Our military needs to be wary of all forms of mental illness. 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.". More recently, some special operations soldiers serving in the Middle East have beenallowed to grow beardsso that they might better blend in with local populations. The poems written about the Gods were written downby people who also never claimed to have seen them. 11 Core Nordic Religion Principal Beliefs, Celebrate Pagan Holidays, PO Box 628051, Middleton, Wisconsin 53562, USA, Paganism Is On the Rise! We have faith in the Gods, that's the root meaning of the word "Asa-Tru.". 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. I'm talking murder for breaking religious beliefs, cutting off someone's hand for stealing, etc. 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. The religious belief is sincerely held, whether or not the employee has discussed it with others or attempted to convince other employees of its truthfulness. What we do isn't a "lifestyle brand" either. Historically the Norse liked wild hair cuts. Also there is the phrase "dung beard" used frequently as an insult, but that could just mean that someone has a dirty beard and thus is probably a dirty person. Statistically, it is growing quickly in the United States and Europe. I respect my servicemen, and I respect their God-given and American-given right to believe and practice. A religion, or even a set of religions under the umbrella terms of "Paganism" or "Heathenry," is a complex and surprising institution. Otherwise, if you're fearing for your life in a foxhole, why the hell would you demand your partner shave? 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. Have a question for us or an officer? Thrond was a big man of growth, and red haired he was, and red bearded. A physical description of someone who had a beard. Let us know about an event you think should be included in our calendar. You might gravitate towards one artistic rendering of a God or another, but we don't mistake the rendering for the reality. 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 Sagas that are often quoted at no point describe a spiritual reason to wear a beard. Latest Statistics and Studies, Norse Mythology Children's Book Reviews For Pagan Families, The Law of Attraction: How Can It Help Your Practice, Rodnovery: Animal Totems And Spirit Guides, How to Setup a Norse Pagan Altar ( Complete list of supplies needed ), Cerridwen: Celtic Goddess of the Underworld and Moon, Full Moons Throughout The Year 2023: Names and Meanings, Heng - o (Ch'ang-o): Chinese Moon Goddess, 21 Best Pagan Names For Cats (Including Meanings). I agree. It's a nice thing and it makes your beard look nice. In the past, it was commonplace for religious individuals to wear beards as part of their religious attire. there are a lot of reasons for that. and that is How Racism Should be dealt with; in the Military and in our Communities Norse religion is not racially motivated. Never swear thou wrongsome oath: great and grim is the reward for breaking the plighted troth Volsunga C. 21. Who'd of thought the French were tougher than Vikings? Disclosure: This site contains affiliate links to products and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Tamed Wild, among others. They are our religion. Not so much. Why not? 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. Further blurring the beard waiver criteria is that while Norse paganism encourages the growth of a beard, or "skegg," the religion doesn't require it. I ca'nt see how men look better clean shaven. During training theres many good reasons to eliminate hair mostly having to do with how much times wasted on cleaning and grooming . The Navy did away with the beards in 1985. Saying "Odin has one eye" or "Thor has a red beard" aren't statements of fact. Yay!!! Yet vaccines mutate. There's a lot out there right now that tells you that you're being a man wrong. Why would the army want manly looking soldiers? It is not an official policy of the US military. Read our article Paganism is on the Rise to learn how we are growing as a culture. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: Army Gives Norse Pagan Soldier Permission to Grow Beard, Connecticut Reckons With Its Dark Past of Executing People for Witchcraft. Beards are a popular fashion right now across society, regardless of religious belief. Check out our calendar! As we all know paganism is very diverse and some studies look at paganism as a whole. So once just like the medieval Christian laws above this is actually a far more compelling argument for Christian servicemen to be allowed to wear a beard than it is for Pagans. Some pagans might choose to grow a beard in order to express their religious identity or beliefs. There are three problems with using this as evidence. He was told to shave or be fired. And it gives us even less of a window into its religious importance, or whether it had sacred importance at all. The idea that the Old Norse had large and wild beards was invented for stages and in national anthems about 150 years ago. Health and Safety. 2 Samuel 10:4-5 So Hanun seized Davids envoys, shaved off half of each mans beard, cut off their garments at the buttocks, and sent them away. 1st Class Benjamin Hopper a member of the Nevada National Guard, religious accommodation to Army Regulation 670-1 Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms. Maybe they're hoping to make soldiers look like sailors. The Nevada Army Guard says Sgt. Because there are no tenants in Asatru. Many was shaved. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. This includes allowing employees to wear religious clothing or facial hair in the workplace. we live in a society where trans people are discriminated against in the military and special accomidations are made for people with imaginary friends. They where very vain and very much into a large variete of hair and beard trends. No checks, please. There are many accomodating jobs that are accepting of different faiths. Complete application instructions and support are only available to members of Forn Sir or those affiliated with us as of 20 May 2020. It'll give you the feeling like your only hope is a bottle of vitamins, a set of weights or a wilderness survival seminar. 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. Finally, some companies suggest allowing religious people to wear religious facial hair, but only if the beard is kept very short and trimmed. But the Army choosing to accommodate the soldier's request shows that: They are no longer the sticklers for the rules they once were, and They've come to respect (at least to some degree) individual faith beliefs that stray from the mainstream as well. Maybe you're feeling the creeping fingers of old age. God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent - it says so right here on the label. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. cycle to work scheme 2020; aquaculture short courses; buffalo jeans costco women's; diggy simmons and chloe bailey dave and busters; Most pagans I know, or know of, routinely refer to themselves as heathens as well as pagans. Ulfar wagged his beard and handed him the sword and shield. A physical description of someone who had a beard, and happened to wag it. When they heard he was dead for sooth, all the warriors wept, as was meet. Religious Beards in the Workplace: Are Pagans Allowed Beards? So companies do have arguments on why they may ask men to be cleanshaven or have short hair. You can still have a beard if it covers a facial scar. I have a question about Norse-Pagan and Beards. 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. (Hint - nope) There is a noticeable difference between acknowledging a god and worshiping it. Hopper, like service members who have sought exemptions before, was advised to meet with a chaplain to present his case. He was a big man and strong, fair to look on, and had a great beard. And last December, a group of sailors on the aircraft carrier John C. Stennis held the Navy's first Heathen. This sort of thing creates a false image of our religion and sets a poor precedent. It is purely societal, and even if it were spiritual, these are Christian laws, from a period where the practice of Heathenry was outlawed. "There is no religious requirement for beards in Heathenry," Open Halls said in a 2017 statement. On all accounts, we are growing in numbers. Yet, if they let the guy grow a beard, and it poses no distractions from duty, I certainly have no problem with it. Your neighbors of numerous cultures, your countless masses who came here for a real shot at life, all Americans like you. Federal and state laws guarantee Mr. Whitsel the right to practice his faith without interference from his employer. Amazingly, it seems that the United States military agrees with me, having allowed a soldier to wear a full face beard as he claims that it is a requirement of his Norse pagan faith, reports . Some countries do not allow for a religious freedoms. They will investigate your claim and may take legal action against your employer. When David was told about this, he sent messengers to meet the men, for they were greatly humiliated. How is that supposed to work. No matter the religious requirements, the Army interpreted Hoppers request as genuine. Down beard and chin ran the tears of Dietrichs men. A physical description of someone who had a beard. The U.S. Army has reportedly granted permission to a soldier in Missouri . This is just as much an argument that all Heathens should be slender with yellow hair as it is that they should wear beards. 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. The process can take a long time and it often comes with negative attention that may effect your career. Most blacks stuck with the crew cut and white sidewall because it was more traditional. Artists are inspired by their own vision of our Gods, which is informed by their experiences and perceptions. var container = document.getElementById(slotId); Njall was beardless, in fact, in the story. Therefore emphasizing the association between beard and manly virtues in Norse culture. 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. There's not much to choose though between you two. Similar passages can be found in many world religions. Paganism is not an ancient dead religion. I've seen some beards that should be condemned as a hazard to health. First off, if vaccines actually work, then someone not vaccinated simply can't be a threat, or else the vaccines aren't working. or redistributed. What the army is saying here is you can wear a beard to worship a myth but you can't be who you really are. 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. 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