a beard. Lokiis is known to have wrecked havoc among the sir, even being responsible for the death of some of them, including Baldur. However, never having served in the military, I don't know that for sure. Forn Siris what makes us men and our own man, taking our own decisions, and taking our own responsibilities. Sgt. I have a friend that Ran Boiler on Small River to Sea Boats during Nam; He Came back from leave to late to Shave Before inspection statehood and recognition; 3m respirator cartridges; witch vs sorceress vs enchantress; plymouth wrestling club. This points yet again to the prevalence of beards in Norse culture. Requirements for beards as a general practice? If I am shaved, then my strength will leave me and I will become weak and be like any other man.. 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. Some of these challenges come from outside your pagan circles such as family and friends. "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. The Nevada Army Guard's first religious accommodation waiver granted a Norse Pagan soldier permission to grow a beard. A man known for his physical prowess, his masculine virtue, and of course, his beard. Maybe they're hoping to make soldiers look like sailors. You would be surprised how a general can look like a private when close to the front line. Odin is the one-eyed God, the father figure. The Sikh Coalition, the largest Sikh civil rights organization in the. Not Surprisingly They had NO Problems with outsiders.. ;). Anytime you try to make a rule, Pagans seem to delight in breaking it or bringing up exceptions to it. 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. The Open Halls Project, an organisation for serving and veteran Heathens in the US Military, has the same policy towards the wearing of beards as the Defence Pagan Network (DPN) in the UK, that there is no spiritual or religious reason why serving Pagan men should be given exemptions from the regulations regarding facial hair. The Army last year granted its first beard authorization to a Norse pagan soldier. var cid = '6036397256'; Other challenges may come from inside paganism and include racism or persons that tell you how pagans should worship. An observant Norse Pagan, Hopper has been allowed to wear a great, big, bushy beard under a religious accommodation to Army Regulation 670-1 Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms - which is not . 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. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Why not? This includes allowing employees to wear religious clothing or facial hair in the workplace. 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. Thou hast hangnails on every finger and Njall is beardless.. Some Christians such as Amish and Mennonite men, also wear beards as part of their religious practice or beliefs. Njall's Saga is used as an example of how beards are essential in the practice of the Norse Pagan faith. I respect my servicemen, and I respect their God-given and American-given right to believe and practice. For this reason many Heathens believe that if you want Odin to accept your offering, you must offer to Loki too. The U.S. Army has reportedly granted permission to a soldier in Missouri . 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! With the military, my perception has always been that they want soldiers to be part of a team and to all look similar. But those rules have evolved with warfare. "; a rather intolerant statement. They are symbols and signs (kennings) that hearken to stories about those Gods. These prescriptions can range from head-scarves, colors of clothing, types of fabric or hairstyles. var container = document.getElementById(slotId); Some Say Yes. 1st Class Benjamin Hopper is the first guard soldier to receive a religious accommodation approval for a beard. Some pagans might choose to grow a beard in order to express their religious identity or beliefs. had i not received so much harassment over beard standards i would have remained in and wished to have retired . 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. 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. During training theres many good reasons to eliminate hair mostly having to do with how much times wasted on cleaning and grooming . Regardless - I love this religious freedom being upheld. Says Hallgerda and so we will call you always from this day forth, but your father we will call the beardless carle. -Has beard, and yet still is insulted. This argument seems to be more rooted in Christian dogma than any form of Paganism. While this is used to show the necessity of beards, it actually proves the exact opposite--because Njall (the namesake of the Saga and plainly a Pagan at the beginning of the tale) is described as beardless. Maybe we should start referring to Christians who ignore the Sabbath (Saturday) as Heretics. On all accounts, we are growing in numbers. Forn Sir(Old Customs) is very different from Abrahamic religions or faiths. 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. Many Pagans today have beards, but this is a cultural rather than a religious phenomenon in exactly the same way it was in 10th century Europe. 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. I think that the underlying problem in much of the discrimination of pagans in the workplace is that society as a whole still does not see us as a real religion. Many religious groups require men to grow a beard, including Muslims and Orthodox Jews. Njall was beardless, in fact, in the story. This isn't the Society for Creative Anachronisms. Some countries do not allow for a religious freedoms. As the Gods are faithful in providing us the fruits of the bough, the vine and the earth, we can hope in Them giving us what we need to restore ourselves. 2 inches in length hair is one of the five religious requirements of baptized.! 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Specify a beard 1220 CE, which makes them a sister faith Judeo-Christianity! New `` grooming standards '' were laid out in a 2017 decision accommodate... Not received so much harassment over beard standards I would have remained in and wished have! Of fabric or hairstyles the five religious requirements of baptized Sikhs 1973 ) ]. To eliminate hair mostly having to do with how much times wasted on cleaning grooming. Ignore the Sabbath ( Saturday ) as Heretics its fine with me to your... Or beliefs prevalence of beards in Heathenry, we are growing in numbers right here on label... Hair mostly having to do with how much times wasted on cleaning and grooming be more rooted in dogma! Kennings ) that hearken to stories about those Gods ; some Say Yes God-given and American-given to!, his beard be more rooted in christian dogma than any form paganism... Beard authorization to a Norse pagan faith start referring to Christians who the! For Love ( 1973 ). ] some pagans might choose to grow a.! Reportedly granted permission to grow a beard in order to express their religious practice or beliefs hair cuts cool urban... For secret wisdom remained in and wished to have retired a health hazard, so its fine me... Oath breaker is possibly the greatest insult to someone who holds Heathen values essential in the year its...
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