But consider a couple philosophical things first. If you have a mind capable of believing all three of these attributes simultaneously, I have a wonderful bargain for you. In all of the above sources there is no spiritual aspect to the wearing of beards. had i not received so much harassment over beard standards i would have remained in and wished to have retired . "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," the . This is because the Norse gods are seen as our ancestors, they are ideals we strive to achieve, they are ourselves, they are us. Some look at a subset of paganism such as Wicca, Norse, or Neo-paganism. 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. and that is How Racism Should be dealt with; in the Military and in our Communities Norse religion is not racially motivated. But the fact is, in Heathenry, we always have hope that's beyond what people can buy. "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. sued the state in federal court, saying that his religious right to grow a beard had been violated. And to be fair, there has been some method to the army's clean-cut madness. Heathen?? If there are any concerns about health and safety, the employer can ask that the employee keep their religious attire or facial hair trimmed. 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. Market data provided by Factset. 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.". Employers must offer religious accommodations with regard to religious garb and grooming, as long as it does not cause undue hardship for the company. 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. Let Us Knowso we can help. 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. During training theres many good reasons to eliminate hair mostly having to do with how much times wasted on cleaning and grooming . Many religious groups require men to grow a beard, including Muslims and Orthodox Jews. They will sustain us. If not for the forced conversion of the pagan people (pagan means country dweller), there would be a lot more, but more and more are waking up. 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 of all weirds ones. Similar passages can be found in many world religions. 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. Lokialso happens to be the only Norse god without a beard. I believe that Athena would smile upon this decision. 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 . "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. Observation Post articles reflect author observations or attempts at humor. The move came as a result of the Army authorizing beards for religious soldiers in January 2017 as part of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, a move specifically enacted for Sikh soldiers but applied to all religions,Army Times reported. Grgs Can refer to several different sets of laws, but the earliest is from 13th Century Iceland, again over 200 years since the Christianisation. It's not a faith. Why not? These aren't common cases, but there are some Heathen groups who do prescribe certain kinds of dress and appearance. Norse Pagans may. We must continue to fight for equal rights as per what a Christian would receive. Honestly, I find myself more in favor of hair and beards than spending so much wasted time primping. var ins = document.createElement('ins'); Hair may fall into food being prepared and that beards are more likely to carry germs, which can sometimes lead to illness for those around them. I think that thy father the beardless carle must have given it. Physical description. ins.dataset.adChannel = cid; Have a question for us or an officer? For him the use of razor or shaving the chin shall be as sinful as incest.. It is for these reasons that we at the PF will not directly intervene, on the beard matter. It'll give you the feeling like your only hope is a bottle of vitamins, a set of weights or a wilderness survival seminar. It's a nice thing and it makes your beard look nice. 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. As for Muslims, they are monotheistic, which makes them a sister faith to Judeo-Christianity. cycle to work scheme 2020; aquaculture short courses; buffalo jeans costco women's; diggy simmons and chloe bailey dave and busters; Therefore emphasizing the association between beard and manly virtues in Norse culture. 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. They are simply physical descriptions of the people in the sagas. They will investigate your claim and may take legal action against your employer. Many of Our Community are Hunters, Loggers and Fisherman; and will Do Whatever it takes to Protect our Home This Icelandic saga not only encompasses all the fundamental and essential Norse values that form the basis of Forn Sir, but the saga has also established the foundation of Icelandic culture for the past millennium. In fact, Command Sgt. 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. Ye are nicknamed dung-beardlings but my husband the beardless carle. Repetition of the above descriptions. 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.". The Hadith in Islam specifies that Mohmmads followers must wear a beard. For this reason many Heathens believe that if you want Odin to accept your offering, you must offer to Loki too. 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. It is my personally held belief that growing a beard will bring me closer to my God and bring me into his favor.. The Army Times reported in April 2018 that under those regulations, a soldier at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., had been granted permission to wear a beard in accordance with his Norse pagan faith. 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. 12-13 yrs ago a Small city on the west side of the Puget sound with Scandinavian Heritage Chose a Mixed race Highschool girl for the Queen of their yearly Festival. The military first prohibited beards during the First World War, when the introduction of chemical warfare greatly increased the risk they could get in the way of life-saving gas masks. This is often cited in restaurants or other companies with food preparation. 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. Most blacks stuck with the crew cut and white sidewall because it was more traditional. If this soldier is claiming Thor told him to grow a beard, and that is the evidence he is standing on (personal Divine transmission), where does the line get drawn? satrarflagi, the Pagan Association, was formally founded in the spring of 1992. Erik desires to be a Viking when he grows up and has worked in Outdoor Adventure leading hikes and rafting trips. They say that it could make customers and clients feel uncomfortable, or like they're not being taken seriously. or redistributed. 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. (Hint - nope) There is a noticeable difference between acknowledging a god and worshiping it. As well as Freyinga saga (The Saga of the Faroe Islands): Thrond was a big man of growth, and red haired he was, and red bearded.. that si the military if you want to join a club then do not join the us military weirdest. forgot var slotId = 'div-gpt-ad-celebratepaganholidays_com-medrectangle-3-0'; He has adopted the particular religious belief of his own free will and not because of pressure from someone else. 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. A beard then is trivial, and refusing a willing serviceman for such a small accommodation as growing facial hair is absurd. 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. window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId, 'adsensetype', 1); Suite 800 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. Has the army gone too far to accommodate a soldier whose faith doesn't require he wear a beard in the first place? 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. 1st Class Benjamin Hopper. The chaplain corps will work with any military member to aid them in a genuine pursuit of an accommodation, Joint Force State Chaplain Maj. Donald Crandell said. Sgt. Who'd of thought the French were tougher than Vikings? lo.observe(document.getElementById(slotId + '-asloaded'), { attributes: true }); But now, with so much attention being focused on workplace safety and company image, more and more companies are starting to say no to religious facial hair in the workplace. 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. Now, it is considering two similar requests from Pagan soldiers,. 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. And the same principle as above applies here too. 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. 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. Moreover, it is our view that focusing on this issue not only detracts from far more important issues, but also makes Pagans appear foolish and uneducated in our own religious beliefs in the eyes of wider society. Whether to abide by confines of regulation vs. honor Thor in a way you feel called to do, even though Thor doesn't require it. It is admirable this soldier is showing his respect for Thor! My personal faith is deeply tied to the modern warrior lifestyle that I have been able to live during my military career, said Hopper, adding that the beard has never hindered his ability to put mission first. They where very vain and very much into a large variete of hair and beard trends. It is something new and authorized, and you will always encounter people who do not like change. I was lucky to work as an intern with the Smithsonian during college. Read our article Paganism is on the Rise to learn how we are growing as a culture. All rights reserved. It would behoove this soldier, if he is a Thor devotee, to abide within the confines of regulation instead of bucking the system. 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. For us Normenn, Vkingar, and Heathens,Forn Sirrepresents our truth, our ancestors, our culture, our identity, our knowledge, our masculinity, and our spirit. On all fronts perceptions are changing and in this new 21st century world, old and outdated practices are going by the wayside. Maybe we should start referring to Christians who ignore the Sabbath (Saturday) as Heretics. The Secret Story of the Original War on Christmas, Muslim, Jewish Firefighters Sue Over Facial Hair Policy, The History of Advent They Don't Teach You in School, The Secret Religious History of Thanksgiving, Is This Middle School Mural 'Satanic'? She asks, is it the beardless carle?, Why doesn't he make them cart dung over his beard that he may be like other men? You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Beard balm is nice. All Rights Reserved. Odin is the one-eyed God, the father figure. It is not an insult. Sgt. 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. In the USA where Im from, we are protected By the constitution. "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. 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. If you need more reading about the benefits of beards Brrahllin (The Hall of Brothers): The Benefits of Beards, Proceedings (U.S. Some reference the law of the Gotlanders as proof positive of the sacral nature of beards. There are many pagan religions that consider it important for one to have facial hair in order to express the person's religious identity. Likewise, hair is part of Gods creation to Sikhs, and is therefore sacred. I agree. No matter the religious requirements, the Army interpreted Hoppers request as genuine. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Some of these challenges come from outside your pagan circles such as family and friends. An event greatly frown upon in a culture that emphasizes gender polarization and strongly stigmatizes feminization of men. Your neighbors of numerous cultures, your countless masses who came here for a real shot at life, all Americans like you. 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. Being known as an oath breaker is possibly the greatest insult to someone who holds Heathen values. ins.style.width = '100%'; I don't worry about appearance details for any reason. There's a lot out there right now that tells you that you're being a man wrong. 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