Likewise, hair is part of Gods creation to Sikhs, and is therefore sacred. Thor is called red beard. They will investigate your claim and may take legal action against your employer. A notable exception is Loki (Mischief, lies). And the same principle as above applies here too. The issues of Followers of Assatru or Norse Beliefs having Similar attitudes to Aryan nation/Brotherhood Etc. var alS = 2021 % 1000; Takes very little time to rub soap on ur head and face than trying o shampoo and comb hair if your bald . The difference in Islam and Sikhism is that there is a specific Religious rather than social requirement. How do we then deny anyone claiming their God or gods told them to do anything? Why? And we all know what they say about them. 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. So my question is, how important is it to have a beard and not shave it within this religion? sued the state in federal court, saying that his religious right to grow a beard had been violated. 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. 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. Ie folk with a simple earthy country religion, not the cool new urban religion they have in the cities. But it's not a religion. Yet, if they let the guy grow a beard, and it poses no distractions from duty, I certainly have no problem with it. They argue that religious facial hair could be hazardous to the health of other employees. His son Thor is the god of thunder, who wields the divine Hammer, Mjolnir. 1987-2023 The Troth Why not? The beard is and has always been a defining feature of being Heathen, and a religious symbol of Forn Sir. Has the army gone too far to accommodate a soldier whose faith doesn't require he wear a beard in the first place? Some pagans might choose to grow a beard in order to express their religious identity or beliefs. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Nothing is mentioned about Loki having a beard or not. HUGE difference. Looking to celebrate pagan holidays? 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. Its authenticity was later confirmed by a Missouri spokeswoman to the Army Times. While his beard blushed red for shame? Has a beard, no religious relevance. If the above saga quotes can be used to argue that Heathens should be allowed a beard, then these Bible quotes could just as easily be used to argue that Christians should be allowed a beard. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. 1st Class Benjamin Hopper a member of the Nevada National Guard, religious accommodation to Army Regulation 670-1 Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms. The lines that mention the wearing of beards are stated below. We know people who are in the SCA and this is not the SCA. We don't just talk about "the way things were" and argue about what kinds of fabric people may or may not have worn, we talk about the way things are now. When they heard he was dead for sooth, all the warriors wept, as was meet. But Thorvald, thy husband was not beardless and yet thou plottedst his death No mention of any spiritual connotation of beards. And all you need to do is reach out and ask. I don't agree with the military grooming standards because they are out dated and impractical, not for religious reasons. God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent - it says so right here on the label. "Heathen" simply means a person who does not conform to christian norms in some way. 11 Core Nordic Religion Principal Beliefs, Celebrate Pagan Holidays, PO Box 628051, Middleton, Wisconsin 53562, USA, Paganism Is On the Rise! 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. 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. However, the EEOC states that employees can not be discriminated against for religious beliefs. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! "Sikhs are allowed to wear beards and turbans because it actually is a religious requirement of. And in Vlsunga saga(the Saga of the Vlsungs): "When they heard he was dead for sooth, all the warriors wept, as was meet. Not Surprisingly They had NO Problems with outsiders.. ;). God, Country, Family, Self. Many of the new "grooming standards" were laid out in a 2017 decision to accommodate religious requirements for facial hair. I agree. Heathen, with a capital, refers to Norse Paganism, unless it is starting a sentence, with a small "h" refers to someone who lives on the heath, much like pagan refers to someone who lives in the countryside, rather than a city dweller. A religion, or even a set of religions under the umbrella terms of "Paganism" or "Heathenry," is a complex and surprising institution. They do indeed, yet they accept people who are afflicted with religion. Throughout this extensive text, in fact the longest and most developed Icelandic saga, countless references are made to not only associate beards with masculinity and virtue, but also to greatly insult and disparage any man who does not sport a beard: Chapter 35There's not much to choose though between you two. Several pagan men have faced discrimination or have been told to change shave due to changing company laws. Especially not Thor, who is along other things the god of law. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'celebratepaganholidays_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_7',105,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-celebratepaganholidays_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'celebratepaganholidays_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_8',105,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-celebratepaganholidays_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0_1'); .large-mobile-banner-1-multi-105{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;}2. They are symbols and signs (kennings) that hearken to stories about those Gods. Anytime you try to make a rule, Pagans seem to delight in breaking it or bringing up exceptions to it. 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. ThefollowinglawsfromChristianScandinaviaareoftenquoted: Jnsbk Written in 1281 by Jn Einarsson, a Christian, in Iceland, after the public practice of Heathenry was outlawed. As we all know paganism is very diverse and some studies look at paganism as a whole. On all accounts, we are growing in numbers. Thrond was a big man of growth, and red haired he was, and red bearded. A physical description of someone who had a beard. 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. I have a question about Norse-Pagan and Beards. 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. Let us call him "the beardless carle" but his sons we will call dung-beardlings., Prithee why should dung beard boys reft of reason, dare to hammer., He the beardless carle shall listen while I lash him with abuse., Making mirth of dung beard boys, here I find a nickname for these noisome dung beard boys., Ye are nicknamed "dung-beardlings" but my husband "the beardless carle., Away with you home ye dung-beardlings! The military should change their grooming standards because it's 2019 and our gas masks work over facial hair now, not because of religious gerimandering. [Robert Heinlein, "Notebooks of Lazarus Long," from Time Enough for Love (1973).]. Beard balm is nice. 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. In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh spiritual leader, is supposed to have said My Sikh shall not use the razor. has Long been a Problem.. 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. Something that is a core tenant of Heathenry is the importance of oaths. Heathenry Essentials Study Chat Third Saturday. Maj. John Troxell, the senior enlisted adviser to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently insisted beards remain both a distraction and a "gimmick.". Why would the army want manly looking soldiers? It is published by West Coast Publishing, a firm in no way connected with the Department of Defense, the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard. In Heathenry in particular all of the Gods have flaws, many of which are set out in Lokkasenna and include dishonesty, incest and fratricide to name but a few. var ins = document.createElement('ins'); For some pagans, it is seen as a way of honoring the gods and goddesses. Thou hast hangnails on every finger and Njall is beardless.. Keep in mind that any affiliate product we recommend is one that we use ourselves. 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. In fact, the beard is a religious symbol of Forn Sir or Heathenry as much as the kippot is a religious symbol of Judaism, or the beard and the pagri are a religious symbol of Sikhism. var container = document.getElementById(slotId); It is not an insult. Maybe we should start referring to Christians who ignore the Sabbath (Saturday) as Heretics. 19 November, 2022 - 12:00 PM EST to 19 November, 2022 - 3:00 PM EST. These laws are from medieval Scandanavia, and not relevant today. Sikhism is a blend of Islam and Hindu faiths. } All rights reserved. The Law of the Gotlanders was written at the earliest in 1220 CE, which was after the conversion of Gotland. 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. Njall was beardless, in fact, in the story. I'm talking murder for breaking religious beliefs, cutting off someone's hand for stealing, etc. I believe that Athena would smile upon this decision. 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 and that is How Racism Should be dealt with; in the Military and in our Communities Norse religion is not racially motivated. Thor is a real god, honored today by many. I see it as a phase very similar to when the Army authorized the wear of black socks during the fitness test. 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. And indeed there were European tribes in the Heathen period where being clean shaven was the fashion, or in the case of the Lombards, long moustaches! The U.S. Army granted a religious accommodation to a soldier for his "Heathen; Norse Pagan faith" to be able to grow a beard. 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