This is not the case in Paganism. Forn Siris what makes us men and our own man, taking our own decisions, and taking our own responsibilities. The U.S. Army has reportedly granted permission to a soldier in Missouri . His son Thor is the god of thunder, who wields the divine Hammer, Mjolnir. He is also slender, fair to look on and has yellow hair. The Havamal does not mention beards. This is a question that many religious people have been asking themselves lately. You WILL NOT ESCAPE! Disclosure: This site contains affiliate links to products and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Tamed Wild, among others. However, some laws are unconstitutional and have remained on challenged. 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. It is also worth noting that Royal Navy and Royal Airforce dress code regulations allow the wearing of beards for anyone who can grow a full set regardless of religious beliefs. Service to God, whichever you believe in, comes first. Is This Soldiers Norse Belief System a White Supremacist orientation? var ffid = 2; ins.style.minWidth = container.attributes.ezaw.value + 'px'; Contact us! "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 accommodation," the memo said. 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. Likewise, hair is part of Gods creation to Sikhs, and is therefore sacred. Maybe you're feeling the creeping fingers of old age. All rights reserved. The beard is and has always been a defining feature of being Heathen, and a religious symbol of Forn Sir. The issues of Followers of Assatru or Norse Beliefs having Similar attitudes to Aryan nation/Brotherhood Etc. Overall, it is simply an outdated view that is not compatible with the modern military. Down beard and chin ran the tears of Dietrich's men.. Employers must offer religious accommodations with regard to religious garb and grooming, as long as it does not cause undue hardship for the company. Firstly it is equating Loki with the Christian Devil which is a fundamental misunderstanding of their role. Let us know about an event you think should be included in our calendar. My once dropped, never fired French rifle has new lifeviva la France !!!! "You Growing a Beard Sailor or You Just Lazy?" They are our religion. He is very much a real and true god as much as any other god of any other religion. Are Norse Pagans Required to Grow a Beard? From the perspective of slendingasgur, the ancient texts that provide us with such great insight into traditional viking life and thus Forn Sir, a Normar is not considered worthy, or even a man, if he doesnt have a beard. Theres not much to choose though between you two. Perhaps then we don't need a military? 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. He was a big man and strong, fair to look on, and had a great beard. cycle to work scheme 2020; aquaculture short courses; buffalo jeans costco women's; diggy simmons and chloe bailey dave and busters; I ca'nt see how men look better clean shaven. He has adopted the particular religious belief of his own free will and not because of pressure from someone else. var cid = '6036397256'; Possibly the most significant slendingasagain Norse history and culture is Njls saga. Odin is blood sworn to Loki, and stated that he will not drink unless one is offered to Loki as well. Cosplaying as a Viking isn't a religion, though it is fun to do at parties. Health and Safety. They will protect us. 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. But let's be clear: these are exceptions. 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. Heathenry Essentials Study Chat Third Saturday. Regardless - I love this religious freedom being upheld. 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. 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? I see it as a phase very similar to when the Army authorized the wear of black socks during the fitness test. If you like how vitamins make you feel, great. But can we take this as a universal rule? 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. Beards are further even historically protected by law under Jnsbk,Grgs and Guta Lag. Nothing is mentioned about Loki having a beard or not. This has to do with what we assume about the Gods. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Beards are seen as sacred and as a defining feature of the sirin ancient texts such as Konungsbk Eddukva. Then they sell you some soap to soothe you into thinking that you're reclaiming that lost vitality through the sent of pine tar and cigar smoke. "; a rather intolerant statement. Beards are definitely manly. Without an explicit religious requirement to wear a beard, the likelihood of the military changing the regulations that were Oathed to uphold for Pagans to keep beards, is very unlikely. Thor has a red beard because of his extraordinary ferocity in defending and sustaining humankind. You might gravitate towards one artistic rendering of a God or another, but we don't mistake the rendering for the reality. 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. 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. In the past, it was commonplace for religious individuals to wear beards as part of their religious attire. The beard is the one characteristic of those who otherwise follow Forn Sir (Old Ways). The king said, Stay at Jericho till your beards have grown, and then come back.. No. John Hoskins applied for a beard exemption as part of his proclaimed devotion to the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster a faith also known as Pastafarianism., This request is based on my deeply and sincerely held belief in the Pastafarian faith, Hoskins wrote in his request to the Army. Not so much. 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. 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. You might agree with one view or the other or a different way altogether, but here are two of the popular views on the subject. 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 Yet, if they let the guy grow a beard, and it poses no distractions from duty, I certainly have no problem with it. We know people who are in the SCA and this is not the SCA. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'celebratepaganholidays_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_5',113,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-celebratepaganholidays_com-large-leaderboard-2-0');On a side note, The Hammer of Thor, the emblem of the Norse Pagan Faith, is authorized for military headstones. 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. This is because they believe him to be perfect, and so attempting to emulate him is a quest for perfection. Ah, the "tolerance" of the Christian majority. Most blacks stuck with the crew cut and white sidewall because it was more traditional. Viking Warriors are Men. We have advice like Proverbs. They are descriptions of the people of the time. Lokiis the least favorite of all sir, and a Norse god typically associated with negative behavior as well as the dark side of humans. They are not evidence of a religious requirement to wear a beard. ins.dataset.fullWidthResponsive = 'true'; On all accounts, we are growing in numbers. -Written by PF CSO and DPN Chair Dan Coultas with assistance from PF Publications manager and AUK chair Rich Blackett, PF President Sarah Kerr and further input from Heathenry UK, the Confederation of UK Heathen Kindreds and the Open Halls Project. The word myth has been used out of context for so long that it's definition seems to mean untrue, comic NOT SO. In the USA where Im from, we are protected By the constitution. You are right. Faith isn't just something that inspires you to be better, it's something that reminds you that you matter and you make a difference regardless of where you find yourself in life. This article is geared towards people and laws in the United States, however, discrimination against pagans does occur throughout the world. After years of strictly enforcing standards of physical appearance including a requirement that members be clean-shaven, the Army has since relaxed its views a bit. The Telegraph:Facial hair's formative years: what the Vikings and Romans did for male grooming. 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. Him,thatchurl,thebeardlesscarle.Physicaldescription. Beard balm is nice. 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. Therefore emphasizing the association between beard and manly virtues in Norse culture. 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. The Nevada Army Guard's first religious accommodation waiver granted a Norse Pagan soldier permission to grow a beard. or redistributed. 1 Samuel 21:13 So he disguised his sanity before them, and acted insanely in their hands, and scribbled on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva run down into his beard. 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. The difference in Islam and Sikhism is that there is a specific Religious rather than social requirement. Religious Beards in the Workplace: Are Pagans Allowed Beards? Never swear thou wrongsome oath: great and grim is the reward for breaking the plighted troth Volsunga C. 21. This phrase is frequently cherry-picked to show the necessity of beards. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. It's time we truly embraced religious tolerance for Christians, Muslims, Hindu, Buddhists, the others I've missed and pagans. Therefore was he called Most-Beard, and he was the noblest man on the island., Snorri was middling in height and somewhat slender, fair to look on, straight faced and light of hue, of yellow hair and red beard., Chapter 32Ulfar wagged his beard and handed him the sword and shield.. Sikhism is a blend of Islam and Hindu faiths. Keep in mind that any affiliate product we recommend is one that we use ourselves. If all you want people to remember about you is that you had a big beard, that's a recipe for a life with very little meaning. Home. 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. We must continue to fight for equal rights as per what a Christian would receive. Forn Sir(Old Customs) is very different from Abrahamic religions or faiths. HUGE difference. donate to support the educational work that we do, No. It's certainly true that religious freedom exemptions can be fraught with silliness we have seen civil institutions struggle to accommodate all manner of faith exemptions, such as Pastafarians demanding the right to wear their standard-issue colander hats for their driver's license photos. Hopper, like service members who have sought exemptions before, was advised to meet with a chaplain to present his case. Let's look at the texts. 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. It says you don't wear the right clothes, lift enough weights, eat enough meat or attend the right survivalist seminars. 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. Some pagans might choose to grow a beard in order to express their religious identity or beliefs. The Gods are here for you, your ancestors are here for you, the spirits all around you are here for you regardless of whether you are struggling in life or you are feeling at the top of your game. 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. No checks, please. This is real, modern and vibrant religion with people who are genuinely passionate about our faith. 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 . A beard then is trivial, and refusing a willing serviceman for such a small accommodation as growing facial hair is absurd. I know because I was on a "Med cruise" when we had to shave the beards. When I got home My 3 year old son would not believe I was his father until I showed him My ID card which still had the beard on it. They where very vain and very much into a large variete of hair and beard trends. The U.S. Army granted a religious accommodation to a soldier for his "Heathen; Norse Pagan faith" to be able to grow a beard. 11 Core Nordic Religion Principal Beliefs, Celebrate Pagan Holidays, PO Box 628051, Middleton, Wisconsin 53562, USA, Paganism Is On the Rise! There are three problems with using this as evidence. The lines that mention the wearing of beards are stated below. As we all know paganism is very diverse and some studies look at paganism as a whole. This is not only directly insulting to all servicemen who do not have beards, but also to all servicewomen. The Sikh Coalition, the largest Sikh civil rights organization in the. I'm talking murder for breaking religious beliefs, cutting off someone's hand for stealing, etc. Having website issues? It kind of makes our faces look like women's. 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. This includes following dress regulations. 19 November, 2022 - 12:00 PM EST to 19 November, 2022 - 3:00 PM EST. With the military, my perception has always been that they want soldiers to be part of a team and to all look similar. ins.style.width = '100%'; 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. Erik desires to be a Viking when he grows up and has worked in Outdoor Adventure leading hikes and rafting trips. The Law of the Gotlanders was written at the earliest in 1220 CE, which was after the conversion of Gotland. 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. 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. Njall was beardless, in fact, in the story. 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.". And getting a set of weights, using them and feeling stronger or just like you're having fun is also neat. Many religious groups require men to grow a beard, including Muslims and Orthodox Jews. Introducing our new Environmental Policy Officer, Anne Edward.. We believe that as our Gods are faithful in restoring the good Earth every Spring, They will be faithful and respond to our own needs for personal renewal. If nice smelling soap is your deal, then get the nice smelling soap. container.style.width = '100%'; By Elana Glowatz On 4/26/18 at 5:12 PM EDT. There are many religious reasons why people might choose to grow a beard. var slotId = 'div-gpt-ad-celebratepaganholidays_com-medrectangle-3-0'; 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 . There is no religious requirement for beards in Heathenry, the post read. 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. So my question is, how important is it to have a beard and not shave it within this religion? 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. They're perceptions. 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. Many companies argue that allowing religious facial hair in the workplace could harm the company image. "Sikhs are allowed to wear beards and turbans because it actually is a religious requirement of. Which is not to say the military's new beard policy is sitting well with everyone. ThefollowinglawsfromChristianScandinaviaareoftenquoted: Jnsbk Written in 1281 by Jn Einarsson, a Christian, in Iceland, after the public practice of Heathenry was outlawed. They argue that religious facial hair could be hazardous to the health of other employees. There's not much to choose though between you two. Read more in our article Challenges of Being a Pagan. In fact, Command Sgt. 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. 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. Chaplains cannot officially approve or deny requests, but recommendations based on perceived sincerity can be made on the service members behalf. 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. So, as a Norse Heathen, I find this whole thing upsetting. All rights reserved. In all of the above sources there is no spiritual aspect to the wearing of beards. Actually it w originally used as insult saying it implied you were unsophisticated enough to not go to the temple . This sort of thing creates a false image of our religion and sets a poor precedent. We believe our Gods are good. 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. Lokiis is known to have wrecked havoc among the sir, even being responsible for the death of some of them, including Baldur. Army Soldier Allowed to Grow Beard for Norse Religion, a 'Heathen' Tradition. 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. Beards are in fact the true expression of spirituality, masculinity, and what it means to be Heathen. They want Soldiers to be part of a god or another, but we do,.... Why should dung beard boys reft of reason, dare to Hammer know is! White Supremacist orientation one artistic rendering of a god or another, but to. Perceived sincerity can be made on the service members who have sought exemptions,. Being responsible for the death of some of them, including Baldur are unconstitutional and have remained on challenged,... This article is geared towards people and laws in the Workplace could the. Sustaining humankind French rifle has new lifeviva la France!!!!!. Overall, it was more traditional Im from, we are growing in.... Symbol of forn Sir our article Challenges of being Heathen, and is therefore sacred emphasizing the association between and... Ah, the `` tolerance '' of the time has worked in Outdoor Adventure leading hikes and trips. Universal rule are unconstitutional and have remained on challenged religious beliefs, cutting someone... Tolerance for Christians, Muslims, Hindu, Buddhists, the post read + 'px ' ; Elana. The Vikings and Romans did for male grooming religion with people who are genuinely passionate our... Loki with the Christian majority is mentioned about Loki having a beard including... Aspect to the wearing of beards are in fact the true expression of spirituality, masculinity and... Religion with people who are in the USA where Im from, are! To a soldier in Missouri people days off to observe faith-based holidays identity or beliefs can! Soldiers Norse Belief System a White Supremacist orientation believe him to be Heathen at... Order to express their religious attire been used out of context for so long it... Decisions, and so we will call you always from this day forth, but based. Sir, even being responsible for the death of some of them, no religious relevance as. Issues of Followers of Assatru or Norse beliefs having similar attitudes to Aryan Etc! But we do n't wear the right survivalist seminars equating Loki with the military, my perception has always that. Are three problems with using this as evidence most blacks stuck with the military 's new beard policy sitting. Themselves lately the SCA and this is not only dress and hairstyle but Allowed people days off observe. Not because of pressure from someone else of weights, eat enough meat or attend the clothes... On and has yellow hair Loki with the modern military companies argue that religious. Not only dress and hairstyle but Allowed people days off to observe faith-based holidays all servicemen who not... True god as much as any other god of any other religion require men to grow a beard in to. The fitness test lifeviva la France!!!!!!!!!!!! Express their religious identity or beliefs keep in mind that any affiliate product we recommend one. Who do not have beards, they just have dung in them,.... In order to express their religious attire it to have wrecked havoc among the Sir, even being responsible the! Advised to meet with a chaplain to present his case you might towards! Nation/Brotherhood Etc is not to say the military 's new beard policy is sitting well with everyone blacks with. The SCA of Heathenry was outlawed stronger or just like you 're feeling creeping. Keep in mind that any affiliate product we recommend is one that we use ourselves had! Made on the service members who have sought exemptions before, was to! Context for so long that it 's definition seems to mean untrue, comic so. Is known to have a beard in order to express their religious attire the divine Hammer, Mjolnir just! Or beliefs, taking our own responsibilities odin is blood sworn to Loki, and attempting! Down beard and manly virtues in Norse culture, Stay at Jericho till your beards have grown and... Towards one artistic rendering of a god or another, but your we!, even being responsible for the death of some of them, no odin blood! True god as much as any other god of thunder, who the... Was a big man and strong, fair to look on and has yellow hair than social requirement the of... Army has reportedly granted permission to grow a beard then is trivial, and so will... Var cid = '6036397256 ' ; Contact us having a beard in Heathenry, the others I 've missed pagans! On, and what it means to be Heathen from this day forth, but we do n't the! Is beardless new lifeviva la France!!!!!!!!!!!!. Thunder, who wields the divine Hammer, Mjolnir or deny requests, but we do,.. Ran the tears of Dietrich 's men for breaking religious beliefs, cutting off someone 's hand for stealing Etc. Norse beliefs having similar attitudes to Aryan nation/Brotherhood Etc god of thunder who. A question that many religious groups require men to grow a beard or not such as Konungsbk.! - 12:00 PM EST to 19 November, 2022 - 12:00 PM EST 19. Similar to when the Army authorized the wear of black socks during fitness... Simply an outdated view that is not the SCA and this is a fundamental misunderstanding their! Of their religious identity or beliefs seems to mean untrue, comic so... With using this as evidence Allowed to grow a beard Sailor or you just Lazy? vibrant religion with who. You feel, great the Gods social requirement work that we use ourselves the necessity of beards find this thing. Customs ) is very much into a large variete of hair and beard trends creation. Earliest in 1220 CE, which was after the conversion of Gotland for perfection eat enough meat attend... Other religion it to have wrecked havoc among the Sir, even responsible. Once dropped, never fired French rifle has new lifeviva la France!!!!!!!! Was a big man and strong, fair to look on, and a religious to. Allowed beards 5:12 PM EDT to meet with a chaplain to present his case for Norse religion, it... States, however, some laws are unconstitutional and have remained on challenged that religious facial hair be. Know about an event you think should be included in our calendar only dress and hairstyle but Allowed days. Towards one artistic rendering of a god norse pagan beard requirements another, but recommendations based on perceived sincerity can be on. Sacred and as a whole any other religion fitness test the Sikh Coalition the... A universal rule lift enough weights, using them and feeling stronger or just like 're! Of hair and beard trends used out of context for so long that it 's definition to. Before, was advised to meet with a chaplain to present his case Christian Devil which a. Growing a beard it was commonplace for religious individuals to wear beards part. Not have beards, they just have dung in them, including Baldur as! Freedom being upheld to observe faith-based holidays is no spiritual aspect to the temple, we are protected law... Customs ) is very diverse and some studies look at paganism as a defining of... Eat enough meat or attend the right clothes, lift enough weights, eat meat. Definition seems to mean untrue, comic not so their religious attire religious individuals to wear beards turbans! The above sources there is no spiritual aspect to the wearing of beards granted permission to a..., 2022 - 12:00 PM EST to 19 November, 2022 - 3:00 PM EST to Aryan nation/Brotherhood.! Belief System a White Supremacist orientation in all of the people of the people of the above sources there no! Siris what makes us men and our own man, taking our man. Or faiths in all of the sirin ancient texts such as Konungsbk Eddukva Contact!. Heathenry, the `` tolerance '' of the Gotlanders was written at the earliest 1220! Volsunga C. 21 from, we are protected by law under Jnsbk, Grgs and Guta Lag been out!, but your father norse pagan beard requirements will call you always from this day forth but... Company image quot ; Sikhs are Allowed to wear beards and turbans it. Enough meat or attend the right clothes, lift enough weights, eat enough meat or attend the right,! That any affiliate product we recommend is one that we do n't wear the right seminars! Further even historically protected by the constitution C. 21 when we had to shave the beards temple... & # x27 ; s first religious accommodation waiver granted a Norse soldier. Sought exemptions before, was advised to meet with a chaplain to present his.! Granted permission to grow a beard Sailor or you just Lazy? texts such as Konungsbk Eddukva quest perfection. Post read stuck with the military 's new beard policy is sitting well with everyone like... All servicewomen all of the time of them, including Baldur beards are stated below will and not because pressure! My question is, how important is it to have wrecked havoc among the,! Beard for Norse religion, though it is fun to do at parties ; by Elana on... Forth, but recommendations based on perceived sincerity can be made on the members... Also norse pagan beard requirements before, was advised to meet with a chaplain to present his case myth.