Asatru - Norse Heathens of Modern Paganism

[icymist]

History of the Asatru Movement:
The Asatru movement began in the 1970's, as a revival of Germanic paganism. Begun in Iceland on the Summer Solstice of 1972, the Íslenska Ásatrúarfélagið was founded recognized as an official religion the following year. Shortly afterwards, a former U.S. Army Airborne Ranger anmed Stephen MacNallen founded the Asatru Free Assembly in the United States. The group later became the Asatru Folk Assembly. An offshoot group, the Asatru Alliance, founded by Valgard Murray, holds an annual gathering called "Althing", and has done so for over twenty-five years.

Call of the Heathen:
Many Asatruar prefer the word "heathen" to "neopagan," and rightfully so. As a reconstructionist path, Asatru is very similar in its modern form to the religion that existed hundreds of years ago before the Christianization of the Norse cultures. While many Neopagan traditions consist of a blend of the old and the new, Asatru is based in existing historical records -- particularly in the stories found in the Norse eddas, which are some of the oldest surviving records.

Beliefs of the Asatru:
To the Asatru, the gods are living beings who take an active role in the world and its inhabitants. There are three races of gods within the polytheistic Asatru system:

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[Jackpine Radical]

1. Ek vet, men tak.

Damn. Can't get a Runic font to work here.

[eilen]

2. I am Heathen

Currently we are working on petitioning the government to provide Thor's hammer engraving instead of the cross for headstones for those soldiers killed in combat.

This is the wording of our petition to get Thor's Hammer
added to the Veteran's Administration list of Emblems of Belief:

We, the undersigned, understand that most often it isn't until a soldier or veteran dies
and the family makes the request that a new symbol is taken under consideration.
However, no man or woman, who is willing to lay down their life for this country
and it's citizens, should ever have to go into harm's way not knowing whether or not
the symbol of their belief will be allowed on their headstone.

We also understand that the Asatru Folk Assembly, an IRS recognized 501(c)3 organization,
has requested that Thor's Hammer, Mjolnir, be added to the list of approved emblems
for use on government provided headstones.

There are Asatru followers who are right now in Iraq and Afghanistan and others
that will be deployed shortly. They and their families deserve to know that,
if they should be killed, Thor's Hammer will be allowed upon their
Dept of Veterans Affairs provided headstone.

It took eight years and a court battle after the death of a Wiccan soldier
before the Pentacle was added. That shouldn't happen to any soldier's grave.

No Christian goes into battle without knowing that a cross, of their choice,
will be on their government provided headstone. We are asking that one symbol,
Thor's Hammer, of the Asatru faith to be added to the approved list.

http://hammerproject.org/">sign petition