Humbly--it is a religion with far less than that :-) It is a religion if we worship (honor) more or less the same gods. The NNV don't need to be in tehre; respect for the ancestors takes many different forms and has different places in different heathens' worldview; and how we honor the gods, including whether we call it blót when it doesn't involve a live animal (for example), or whether we also worship/honor other gods, also varies.
That's the story, really. I suspect that's the way it is for many indigeonous religions--the things that are done and that have been done are many and varied, but the definition is very simple. It is the religions of the book--and later--that define themselves from long lists of dogma and praxis.
I was going to post a similar reply but then I saw yours. Seems not necessary to reiterate.
I think that if we focus too much on a list like this rather than just accepting other heathens, as there is a wide strata within heathenry alone, we begin excluding and causing rifts which did not exist originally.
The NNV is just a way of behaving that some people go by, they are certainly no commandments but many find them reasonable codes of conduct, but this is all part of figuring it out
( ... )
I'm also not trying to cause a rift.I'm not trying to exclude. I just gleaned from a list of another site and I thought it was reasonable, so I thought this was a list to use as a springboard. I'm just trying to figure out what where other heathen stand. If this list doesn't apply, yes, by all means, say so, but mention what does heathenry mean to you? How do you worship? What criteria do you use to define yourself as a heathen. This is about you.
there are a lot of folks in the Heathen Movement who use varied Thews that are additional to the NNVs (though I don't know them off the top of my head) and there are those who don't use the NNVs at all
( ... )
The NNV is a springboard. A way of living that is reasonable for many heathens but certainly open to interpretation. Such as Hospitality being a way of serving the community. Frith. Truth: Understanding ourselves; to ourselves be true. You catch my drift.
I would recommend doing the following if you feel some need for yourself to find an answer to such a question.
Go to the website of the AFA, the Asatru Alliance, the Troth, The IG, Northvegr, Theodish websites (sorry not that familiar), the Odinic Rite, Odin Lives, usw.
Listen to all the podcasts, read all the articles, see all the different codes (besides the modern NNV/SFG and its many variants) and see what is common through them all. Also the myths, the sags, the foreign accounts of the Teutonic and Scandinavian people from the Romans (Tacitus, Caeser, usw.). Find what is common through them and with all the different groups of heathenry. That is where truth lies and you will be surprised how many similarities are found in all branches of heathenry, certain people are just called to certain branches. That is the reason for this community.
Thanks. I guess you could say I've heard by now one too many people say "OH TEH POOR LITTLE AMINALS" and it's food. I wouldn't eat an animal I consider to be a pet, which includes rabbit, but there is something very holy about the nature of a livestock Blot. I have never personally attended one but I've read up on it and I've been able to clearly visualize what would accurately take place. In its place I usually offer the Gods food and drink.
IMO. . .heathenry begins and ends with our Germanic Gods. That is the ultimate commonality for heathens to associate on the most basic level. Everything in between is cultural affiliation, preference, and whatever else we fill our lives with or choose how to live it. . .all of which is constantly subject to some extent of change given the nature of the reality we live in. The Gods shaped Middangeard and left us to get on with it as we see fit. Whether we do deeds and live honourably is totally up to us.
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That's the story, really. I suspect that's the way it is for many indigeonous religions--the things that are done and that have been done are many and varied, but the definition is very simple. It is the religions of the book--and later--that define themselves from long lists of dogma and praxis.
Frith,
M
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I think that if we focus too much on a list like this rather than just accepting other heathens, as there is a wide strata within heathenry alone, we begin excluding and causing rifts which did not exist originally.
Alaf Sal Fena!
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This is about you.
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Go to the website of the AFA, the Asatru Alliance, the Troth, The IG, Northvegr, Theodish websites (sorry not that familiar), the Odinic Rite, Odin Lives, usw.
Listen to all the podcasts, read all the articles, see all the different codes (besides the modern NNV/SFG and its many variants) and see what is common through them all. Also the myths, the sags, the foreign accounts of the Teutonic and Scandinavian people from the Romans (Tacitus, Caeser, usw.). Find what is common through them and with all the different groups of heathenry. That is where truth lies and you will be surprised how many similarities are found in all branches of heathenry, certain people are just called to certain branches. That is the reason for this community.
Alaf Sal Fena!
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