Odinism legally recognized in England

[Scramaseax]

From another forum (http://www.tha-engliscan-gesithas.org.uk/gegaderung/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3792&FORUM_ID=4&CAT_ID=1&Topic_Title=Odinism+%2D+valid+religion+under+UK+la w&Forum_Title=Karl%27s+Tidunga):


I am advised that Manchester Industrial Tribunal on 10 March 2006 recognised Odinism as a "religion or belief" under Regulation 2(1) of the Employmet Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003. Nothing online yet, however.

[Hengest]

Odinism was officially recognised as a religion in the UK back in the 1990's when the OR became the first ever polytheistic group to be granted Registered Charity status by the Charities Commission.

This ruling is good news, because it gives us more ammunition when seeking rights for our folk.

[Sigurd]

I am advised that Manchester Industrial Tribunal on 10 March 2006 recognised Odinism as a "religion or belief" under Regulation 2(1) of the Employmet Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003. Nothing online yet, however.


Quoting part of the essay I had to submit today on "freedom of religion":


1. On article 9(1) of the ECHR

"A clearer concept of what defines a religion or belief is presented in X v Germany, where a man believed that he should not be buried in a cemetery due to his discomfort with Christian symbols, and he instead be cremated, and his ashes be scattered over his grounds; it was however decided that this was not valid, as it did not have roots in a defined religious belief, as there was need for a “coherent view on fundamental problems”; it is suggested that “ some basic level of intellectual or moral coherence is
required before something can be considered a religion or belief: vague notions are not enough.”
Furthermore, the question arose whether Article 9(1) protected those who believed that there was no existence of a divine being (atheists) or whether “New Religions” were included. It has generally been viewed, though, that since the term “or belief” was included, protection by the law is granted also for those who lacked spirituality or did not belong to any of the mainstream religions were protected by Article 9(1); an issue that has proven difficult where the existence of a faith has to be proved, especially where such is individualized; and the Commission does not give an indication of the amount of members needed or the length of existence or how developed an ethic code needs to be.
The question also arose whether philosophical or political beliefs were protected; yet there was no clear definition in X v Austria, where a man claimed National Socialism to be a belief, as the Commission ruled that since Article 9(2) provided that “freedom to manifest one’s religion or beliefs shall be subject…to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for the protection of public order, health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others”, and that therefore there was no need to examine Article 9(1).
Yet, other cases that incorporate politically and ethically motivated pacifism as a belief suggest “some scope for the incorporation of a wide range of philosophical and possibly political beliefs into the definition of belief in Article 9.”"

So, virtually anything counts as a "religion or belief".

And the
2. Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003
do quite agree,

This general entire idea of what constitutes a belief is also reinforced in UK domestic law, in the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003... which give the meaning of religion or belief as “any religion, religious belief, or similar philosophical belief.”

So, yes, that's what I managed to squeeze out of the terribly pc book by Carolyn Evans. Virtually the Flying Spagetti Monster is a "religion or belief" too. :crash:

[Adalwolf]

Now if only we can get it recognized in the United States...

[Scramaseax]

It already is

[beowulf]

The Asatru Alliance, for one, is recognized by the U.S. government as a tax-exempt religious group I do believe.

[Adalwolf]

It already is

Really?

Do you know of any plans to build temples or anything?

[Scramaseax]

Really?All the main orgs are recognised as tax-exempt religious groups, and it's recognised in the military, although I think there are still some issues with dog tags, I'm sure someone else will know.


Do you know of any plans to build temples or anything?
See this thread: http://www.odinist.com/othala/showthread.php?t=1260

In the US there is the Groa Hof (http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Academy/5595/groahof.html) in Pennsylvania and the Gladsheim Hof (http://www.gladsheim.org/) in Maryland. Groa Hof point out several times that they are Universalist, Gladsheim seems Folkish.

[Schwarzesonne]

Legal recognition in the USA is a bit of a different thing than it is in Europe as we have nothing like a “Department of Church” or “Ministry of Religions” in America. Quite the opposite, here we have a very pronounced emphasis on what we call “the separation of Church and State.” Granted, this conception has been re-interpreted many times over, but that’s another topic…

Here we can get an organization recognized as a “tax-except, non-profit religious institution.” There are also certain establishments (e.g., the military, state or federal prisons) that may or may not cater to certain religious beliefs. Usually this amounts to whether the body in question recognizes holy days, dietary obligations, or what have you.

BTW, whenever I was in the US Army I had “Asatru” stamped on my dogtags…

[Adalwolf]

Yeah, that would make sense.

So, in Europe, it's all recognized at once, whereas in the US, it's recognized in steps, so to speak?

[Schwarzesonne]

Yeah, that would make sense.

So, in Europe, it's all recognized at once, whereas in the US, it's recognized in steps, so to speak?

Any of our European members, please correct me if I’m wrong…

To my understanding in the USA there really is no such thing as a legally recognized religion. The Internal Revenue Service (our dept. of tax) legally recognizes organizations (more akin to “charities” than to “churches” despite the misconceptions of the public). Certain institutions may recognize certain religions, but unless these orgs are “spiritual” in nature this generally means that they will respect generic needs such as dietary restrictions.

In Europe, on the other hand, most countries have a “Department of Church” (this name may vary, of course) that regulates accepted practices and also absorbs a certain percentage of national taxes—sort of like a national tithe.

[Hengest]

We have nothing like a Ministry of Religion or Church or anything similar in the UK.

The closest would perhaps be the Home Office but they do not decide which religions are officially recognised.

Recognition comes in a variety of forms much like Steve mentioned, i.e charitable status, tax exemption, consultation by various governmental orgs.

[Liffrea]

It may well be the Ministry of Culture? That deals with religious affairs.

As far as church and state goes the Church of England is the recognised state religion and the monarch acts as its head.

[Doktormartini]

I know this isn't directly about Asatru, it's about Wicca, but it is another Pagan faith, and apparently Bush hates it!

http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_pres.htm

[beowulf]

The U.S. does not officially recognize religions per say, only religious organizations as tax-exempt according to my understanding. The less a government interferes in matters of faith among other things, the better.

[Matthew]

Check this out:

http://www.leapinghare.org.uk/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=571

[hermitfmb]

Anybody living in Britain should read the Acas guidelines -

http://www.acas.org.uk/media/pdf/f/l/religion_1.pdf

In these Odinism and astaru (their spelling not mine) are mentioned as a religion belief. A breach of Acas guidelines are not in their self illegal, however a Tribunal will take them into consideration when judging a case.

[Sigurd]

Anybody living in Britain should read the Acas guidelines -

http://www.acas.org.uk/media/pdf/f/l/religion_1.pdf

In these Odinism and astaru (their spelling not mine) are mentioned as a religion belief. A breach of Acas guidelines are not in their self illegal, however a Tribunal will take them into consideration when judging a case.

Call me dumb but where? It at least says nothing about our festivals at all, unless I have overlooked them; only about Druidism and Wicca. With which we prefer to have as little to do as possible, especially the latter, of which I find it quite laughable that it is claimed as an "Ancient Religion" - Hel, it's only existed since, what is it, 1957?

[Liffrea]

This is causing some disquiet where I work; we might be going on seven day working (well others are, not me I have a life outside work), Easter Sunday will be a required working day.

[pinlighter]

Call me dumb but where? It at least says nothing about our festivals at all, unless I have overlooked them; only about Druidism and Wicca. With which we prefer to have as little to do as possible, especially the latter, of which I find it quite laughable that it is claimed as an "Ancient Religion" - Hel, it's only existed since, what is it, 1957?


Hmmm. Actually we get mentioned, but only mentioned, on the next page after Druidism and Wicca. The document may be inaccurate, but the general trend of it is quite positive.

[Wolfsong]

that made me smile the courts aknowledging odinism :-) , how stupid can you get firing sum1 for using a multi-cultural room for religious worship, i'm glad he won and he's better off not working there if their like that.

[Scramaseax]

I think this is the same as this thread:
http://www.odinist.com/othala/showthread.php?t=2515

[Brodie9]

According to the Canadian Charter (which is verrry Liberal):


2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:

a) freedom of conscience and religion;
b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;
c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and
d) freedom of association.

I can't find where identifiable "religions" are recognized. So, for any Canadian Legal eagles out there;
given the broad strokes of the Charter, do we need to specifically seek to have Asatru or Odinism included and recognized? Or is it included regardless.

Cheers!

[Bronnen_Tyr]

all religions are included in the charter, regardless of belief.