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. In this Grgs the very first chapter is Christian Law. sued the state in federal court, saying that his religious right to grow a beard had been violated. Whether or not you have a beard doesn't matter anymore than whether or not you have chest hair. 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. The first such accommodation came in 2017 following years of beard-exemption requests and legal pressure from Sikh soldiers seeking to preserve religious traditions while wearing a U.S. uniform. A religion, or even a set of religions under the umbrella terms of "Paganism" or "Heathenry," is a complex and surprising institution. But those rules have evolved with warfare. [Robert Heinlein, "Notebooks of Lazarus Long," from Time Enough for Love (1973).]. The already-growing list of religious exemption requests inflated earlier this year when Spc. 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'? I see it as a phase very similar to when the Army authorized the wear of black socks during the fitness test. Legal Statement. had i not received so much harassment over beard standards i would have remained in and wished to have retired . Now What I might have issue with..?. Kesh, or 'uncut hair' is one of the five religious requirements of. It kind of makes our faces look like women's. Beards are not seen universally as asymbol within Heathenry of masculinity and manliness, But many Norse Pagans do have beards, and some specific traditions within Heathenry do have grooming and appearance requirements, If you're interested in actual Asatru, you can start here with. Many religious groups require men to grow a beard, including Muslims and Orthodox Jews. Beards define the Heathen man. 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. Some look at a subset of paganism such as Wicca, Norse, or Neo-paganism. password? Being known as an oath breaker is possibly the greatest insult to someone who holds Heathen values. Abdul Rahman Gaitan became the first Muslim airman to be granted the exemption in observance of the tenets of his faith. 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. 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." We, as Heathens, have no such religious requirement with regards to hair.. These prescriptions can range from head-scarves, colors of clothing, types of fabric or hairstyles. The king said, Stay at Jericho till your beards have grown, and then come back.. Thrond was a big man of growth, and red haired he was, and red bearded. A physical description of someone who had a beard. 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. It is sometimes pointed out that there have been cases in the US military whereby Heathens have been allowed to wear beards. Army Soldier Allowed to Grow Beard for Norse Religion, a 'Heathen' Tradition. Still has one ;) ifthere are Specific Jobs that one Can not wear a Beard. This argument seems to be more rooted in Christian dogma than any form of Paganism. But this does not stop Njall from becoming a major figure in Icelandic politics. ins.dataset.fullWidthResponsive = 'true'; And getting a set of weights, using them and feeling stronger or just like you're having fun is also neat. Section 20 (Concerning bald patches), clearly states that a man's beard incurs fines as for other hair pulling., As a matter of fact, apart from throwing ale in someone's face, insults included man handling a person riding or walking on the highway, making a minor attack on a man's beard or hair.. Statistically, it is growing quickly in the United States and Europe. Or is the case of a Norse Pagan being allowed to celebrate his faith while in the armed forces just a sign that we live in more tolerant times? So companies do have arguments on why they may ask men to be cleanshaven or have short hair. (Hint - nope) There is a noticeable difference between acknowledging a god and worshiping it. They are our soul. But the fact is, in Heathenry, we always have hope that's beyond what people can buy. Observation Post articles reflect author observations or attempts at humor. If "They can all find another job. Many Pagans today have beards, but this is a cultural rather than a religious phenomenon in exactly the same way it was in 10th century Europe. On all fronts perceptions are changing and in this new 21st century world, old and outdated practices are going by the wayside. Amazingly, it seems that the United States military agrees with me, having allowed a soldier to wear a full face beard as he claims that it is a requirement of his Norse pagan faith, reports . Anytime you try to make a rule, Pagans seem to delight in breaking it or bringing up exceptions to it. This money helps us pay our writers and website expenses. 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. Is This Soldiers Norse Belief System a White Supremacist orientation? 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. Odin has one eye because of his insatiable search for secret wisdom. They'll make you feel like you aren't man enough, like you aren't good enough or like you're just not enough in and of yourself. 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. If nice smelling soap is your deal, then get the nice smelling soap. "; a rather intolerant statement. Attending a Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving. I agree. In 2017, the Defense Department expanded the number of faiths covered under religious exemptions to include atheists, agnostics, shaman, humanist and pagans. But Thorvald, thy husband was not beardless and yet thou plottedst his death No mention of any spiritual connotation of beards. A member of the Norse Pagan Faith, serving in the 795th Military Police Battalion at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., has been granted permission to wear a beard under a 2017 Army policy directive which . He is also slender, fair to look on and has yellow hair. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'celebratepaganholidays_com-banner-1','ezslot_6',106,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-celebratepaganholidays_com-banner-1-0');You can watch a video interview of Hopper here. So my question is, how important is it to have a beard and not shave it within this religion? Reputation is at the very core of Heathenry. And last December, a group of sailors on the aircraft carrier John C. Stennis held the Navy's first Heathen. Or to quote Lord Summerisle, referring to himself, "A heathen, conceivably, but not, I hope, an unenlightened one.". From any perspective therefore,Lokiis the very opposite of what a man should strive to be. In Whitsels case his attorney Ashlie Case Sletvold, stated, America was founded on the principle of religious freedom. get real! Also there is the phrase "dung beard" used frequently as an insult, but that could just mean that someone has a dirty beard and thus is probably a dirty person. Neither of the two largest inclusive Heathen organisations in the UK, namely Heathenry UK and Asatru UK recognise any religious requirement for Heathen men to wear a beard. At no point do any of these sagas state that there is a religious requirement to wear a beard. 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. Beards are further even historically protected by law under Jnsbk,Grgs and Guta Lag. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Looking to celebrate pagan holidays? "Sikhs are allowed to wear beards and turbans because it actually is a religious requirement of. Are the Holidays Going Woke or Getting More Inclusive? The beard is and has always been a defining feature of being Heathen, and a religious symbol of Forn Sir.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. Ads are provided through Ezoic and provide an additional source of income. She asks, is it the beardless carle? Physical description of someone who doesnt have a beard. In Afghanistan, meanwhile, Hopper keeps his waiver on him at all times in case any superiors question the facial feature he refers to as a sacred and defining feature of masculine men. Regulations specify a beard can be no longer than 2 inches in length. Norse pagans have no such requirements, although facial hair is encouraged. Norse pagans have no such requirements, although facial hair is encouraged. "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. What are your thoughts on that? 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. var ins = document.createElement('ins'); This sort of thing creates a false image of our religion and sets a poor precedent. We have faith that our Gods return "a gift for a gift" and that if we sacrifice to Them, They will return with a gift to us. Any thought about what Loki looks like is only within the perception of people who claim to have "seen" them. Thou hast hangnails on every finger and Njal is beardless. Simply a physical description of 2 people, one has a beard, one does not, but there is no implication that this makes one more spiritual than the other. Making mirth of dung beard boys, here I find a nickname for these noisome dung beard boys. -Has beard, and yet still is insulted. Folks On 19 April 2018, one of our bros made history by receiving a religious accommodation for a Norse Pagan beard from the U.S. Army. You can still have a beard if it covers a facial scar. This article is geared towards people and laws in the United States, however, discrimination against pagans does occur throughout the world. Check out our calendar! Some Christians such as Amish and Mennonite men, also wear beards as part of their religious practice or beliefs. Whether we go to Heaven, Nirvana, Valhalla, or wherever, when we DIE IN SERVICE TO THIS COUNTRY, in this life we protect the American ideal and in fact, part of that ideal is respecting the diversity this country defends! On all accounts, we are growing in numbers. And at least two airmen who follow the Norse Heathen, or pagan, faiths have been granted permission to wear a beard. Njall was beardless, in fact, in the story. Now, it is considering two similar requests from Pagan soldiers,. The Open Halls Project, an advocacy group for heathens serving in the military, sought to clarify any existing confusion in a 2017 post about beard exemptions. But let's be clear: these are exceptions. We even abandoned saluting officers in most situations in a combat zone, because it fronted the officer as a sniper target. If the pagan wants to stand out, more power to him. Theres not much to choose though between you two. In fact, we do not pray or worship per say the sir, synjur, Vanir, Jtnar, Arir, Kindir, or Kynja. Hmmmm, after watching history channels Vikings and seeing Ragnar get utterly destroyed in straight up battles with the French, I'm shaving my beard and wearing my beret backwards. What we do isn't a "lifestyle brand" either. 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. What do you think? How do we then deny anyone claiming their God or gods told them to do anything? 1st Class Benjamin Hopper, a 34-year-old Alabama native and member of the Nevada Army Guards 3665th Ordnance Company, was granted the waiver following a lengthy review process that concluded with the Armys acknowledgement of his sincerity as a heathen. This could equally be applied to dress codes in civilian organisations where an individual has signed a contract, stating that they will follow the rules. This might include a letter from a religious leader or another official document that shows that the practice is required or preferred by the religion. You put in an internet search and BOOM, you're confronted with content that tells you all this stuff you feel is because you're really just failing at doing the whole "man" thing. This points yet again to the prevalence of beards in Norse culture. Not Surprisingly They had NO Problems with outsiders.. ;). Religious Beards in the Workplace: Are Pagans Allowed Beards? forgot Otherwise, if you're fearing for your life in a foxhole, why the hell would you demand your partner shave? Who'd of thought the French were tougher than Vikings? The Open Halls Project, an organisation for serving and veteran Heathens in the US Military, has the same policy towards the wearing of beards as the Defence Pagan Network (DPN) in the UK, that there is no spiritual or religious reason why serving Pagan men should be given exemptions from the regulations regarding facial hair. If you found this article useful and want to donate to support the educational work that we do, please consider making a contribution to our general funding or support our mission by joining The Troth today. As an employer, the US Military has been grappling with accommodating different religious groups in the armed forces. Aside from Snorri and the Eddas, there are no other accounts of Loki. 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. Not so much. From an sirand traditional Norse god perspective, a beard is therefore always associated with masculinity and virtue, including moral strength, manliness, valor, excellence, and worth, while the absence of a beard expresses feminization as well as depravity and immorality. has Long been a Problem.. Much to choose though between you two and the Eddas, there are no other accounts of Loki allowed! 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