New to Paganism

[Odinist_Wondering]

I have been interested or drawn to the Wiccan religion since I was younger. I am interested in learning more on it. I am not sure why I feel this way or why I am interested in it. I just know that I am and I can no longer try to go about my "christian" ways without learning about something I have this attraction to. Did anyone else feel this way? Or have trouble excepting it? I know for a long time I tried to go the "Christian" way but I can not completely grasp the whole concept of just one god. And he created everything. Am I crazy for thinking this way or just normal? Well thanks for taking the time for reading this and for replying if you choose to.

[Norsk Blod]

Odinism is not wiccan nor has anything to do with it, Odinism is a real religion that came from our ancestors where wiccan is just randomly taken from different cultures and peiced together like a frankenstein religion.

[Odinist_Wondering]

Well then can you tell me more about Odinism. Since my thinking seems to be wrong. I want to be clear on learning the differances as well as learning which religion is the right religion for me.

[Teufelhunden]

Wow are you barkin up the wrong tree.... Get a faith that no one made up or be ever doomed to prance around in the woods with a bunch of doofuses.
Take a good look at your herritage and find their own pre christian cultural faith. If you are northern European look into Odinism,, Greek Look into thier Gods etc. But do not succumb to the facrce of wicca, a make it up as you go
"faith" that was brought about in the 1960's and ripped of everything about it from other heathen and pagan faiths, for it is "neo pagan" and not the "oldtime religeon" that they try to make it out to be...
good luck.

[Katia]

Hello Wiccan Wondering. Well you have some good reasons to BE wondering about Wicca, because it is just a mish mash of a little of many religions with a large amount of made-up material. Please, don't go there!

Are you Northern European? If so, and you are feeling a call against Christianity, it could be a call back to the original prodominant faith of the Northern Europeans, which is called nowadays Odinism or Asatru. Could this be you?

[Mike_76]

Here's a good, IMO, overview of Asatru or Odinism, Wiccan Wondering.

Answers about Asatru (http://asatru.org/asatru.html)

[Odinist_Wondering]

I have Irish , Romanian , Dutch , and German in me....I am not sure if it's a calling but I feel the need to learn more about this religion that is pulling me...I didn't know that Wiccan was mish mash...I just know I have always had trouble believing in just one God...

[Katia]

Well then Odinism may be a true calling for you.. We worship many gods, the Norse pantheon to be exact. I know that Wicca is a more "mainstream" practice, so I think it could be natural for someone to assume it is for them at very first simply because they are attracted to worshipping more than one god. But Wicca has no kind of heritage at all, it is a made up religion. It has been proven that our ancestors practiced Odinism, it is a true religion, so hopefully you will stick around and read some of the fantastic info we have on this site. :) Also, the Norroena Society is currently hosting a book in progress called, "The Nature of Asatru", feel free to check out the 'Introduction' here http://www.norroena.org/NatureAsatru/intro.html . I wiill be updating the website with Chapter 1 this weekend!

[Sigurd]

Exactly. Wicca is no good.

Why have a 40 year old religion if you can have a 40 000 year old religion??? :D

[Odinist_Wondering]

Then I guess I need to rephrase my original question then...What is the real religion and why do I have a pull towards it?

Since I was little I have never really grasped the "christian" religion although I have faith in it.. I just can't "click" with it if you know what I mean. It's wierd because I have always thought that that was the way to be and any other way wasn't the right way. More "christian" brainswash I guess.

[Katia]

Well start out by visiting the websites we noted above, and take it from there. Follow your gutt.

[Odinist_Wondering]

Alright now I want some more information I am enveloped about learning this now. Anything else?

[Mike_76]

Then I guess I need to rephrase my original question then...What is the real religion and why do I have a pull towards it?

Since I was little I have never really grasped the "christian" religion although I have faith in it.. I just can't "click" with it if you know what I mean. It's wierd because I have always thought that that was the way to be and any other way wasn't the right way. More "christian" brainswash I guess.

It never clicked with me either, WW, and I went to 12 years of Lutheran School.
I know the reason it never clicked with me is because it (Christianity) is basically a semetic or Jewish religion and it never set well with my German background really. Plus, having to beleive in snakes in the garden, virgin births and resurrections from the grave, LITERALLY, or being threatened with burning in hell for eternity....really seems like some sort of severe mental abuse.

On the other hand, Asatru does not interfere with my normal rational way of looking at the world, as I don't have to believe in the Gods as literal beings who at some point walked the earth like Jesus, Yahweh, Satan and the angels Plus the Gods and the philosohpy just speak to me in a natural way, as it came from my genetic ancestors, or pretty close, and who I believe were much like me in mind and body and spirit..so it is kind of a natural "fit" without the stress and strain of christianity.

But I am still a beginner and I am learning....

[Mike_76]

Well start out by visiting the websites we noted above, and take it from there. Follow your gutt.

Hey Katia can you think of a good book?

WW, This might sound childish but I got a book, that was almost for children, but a fast and enjoyable read, and simple. Almost like reading Grimms fairy tales. It gives a quick and easy education.

It is called

Nordic Gods and Heroes (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0486289125/qid=1123296240/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-7158870-4088663?v=glance&s=books&n=507846)

it had good artwork too, IMO

[Katia]

Heilsa Mike, Well of course I think, "The Nature of Asatru" is going to be the best :D. But for what's out right now, Germanic Heathenry by James Hjuka-Coulter is a great book, as well as Odinism in the Modern World by the OR.

[Mike_76]

Yes, that's true, I bet it is going to be a good book. :) I like your Norroena website, Mark is a very good writer.

[Katia]

Thank you dear!!! :)

[sdba2271]

My question is what about those who follow druidism? Whilst it is a modern version, it is certainly something with a heritage. There are may different druid organizations out there. I'm not refering to celtic reconstructionism.

[Sigurd]

Then I guess I need to rephrase my original question then...What is the real religion and why do I have a pull towards it?

Since I was little I have never really grasped the "christian" religion although I have faith in it.. I just can't "click" with it if you know what I mean. It's wierd because I have always thought that that was the way to be and any other way wasn't the right way. More "christian" brainswash I guess.

I wash pretty Xian brainwashed by a religious part of my family, and the more I learnt about Xianity, the more I realised how pointless it was.

"What is the real religion?"
Of course people will say that their religion is the best. That is with us Asatruar the same case as it is with Xians, Jews, Islamis, Buddhists, Hinduists, Sikhs, Wiccans or Jehovas Witnesses.
So the only way you can really find out is by yourself. However, if you do have a strong Germanic ancestry, then Asatru (aka Odinism) is the right thing for you, as it is the organic religion of your organic people. It is what your ancestors believed since a long time ago. It is a natural religion, not some constructed Frankenstein stuff like Wicca or Xianity (sorry if I offend any Christian, just in the likeliness of any Xian being here :D ) from some one guy. It is what a whole people felt to be the right thing for them. A sign, a deep sign.
But to put everything into few words is hard as
1)there are many reasons for me to be Asatruar
2)you have to feel the sort of "pull" towards it, not only decide "ah, that's what I feel like". Realising that Monotheism is not the right thing for you is a good step towards the truth though
3)etc.

So, well, if you feel that an ancestral religion is the right thing for you - find out your ancestors and see if you can associate yourself with their Gods. :)

[Sigurd]

My question is what about those who follow druidism? Whilst it is a modern version, it is certainly something with a heritage. There are may different druid organizations out there. I'm not refering to celtic reconstructionism.

By the sound of it sound not much different to Wicca. Everything that is a modern invention can never be an ancestral religion. Full stop.

[Hengest]

Why should a modern version of Druidry be any less avalid than a our modern version(s) of our ancestors faith?

[aud_friggsdottir]

Why should a modern version of Druidry be any less avalid than a our modern version(s) of our ancestors faith?

My question as well...Folkish Druidism seems to me very "authentic". Druidism isn't made up ala Wiccanism.....It has roots in a very real Folkway. I think that is what is necessary...not some made up mish mash of other folkways....

You reading the descriptions of Wicca on this thread sounds exactly like christianity (multiple heathen motifs, rituals, etc... melted into one pot...then touted as the "one true way")


FFF

[heilwotan]

I have Irish , Romanian , Dutch , and German in me....I am not sure if it's a calling but I feel the need to learn more about this religion that is pulling me...I didn't know that Wiccan was mish mash...I just know I have always had trouble believing in just one God...
This sounds like your Folk-soul (soul of our Gods and forefathers) calling you, especially the Teutonic blood you have, your Deutsch and Hollander side the strongest of the calling! Even though the Irish and Romanian is of the Pan-Aryan Folk-soul!

[Lonnie]

I think this was posted on another forum recently, but...
The problem with Druids today is most people do not realize it is not a religion. Druids were a social class of the Celtic/Gaelic folk. There were several differing roles within that class and not alot of crossover one from the other. Those jobs included Priest, Healer, Councilor, Poet, Judge, Teacher, and others... Not all Druids were Priest, and the religion they practised was not Druidry... There are several Celtic/Gaelic Traditionalist groups who you could look to for more info on the subject. I believe they have been mentioned on several other threads on these boards in the past...

[Hengest]

Lonnie, I take your point and I quite agree, however I see no reason why a modern group should not just want to reconstruct the esoteric aspect of druidry. Of course if they tried to make out that they are the same as original druids were, they would be bit like people of our faith saying that everyone in the past was a runemaster.

[Sigurd]

Why should a modern version of Druidry be any less avalid than a our modern version(s) of our ancestors faith?

Because I tend to misinterpret the English language, if some sentence structure seems odd to me. :rolleyes:
If the poster refers to an aspect of Celtic heathenry, then well, I respect it, but obviously if it sounds to me like something constructed, from what is posted, I can only judge that it is meant. Sorry, I interpret my English very literally.

[Lonnie]

Lonnie, I take your point and I quite agree, however I see know reason why a modern group should nor just want to reconstruct the esoteric aspect of druidry. Of course if they tried to make out that they the same as original druids were they would be bit like people of our faith saying that everyone in the past was a runemaster.


The problem is, and you can go talk with the Gaelic/Celtic Traditionalist about this, you can't seperate the culture from the religion. The religion is based in and a essentail part of the culture. It would be like someone attempting to seperate the strictly religious side of Heathenry from the cultural side. It just doesn't work that way... You need the whole package to have a whole and hale way of life...