Comments | all_heathens: something to share

svinfylking in all_heathens

something to share

Nov 18, 2007 14:17

Note to mods: if this is out of line, please give me the word and I'll pull it, but I thought this would be an appropriate place to post it. I'm on the Heathen Thing list and I've seen the thread regarding disabled Heathens. As someone living with a disability myself, and who writes extensively, I finally sat down and wrote this over the weekend ( Read more... )

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exeyel November 19 2007, 02:31:23 UTC

No offense intended as I'm sure this letter conveys for you to whomever what you wish it to convey, however there are a few suggestions that I would make regarding it ( ... )

exeyel November 19 2007, 02:32:22 UTC

Correction : Similar may work well for others here, who knows.

exeyel November 19 2007, 02:34:50 UTC

Also the fact that there is a large scholastic involvement in heathenry (however one feels about various figures they all seem to get along well together even the ones who have followers who can't seem to understand that) should be something of note and to lend credibility to the pursuit. Doctorates aren't just handed out, nor are such extensive works produced without dedication and years of learning.

svinfylking November 19 2007, 02:53:05 UTC

I'm aware of that as I'm looking into pursuit of a degree in Germanic studies.

weofodthignen November 19 2007, 12:35:25 UTC

I hadn't even thought about the fact there are some of us heathens with academic credentials as a piece of supporting data you could use in such a letter, so I'm going to hang my comment here rather than above. svinfylking, I think that's a good point. Mention Jenny Blain; heck, mention me. Mention Stephen Flowers by that name. (All 3 of our dissertation titles are a short Google search away and of course there are many other publications by the other 2, for respected publishers.) K.C. Hulsman's MA thesis at the University of Texas-Arlington was titled "Heathen Magicoreligious Practices: From the Ancient Past through the Reconstructed Present."

I also humbly and sincerely suggest that the A Heathen Thing site is at least as good an online info source regarding heathenry as the AFA and Troth ones, for purposes such as this. For one thing, it does emphasize that there are multiple approaches to heathenry, explains the vocabulary simply, and has the non-discrimination up front in the rules ( ... )

svinfylking November 19 2007, 19:53:54 UTC

Thank you for the link to that. I agree that quoting from the Internet is not exactly academically credible and makes the history geek in me cringe a bit but it was what I had to work with at the moment, and most mental health professionals in outpatient clinics now have computers in their offices so they can type that link in.

My own experience also suggests that it is a problem, although I know what isnorden has been through, and several of my friends have experienced some really nasty attitudes from mental health professionals regarding Heathenry. My beliefs were looked at as a symptom largely based on misinformation, I had one "Pagan-friendly" therapist tell me I was a neo-nazi despite the fact that I had never made any kind of bigoted remarks in front of her and anyone who's seen my collection of friends not to mention my extended family would know I find racism to be abhorrent ( ... )

exeyel November 19 2007, 02:41:02 UTC

Ah, and one more thing. Not all heathens are Norse in orientation. Asatru tends to be, one of the many reasons I am not an Asatrur. Other heathens tend towards Teutonic/Germanic heathenry or Anglo-Saxon (Theodish) heathenry, then there are others aside.

svinfylking November 19 2007, 02:52:25 UTC

I know not all Heathens are Norse in orientation, I myself am an Anglo-Saxon Heathen with slight Norwegian leanings.

I use the term "Asatru" and "Heathenry" as umbrella terms, but people who practice Irminenschaft, Theodism, etc, are welcome to insert the words in there if that is what they practice. I use the word "Nordic" above as a specific tribe which is another umbrella term. Perhaps I should have used Germanic. But you see what I'm getting at. I tried to be general: most, not all, Heathens in the US and abroad use the term Asatru. Most, not all, Heathens in the US are Norse-focused. I am neither, but this was meant as a service for any Heathen who wants to use this.

Thank you again :)

svinfylking November 19 2007, 02:50:12 UTC

None taken and allow me to clarify some things of my own ( ... )

heathenhulagirl November 21 2007, 14:55:48 UTC

It is very easy to be a backseat driver when you have invested nothing into the work. I would like to see you put out the amount of effort that she did, and put forth something meant to benefit the Heathen Community.

exeyel November 21 2007, 15:43:55 UTC

Indeed, it is very easy to be a back seat driver as you said ( ... )

(The comment has been removed)

exeyel November 21 2007, 16:06:06 UTC

I never asked for them. I never accused you of anything except missing the fact that my comments were in response to her asking for comments.

I never questioned whether you were helping the heathen community, you were the one who placed that accusation and attack on me with your reply. Anyone helping is good, we need all the help we can. I may not be a member of the Troth but it was part of my introduction to heathenry years ago as the Ring of Troth, and I still offer it the respect it deserves, as I do with the AFA, AA, OR, and all other groups even if I am not a member.

I was not talking down to you, when I use the terms I am used to I usually receive replies asking me what I meant, forgoing this I now place the more common terms in parens. It saves time, trouble, and misunderstanding.

I don't understand why you responded to my response in the first place or why you felt the need to take it as an attack. My feedback was intended to help what she was working on!

Thank you for the feedback though :)I think you missed that ( ... )

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