So are there no other "heathens"?

[mrgorth]

I say that even though I don't really consider myself a heathen anymore. I was raised Irish catholic and a couple of years ago experimented with norse heathenry. Although I consider myself a unitarian these days there was a lot about heathenry I liked esp. the earth based aspect. I'm suprised that I haven't seen even one reference to heathenry in these pages. Anyone? Note: I know that heathens and wiccans tend to be acrimonious. Know that I think of no path as 100% right and I certainly respect yours.

[NamVetsWeeLass]

1. LMAO, I call myself a Savage Heathen does that count?

I happen to be an Eclectic Witch, but Savage Heathen works for me

[Chovexani]

2. Savage Heathen sounds cool

You must be fun to hang out with, LOL. :hi:

[regnaD kciN]

7. As long as that doesn't mean...

...someone who worships Michael Weiner!

;-)

[Jackpine Radical]

3. Linguistically, "Heathen" is more-or-less the Gmc. equivalent

of "pagan."

Pagan derives from the Latin word for countryside; Pagans were the unconverted rustics.

Heathen Ger. Heidner, Dan. hedning, etc. originally meant one who lived on the heath, i.e. in the outback; again, the unconverted rustics.

I consider the two to be local variants on the same theme, and as I noted elsewhere around here, Celtic, nordic/gmc., (east) Indian, and Greco-Roman paganism are all variants on the old Indo-European religion. It all kinda blends together when you go back far enough. For example, both our word Easter and the old Gmc fertility goddess Eostre originate as variants on Astarte, the Mediterranean fertility goddess.

Paganism is paganism is heathenism, if ya ask me. At a deep level, the only level that counts, they are pretty much the same thing.

[yardwork]

4. Welcome to our group!

There are so many paths represented in this group, and so many definitions for old terms like "heathen" and "pagan" in current useage, it's hard to imagine anyone being offended.

I know somebody who considers himself to be a Catholic Wiccan, for instance. He says his grandmother called herself a "Catholic Witch." She went to Mass and also did spells for people at home.

I met a woman from Mexico who is part of a group of women who are seers going back many generations. When I told her I considered myself a Pagan she said that she never used that term because it has negative connotations to her.

The modern Wiccan movement is not the be-all and end-all of Pagan (or pagan) or Heathen (or heathen) movements.

I see us all as seekers in search of the One.

[UncleSepp]

5. Kinda, here

I considered myself Asatru for many years. I'm still Asatru at heart, but haven't actually actively done anything in a long time. I'm kind of Jewish now, I guess. (A friend needed to convert to Judaism, but didn't want to go through the process alone. I made a deal with her that if she would just do it, I'd go with her to Shabbat services, go to classes, celebrate holidays, and in general support her through following the path she needed to walk. We go to a meditational Reform synagogue that's very involved with interfaith work, and it's great.)

Ya know, that didn't strike me as funny before, but today it just seems hilarious. Hi, I'm the Asa-Jew!

[AlienGirl]

6. And we've found some interesting parallels

There are some interesting parallels between Kabbalah and Asatru beliefs, too.

In the same vein, check out this page on Jewish shamanism: http://home.earthlink.net/~ecorebbe/id15.html

Tucker

[mrgorth]

8. Good discussion on that

http://marklander.ravenbanner.com/runekraft.html

[AlienGirl]

9. Interesting

That author disapproves of mixing systems, which I've heard arguments for and against.

It would be interesting to figure out where the meanings of the Hebrew letters and the meanings of Runic letters parallel each other.

Are there any beliefs about a "missing letter" for the Runic alphabet?

[mrgorth]

10. I'm not up on the runes

I know there are a couple different "futharks" (groups of runes) from different areas or times. I disagree with the author on mixing systems but I'm kind of a unitarian now.

[Is It Fascism Yet]

11. Bill Mahar actually called me and hubby "Heathens" when we were in

the audience of his show and booed Ann Coulter relentlessly. He said, "Be quiet Heathens!" We wondered how he knew!

[nickinSTL]

12. there don't seem to be many

Asatuar/Heathens on DU (maybe I'm wrong?)

I suspect that's because Asatru seems to attract more conservative types than Wicca.

I generally identify as Asatru, myself (though I don't do even solitary blots nearly as often as I should) - though liberal Heathen might be a better descriptor.