Anglo-saxon paganism?

[David19]

I've been looking through different paths and found a mention of anglo-saxon paganism and i was just wondering is it the same as Asatru or is it different and if it is, how. i do have an interest in Asatru but i think i heard both paths are different in some ways.

Hope you can help.

[Hangatyr 13]

I actually consider both of them to be the same. Just different color wrapping on the same box.

[Rick]

That's just 'cuz you're all warm & fuzzy, HT13, & just want us to all get along :hehehehe:

For more info on Anglo/Saxon Heathenism, try here: http://www.theodism.net/

[Hangatyr 13]

Come to think of it, I think it's more like the same box with a different color bow.:fpeace: :hehehehe:

[seapearls]

They are only slightly different IMO. It's all Heathenry.

When it comes to Anglo-Saxon Heathenry, I like this page on it
http://www.englishheathenism.homestead.com/introduction.html

[Driffinna]

Most people I know who are into Anglo-Saxon, are Theodish, which is different from Asatru. In many ways they are similar to Asatru, and is some ways they are different. I don't know a ton about the Theods, I have only met a few of them, but they seem to take reconstructing to level in which they are not only reconstructing the religious/spritual aspect, but even the social structure? I think. Please someone correct me if I am wrong. I do know though they seem to in general be much more tribal than the asatru I know. They also have sacral king which is something Asatru does not have.

[Eldred Grimm]

Fyensedu is Anglo Sax heathenry and is not Asatur

http://www.fyrnsede.org/

O Runesinger why? why? just go behind my back O the pain of it all
but Mother always liked you best best :flamer: :flamer: :flamer: :flamer: :grrrrr: :grrrrr: :grrrrr: :grrrrr

[Rick]

:smile: Well, when you're the favorite, might as well get all ya can, right? :hehehehe:

[seapearls]

:smile: Well, when you're the favorite, might as well get all ya can, right? :hehehehe:

Who da man, Ricks da man.....unz unz get it get it....(goes off dancing like a big dork)...

[mothwench]

Fyensedu is Anglo Sax heathenry and is not Asatur

http://www.fyrnsede.org/

O Runesinger why? why? just go behind my back O the pain of it all
but Mother always liked you best best :flamer: :flamer: :flamer: :flamer: :grrrrr: :grrrrr: :grrrrr: :grrrrr
i found that website just a few days ago, and i'm still figuring out what to do with it... is it a forum, a collection of blogs, what? :huh: but so far, i think the articles are great.
:kooky:

[seapearls]

I've checked out the Fyrnsida site some. I don't claim one or the other (Asatru or A-S) exclusively, just plain Heathen. My ancestry is split between the mainland (Germany & Belgium) & England.

But....I came across this article explaining the difference between Asatru & Theodism. Can you make anything from it?

http://gamall-steinn.org/theod/gl-theod-asatru.htm

The more I read about A-S Heathenry tho, the more I don't really see differences between it & Asatru at all. They're so minor.

[David19]

I found this site ages ago, and i thought i'd share it here, it's called wiccecraeft (http://www.angelfire.com/ab4/vanic/witchlord.html), i think it deals with Anglo-Saxon witchcraft and also the beliefs of ancient Anglo-Saxons.

[David19]

I've checked out the Fyrnsida site some. I don't claim one or the other (Asatru or A-S) exclusively, just plain Heathen. My ancestry is split between the mainland (Germany & Belgium) & England.

But....I came across this article explaining the difference between Asatru & Theodism. Can you make anything from it?

http://gamall-steinn.org/theod/gl-theod-asatru.htm

The more I read about A-S Heathenry tho, the more I don't really see differences between it & Asatru at all. They're so minor.

I read the site, and i think Anglo-Saxon 'paganism' is a bit different from Asatru, i think Anglo-Saxon 'paganism' is more tribal based and, i think i've
heard, they even have a king of some sort, from what i've read, it seems that Anglo-Saxon Heathens seem to be trying to reconstruct not just religious beliefs, but also cultural and social things to like certain laws (probably not all of them, though) while Asatru, i think, only reconstructs the religious and spiritual things, although i could be wrong.

I'm not sure but Anglo-Saxon 'paganism' may also have adopted elements from the early religions of Britain (before the Norse and Vikings, are they the same people?, came to Britain), although i'm not too sure.

Anyway, that's what i've read (and understood) so far :).

[Mjollnir]

I read the site, and i think Anglo-Saxon 'paganism' is a bit different from Asatru, i think Anglo-Saxon 'paganism' is more tribal based and, i think i've
heard, they even have a king of some sort, from what i've read, it seems that Anglo-Saxon Heathens seem to be trying to reconstruct not just religious beliefs, but also cultural and social things to like certain laws (probably not all of them, though) while Asatru, i think, only reconstructs the religious and spiritual things, although i could be wrong.

I'm not sure but Anglo-Saxon 'paganism' may also have adopted elements from the early religions of Britain (before the Norse and Vikings, are they the same people?, came to Britain), although i'm not too sure.

Anyway, that's what i've read (and understood) so far :).


And you are correct.

[Malcolm]

They have a King? How was he chosen?

[Mjollnir]

They have a King? How was he chosen?


The lady of the lake, her arm clad in shimmering.................................

[Malcolm]

Oh, right...how could I forget that one. :hahugh:

[Mjollnir]

Oh, right...how could I forget that one. :hahugh:


I was hoping you "got it"......

As far as how they really do it, I know out here the uppity ups copnsider themselves "Lords", then they have their "men" pledging themselves to them, newcomers are considered thralls and have the rights of such, pretty ridiculous IMO, but whatever floats your boat. Their notion of a womans role is archaic at best, reverting back to "how it was", for some reason it reminds me of the literal kristjans who take the bible literally.

[David19]

I was hoping you "got it"......

As far as how they really do it, I know out here the uppity ups copnsider themselves "Lords", then they have their "men" pledging themselves to them, newcomers are considered thralls and have the rights of such, pretty ridiculous IMO, but whatever floats your boat. Their notion of a womans role is archaic at best, reverting back to "how it was", for some reason it reminds me of the literal kristjans who take the bible literally.

For me, i don't think i could be part of their 'group', because i don't think everything should be 'reconstructed' and things being done the way it was done in ancient times, because, one thing i think i learnt from a Asatru site, was that the ancient Heathens (and Vikings - were they the same thing?), didn't look back, and used whatever technology or other developments came their way, so shouldn't the 'group' also be doing that, instead of taking everything so literal.

I'm not sure what they think about women, but it sounds like it would be very opposite to what i believe, women are equal in every way to men (except for biology), plus they should realise that not everything the ancient Heathens did was good, they also drowned gay people too (or anyone in a 'unmanly' position).

Although i think there are some cool Anglo-Saxon 'pagan' sites, like this one, http://www.ealdriht.org/.

[Mjollnir]

For me, i don't think i could be part of their 'group', because i don't think everything should be 'reconstructed' and things being done the way it was done in ancient times, because, one thing i think i learnt from a Asatru site, was that the ancient Heathens (and Vikings - were they the same thing?), didn't look back, and used whatever technology or other developments came their way, so shouldn't the 'group' also be doing that, instead of taking everything so literal.

Exacly, and that is also why I dont understand the whole "ritual garb" thing...whole 'nother topic..., someone I know said "do you think the vikings dressed up as cavemen when they did their thing?".





I'm not sure what they think about women, but it sounds like it would be very opposite to what i believe, women are equal in every way to men (except for biology), plus they should realise that not everything the ancient Heathens did was good, they also drowned gay people too (or anyone in a 'unmanly' position).



Not everything any religion did was good, but again, there lies the difference, we look through a modern filter, they appear to want to revert back instead of taking what we know and applying it to today.

[David19]

Exacly, and that is also why I dont understand the whole "ritual garb" thing...whole 'nother topic..., someone I know said "do you think the vikings dressed up as cavemen when they did their thing?".








Not everything any religion did was good, but again, there lies the difference, we look through a modern filter, they appear to want to revert back instead of taking what we know and applying it to today.

I think that they should take what they can (e.g. stuff that isn't illegal and stuff that just doesn't make sense anymore), and apply to today's world, since, one of my friends, said no religion 'can survive without adapting', every religion does have to adapt to different times, Christianity did, Judaism has (animal sacrifice was a part of ancient Judaism), etc, every religion in the world has changed, even in 'Viking' times, i think Asatru did change over times (like on one site, i read, Loki, originally, was a fire spirit or something, although i think still a 'trickster' spirit, but then as ancient Asatru changed, Loki was turned into a god (and there's probably other examples too, but i don't know them).

[seapearls]

Well I'm understanding more here now and the thrall like status thing when you join a group is crap!

It's listed here on this membership application page....
http://www.fyrnsede.org/join1.php

"However, new members enter the Covenant at a probationary level, and may not excercise certain rights and priviledges within Covenant society until raised to the status of Gesith."

I definitely believe more in applying faiths to the current times when things they used to do are WAY out of date.

[mothwench]

actually, i don't think you can just stick the lable of "living-in-the-past-rpg-nerd" onto all anglo-saxon heathens or recons; asatruar, wiccans, even non-pagans can be just as oddly inclined.

[Little Billy]

Well I'm understanding more here now and the thrall like status thing when you join a group is crap!



Well, at least it's accurate.

On the other hand, anyone who would put up with that sort of crap deserves whatever they get.

[Mjollnir]

i think Asatru did change over times (like on one site, i read, Loki, originally, was a fire spirit or something, although i think still a 'trickster' spirit, but then as ancient Asatru changed, Loki was turned into a god (and there's probably other examples too, but i don't know them).

no no no no no no no no no no.....................

Get a hold of Malcolm, I got him in touch with my kinswoman who is a Lokean, the whole "Loki is a fire god" thing is pure bullshit and anyone who tells you otherwise doesn't know what they are talking about.

[David19]

no no no no no no no no no no.....................

Get a hold of Malcolm, I got him in touch with my kinswoman who is a Lokean, the whole "Loki is a fire god" thing is pure bullshit and anyone who tells you otherwise doesn't know what they are talking about.

Oh sorry, i read it on a site, and thought that Loki started off as a 'fire spirit' or something like that, but i know there are others here who know more than me on Heathen things :).

[David19]

Well I'm understanding more here now and the thrall like status thing when you join a group is crap!

It's listed here on this membership application page....
http://www.fyrnsede.org/join1.php

"However, new members enter the Covenant at a probationary level, and may not excercise certain rights and priviledges within Covenant society until raised to the status of Gesith."

I definitely believe more in applying faiths to the current times when things they used to do are WAY out of date.

I definantly agree, religions have to adapt to survive, what worked thousands of years ago would not work now.

[Cgonathegne]

Or as it might have been alternatively titled, 'why people should read up on things before commenting and looking like idiots'....

First off, the idiotic comment about the way we treat our women is off-base and off-color. Where did such a stupid comment come from? Hardly from anyone familiar with Theodism or it's thews! As Tacitus noted in Germania 'the only thing of note about these tribes is their common worship of the mother earth under the name of Nerthus' (paraphrased). AS paganism is highly goddess revere-ing and even a cursory reading of Old English texts would show the esteem in which women were held- then and now. (or, for an overview try reading "The Woman as Hero in Old English Literature") For the record, anyone within our local Maethel known to have engaged in mistreating a female would be subject to a boot party and outlawry.

Thedisc Geleafa does indeed differ from Asatru in several fundamental ways. Asatru is generally based in late Nordic versions of heathenry and follow a specifically Icelandic model whether many realize it or not. By this I mean to say the autonomy of the various groups with a highest authority being a 'godthi' or in some cases allsherjargodi. Theodisc Geleafa follows an earlier North Sea Germanic model of sacral kingship which was practiced prior to the 'democratic' settlement of Iceland which broke with the idea as they had no actual king to offer blot and mediate with the gods on behalf of their folc. The socio-religious structure of Theodism is based in the lore, is traditional and works very well for purposes of organization and distribution of community responsibility. People do enter the community as either a thrall or leornere for good reason. Namely that the 'sacral king' (of which theodism has only had one in the person of Garman Lord and he abdicated several years ago) is the warder of thetribal luck of his respective theod. It is counter to the greater interest of a theod to take a person into it's community thereby adding their own personal luck to that of the theods without a period in which that person can be 'felt out', and their luck and personal ethics can be made known. Once this process is over, and after this person can be instructed in our lore and ways of doing, they are released from their thralldom into the fosterage of a Lord if one will have them who is then responsible for their actions, providing their wergild if needed, and generally to speed them in their personal growth as theodsmen. Theodism and it's respective theods (currently Miercinga Rice, Normanni Reiks, Sahsom Theod, and New Anglia Theod) are outgrowths of the original theod founded by Garman Lord in the seventies which was called the Winland Rice (now defunct) which has broken off into a rather traditional line of Rice's (pronounced reach's) each serving the various tribal thews of it's adherents. While Theodisc Geleafa is related to Asatru as I had said, it has ALWAYS been distinct from it and both faiths have seperate origins. If anyone is interested there are several works available on the subject:
"The Way of the Heathen" -Garman Lord
"We Are Our Deeds" -Eric Lord Wodening
"Hammer of the Gods" -Swain Wodening
"Anglo Saxon Mythology, Migration, and Magic" -Tony Linsell
"Looking for the Lost Gods of England" -Kathleen Herbert
"The Lost Gods of England" -Brian Branston
"Heathen Gods in Old English Literature" -Richard North
"Anglo Saxon Paganism" -David Wilson

I emphatically do NOT recommend the nonsensical works of Brian Bates or anything relative to 'seax-wicca'....

[seapearls]

Or as it might have been alternatively titled, 'why people should read up on things before commenting and looking like idiots'....

First off, the idiotic comment about the way we treat our women is off-base and off-color. Where did such a stupid comment come from? Hardly from anyone familiar with Theodism or it's thews! As Tacitus noted in Germania 'the only thing of note about these tribes is their common worship of the mother earth under the name of Nerthus' (paraphrased). AS paganism is highly goddess revere-ing and even a cursory reading of Old English texts would show the esteem in which women were held- then and now. (or, for an overview try reading "The Woman as Hero in Old English Literature") For the record, anyone within our local Maethel known to have engaged in mistreating a female would be subject to a boot party and outlawry.

Well thanks for the input, I don't know anyone that practices Theodism and so it's good to hear things from the horses mouth with the sources to back it up. That's how we sort these things out isn't it.

Thedisc Geleafa does indeed differ from Asatru in several fundamental ways. Asatru is generally based in late Nordic versions of heathenry and follow a specifically Icelandic model whether many realize it or not. By this I mean to say the autonomy of the various groups with a highest authority being a 'godthi' or in some cases allsherjargodi. Theodisc Geleafa follows an earlier North Sea Germanic model of sacral kingship which was practiced prior to the 'democratic' settlement of Iceland which broke with the idea as they had no actual king to offer blot and mediate with the gods on behalf of their folc. The socio-religious structure of Theodism is based in the lore, is traditional and works very well for purposes of organization and distribution of community responsibility. People do enter the community as either a thrall or leornere for good reason. Namely that the 'sacral king' (of which theodism has only had one in the person of Garman Lord and he abdicated several years ago) is the warder of thetribal luck of his respective theod. It is counter to the greater interest of a theod to take a person into it's community thereby adding their own personal luck to that of the theods without a period in which that person can be 'felt out', and their luck and personal ethics can be made known. Once this process is over, and after this person can be instructed in our lore and ways of doing, they are released from their thralldom into the fosterage of a Lord if one will have them who is then responsible for their actions, providing their wergild if needed, and generally to speed them in their personal growth as theodsmen. Theodism and it's respective theods (currently Miercinga Rice, Normanni Reiks, Sahsom Theod, and New Anglia Theod) are outgrowths of the original theod founded by Garman Lord in the seventies which was called the Winland Rice (now defunct) which has broken off into a rather traditional line of Rice's (pronounced reach's) each serving the various tribal thews of it's adherents. While Theodisc Geleafa is related to Asatru as I had said, it has ALWAYS been distinct from it and both faiths have seperate origins.

I get what your saying here, so the thralldom is like anyone else does when they meet someone new. They get to know them & see what type of person they are before they just let any interested person into thir life. And the Lord is just someone with time & knowlegde under their belt & sounds like a mentor/teacher to help the person get started. Correct?

f anyone is interested there are several works available on the subject:
"The Way of the Heathen" -Garman Lord
"We Are Our Deeds" -Eric Lord Wodening
"Hammer of the Gods" -Swain Wodening
"Anglo Saxon Mythology, Migration, and Magic" -Tony Linsell
"Looking for the Lost Gods of England" -Kathleen Herbert
"The Lost Gods of England" -Brian Branston
"Heathen Gods in Old English Literature" -Richard North
"Anglo Saxon Paganism" -David Wilson

I emphatically do NOT recommend the nonsensical works of Brian Bates or anything relative to 'seax-wicca'....

I've seen these same books listed http://www.englishheathenism.homestead.com/recreading.html

I do plan on reading some of these because my family (what I have traced) are from Germany, Belgium & England & not Scandinavia so I am interested in learning the Teutonic/A-S area of Heathenry. The only book I have so far like that is Germanic Heathenry by Coulter & 2 I have on the celts because they go into discussion on Britian and tell about when the A-S were taking over & how they came to. Thanks for the post

[Mjollnir]

Or as it might have been alternatively titled, 'why people should read up on things before commenting and looking like idiots'....

First off, the idiotic comment about the way we treat our women is off-base and off-color. Where did such a stupid comment come from? Hardly from anyone familiar with Theodism or it's thews!

From seeing it firsthand? From hearing it firsthand?

That and seeing and hearing about the numerous implosions the theods around here have gone through, my favorite is the famous "below the salt" thing that happened one Yule.

[Malcolm]

Loki is not a fire spirit.

[David19]

If anyone is interested there are several works available on the subject:
"The Way of the Heathen" -Garman Lord
"We Are Our Deeds" -Eric Lord Wodening
"Hammer of the Gods" -Swain Wodening
"Anglo Saxon Mythology, Migration, and Magic" -Tony Linsell
"Looking for the Lost Gods of England" -Kathleen Herbert
"The Lost Gods of England" -Brian Branston
"Heathen Gods in Old English Literature" -Richard North
"Anglo Saxon Paganism" -David Wilson

I emphatically do NOT recommend the nonsensical works of Brian Bates or anything relative to 'seax-wicca'....

Thanks for the book list, when i have some money, i'll try and get some of them.

BTW, is Anglo-Saxon 'paganism' related to Vanatru at all, or any Vanic paths?.

[Gyda]

Thanks for the book list, when i have some money, i'll try and get some of them.

BTW, is Anglo-Saxon 'paganism' related to Vanatru at all, or any Vanic paths?.


No. not as far as I've read or know.

[Dead Eights]

BTW, is Anglo-Saxon 'paganism' related to Vanatru at all, or any Vanic paths?.

No... in no way is it related. Vanatru is based on the older Germanic Traditions (or at least what we think we know about them). Anglo-Saxon "paganism" is based on the unique gods of Briton.

[David19]

No... in no way is it related. Vanatru is based on the older Germanic Traditions (or at least what we think we know about them). Anglo-Saxon "paganism" is based on the unique gods of Briton.

Ok, thanks, what are the unique gods of Britain, are they the same as the Norse ones (Odin, Freya, etc) or different ones?.

[Dead Eights]

Ok, thanks, what are the unique gods of Britain, are they the same as the Norse ones (Odin, Freya, etc) or different ones?.

Different (for the most part, with some shared) - just do a search on anglo-saxon heathenism and gods, and you'll get a list.

[Nantonos]

No... in no way is it related. Vanatru is based on the older Germanic Traditions (or at least what we think we know about them). Anglo-Saxon "paganism" is based on the unique gods of Briton.

Why would they be unique, since the Angles and Saxons (and Jutes) came from the continent?

[Rick]

Why would they be unique, since the Angles and Saxons (and Jutes) came from the continent?
Thank you!

[Mjollnir]

Why would they be unique, since the Angles and Saxons (and Jutes) came from the continent?


Because most/some say that Wodan,Thonarr and Ingunar-Frey are "different" than Odin,Thor and Freyr.

[Seren_]

Because most/some say that Wodan,Thonarr and Ingunar-Frey are "different" than Odin,Thor and Freyr.

But surely that just means they evolved differently? That doesn't make them unique.

[Mjollnir]

But surely that just means they evolved differently? That doesn't make them unique.

It all depends on who you talk to.

[seapearls]

But surely that just means they evolved differently? That doesn't make them unique.

I agree, it all depends on who you ask. They IMO evolved only slightly differently just because they were in a different area, but not enough to make any significant differences.

[Hangatyr 13]

I don't usualy like to participate in these kinds of discussions on Pagan forums, but it's happening anyway, so I guess I'll give my opinion.

Let's put this into perspective. Irish Catholics (most of whom speak Engish) call their cheif deity "God" while Mexican Catholics (most of whom speak Spanish) all their cheif deity "Dios". Seventh-century Norse Heathens called their cheif deity "Odhinn" while seventh-century Anglo-Saxon Heathens called their cheif deity "Woden". Irish Catholics are far more likely than Mexican Catholics to revere Saint Patrick. Like-wise, Anglo-Saxon Heathens were more likely to revere Saxnot than Norse Heathens. Are Irish and Mexican Catholism two different relgions, or are they the same religion with local and linguistic differences? Whatever the answer to that question is should also apply to Norse and Anglo-Saxon Heathenry.

My answer: They're the same religion with local and linguistic differences. Do you want to know why there are so many more "Norse" Heathens in America than there are "Anglo-Saxon" Heathens? Because the Lore of our religion was written down by an Icelander. So we use Anglicized versions of the West Norse names. For example, medieval speakers of West Norse living in Norway and Iceland never called their cheif deity "Odin" (pronounced oh-din). That's just the way we pronounce the All-Father's name in modern English. In truth there are no "Norse" or "Anglo-Saxon" Heathens living in modern-day America. We're all American Heathens. "Reconstructionism" is just a phase that American Heathenry has to go through before it becomes a main-stream religion.

The problem with reconstructionism is that instead of treating Heathenry as a living religion, it often treats Heathenry more as a historical novelty, forgetting that we don't live in the same world as our ancestors. Strict reconstructionism in Heathenry will always fail because it tries to resurrect traditions that can no longer apply to today's society. The tradition of a sacral king, for example, can not really exist in Modern-day American society. In Heathen Britain, the Sacral king was the ruler of a nation. In modern-day America, our ruler is a democratically elected president, and I don't think there are any Heathens who would consider our president to have anything to do with our relationship with the Gods. What some like to call a "Sacral King" today is really just a priest at best, or a cult-leader at worst. Society has evolved, as it most likely would have with or without Christianity. Instead of feudal government, we have republican government. Instead of human sacrifice, we have state-sanctioned execution. Our religion should apply to the society in which we live.

[seapearls]

Hangatyr 13, Without having to quote everything you just said....

:cheers:

[Cgonathegne]

Actually, the SINGLE reference to a term for pre-Christian Anglo-Saxon indigenous religion is UUanisc or 'Vanitas' whereby Bede attempted to make the play on words 'vanity' (in the Latin) as a term for AS religion. Traditionally speaking, AS paganism is (from an academic standpoint) thought to be much more animistic and truly 'vanic' than the later Nordic versions recorded by the Icelanders and Norwegians. There is good evidence to show that the late influence of Woden as found in the Regnal lists from the C manuscript of the Chronicle was a late develop in English paganism, not to mention would have been the origin of the Odin sprung kings of later Norse regnal lists by way of their importation into Norway from England with Hakon Athelstanfostri. Earlier examples likely would have followed the example found in the Yngligatal, in which tribal leaders would have traced their lineages back to Ingui-Frea/Ingunar-Frey/Yngvi-Freyr. This is further sustained by the North Sea Germanic tribes seeming lineage back to a tribal progenator "Ingwwz" as in the Petrosa Neck Ring or through their earliest designation as "Ing[u]aeonnes" and the usage in Beowulf of the term Ingwines as part of the term "Lord of the Friends of Ing". A late piece of Christian pragmatism is likely to have lead to the 'Woden sprung king' concept in English paganism in the person of the Bishop Paulinus masquerading as Woden during a Uuanisc religious festival in which he rode out at the temple and cast a spear into the temple, thus attempting to break the connection with the Uuanisc faith in England by transferring it to Woden, who could easily be transferred by the church as simply an ancient king, as is found in the numerous literary attempts at euhemorization..... So, yes, Anglo Saxon paganism was traditionally VERY much like modern Vanatru, or at least closer than Asatru to it.

[seapearls]

To anyone else interested I've just come across this and didn't know there was a difference before.

I didn't realize that Anglo-Saxon Heathenry & Theodism can be separate things. This refers back to the part of the thread on sacral kingship. According to this site (got the link off the Miercinga Rice forum)...

http://www.heathenthing.org/anglosaxon.html

Some Anglo-Saxon Heathens follow Theodisc Geleafa, a movement that started in 1976. Theodisc tribes believe in sacral kingship and a highly structured social organization. There are other Anglo-Saxon Heathens who agree with Theodisc ideas in principle but have no affiliation with any tribe. Still others reject Theodisc Geleafa entirely, often forming less structured kindreds similar to those of Asatru.

Theodism here also has it's own page.

[Carla O'Harris]

There is good evidence to show that the late influence of Woden as found in the Regnal lists from the C manuscript of the Chronicle was a late develop in English paganism,


I sincerely doubt this. Odin is a very, very old god. As Vata/Vayu he stretches back to Rig-Veda.

On the other hand, I do agree that the religion was far more Vanic.

[Eldred Grimm]

There are small differences with the Gods and Goddess
If you break them down Runecly you can see them.

Wodan Odin
Thunor Thor
Frau Ferya
Holda Frigg

[S_Wodening]

I read the site, and i think Anglo-Saxon 'paganism' is a bit different from Asatru, i think Anglo-Saxon 'paganism' is more tribal based and, i think i've
heard, they even have a king of some sort, from what i've read, it seems that Anglo-Saxon Heathens seem to be trying to reconstruct not just religious beliefs, but also cultural and social things to like certain laws (probably not all of them, though) while Asatru, i think, only reconstructs the religious and spiritual things, although i could be wrong.

I'm not sure but Anglo-Saxon 'paganism' may also have adopted elements from the early religions of Britain (before the Norse and Vikings, are they the same people?, came to Britain), although i'm not too sure.

Anyway, that's what i've read (and understood) so far :).

Actually no, they did not adapt any beliefs from the early religions of Britain. The religion of most of Britain save Scotland was Christian. The Romans had pretty much exterminated the native Celtic beliefs, as well as abandoned the Roman Gods.

Welga!
Swain Wodening

[S_Wodening]

For me, i don't think i could be part of their 'group', because i don't think everything should be 'reconstructed' and things being done the way it was done in ancient times, because, one thing i think i learnt from a Asatru site, was that the ancient Heathens (and Vikings - were they the same thing?), didn't look back, and used whatever technology or other developments came their way, so shouldn't the 'group' also be doing that, instead of taking everything so literal.

I'm not sure what they think about women, but it sounds like it would be very opposite to what i believe, women are equal in every way to men (except for biology), plus they should realise that not everything the ancient Heathens did was good, they also drowned gay people too (or anyone in a 'unmanly' position).

Although i think there are some cool Anglo-Saxon 'pagan' sites, like this one, http://www.ealdriht.org/.

It is not quite like Mjollnir puts it. listen to Cogonanthegne. There are no kings at present, and while there are lords, they answer to democtatic assemblies. As to women they actually have a higher place than men. For example the site you cite is actually ran by Miercinga Theod and is lead by a woman (my ex-wife to be exact)

Welga!
Swain Wodening

[S_Wodening]

No... in no way is it related. Vanatru is based on the older Germanic Traditions (or at least what we think we know about them). Anglo-Saxon "paganism" is based on the unique gods of Briton.

No, Anglo-Saxon Heathenism is actually closer to Vanatru. The gods of Britain were Celtic and Pictish. The gods of Anglo-Saxon Heathenry are Germanic as is Vanatru.

Welga!
Swain Wodening.

[David19]

It is not quite like Mjollnir puts it. listen to Cogonanthegne. There are no kings at present, and while there are lords, they answer to democtatic assemblies. As to women they actually have a higher place than men. For example the site you cite is actually ran by Miercinga Theod and is lead by a woman (my ex-wife to be exact)

Welga!
Swain Wodening

Thanks for the info, it's explained a lot :).

[David19]

No, Anglo-Saxon Heathenism is actually closer to Vanatru. The gods of Britain were Celtic and Pictish. The gods of Anglo-Saxon Heathenry are Germanic as is Vanatru.

Welga!
Swain Wodening.

Again, if you don't mind me asking, is Anglo-Saxon Heathenism closer to Vanatru (and the Vanic deities) than Asatru (which I think is more about the Aesir(sp?) gods?).

Thanks.

[S_Wodening]

Truly it is about the same. Anglo-Saxon Heathenry includes both what would be comparable to Vanatru and Asatru. That is Anglo-Saxon Heathens worship both the Vanir and Aesir.