Hall of Tyr: Racism, bigotry, and dogma in Norse Paganism

My name is Derek and I am a Norse Pagan. In the past 3.5 years of walking this path I have learned from a lot of people and have had some wonderful experiences and connected to amazing communities of fellow folk. However alongside that has been a darker side to the faith that we cant simply ignore.

In this video I will express my views of walking this path and the concerns many in our community have along with why its important to always be checking ourselves so that we don't fall back into the practices and attitudes that many of us have worked so hard to leave behind.

[DaliwolfBacon]

Thank you so much for making this video. Everything you said...I agree 100%. In the Havamal, the first four stanzas speak of how to treat strangers...give them clothes, give them food, give them water, listen to them and place them near the fire...but...it also says in the first stanza "At every doorway before you enter, you should look around, you should take a good look around-for you never know where your enemies might be seated within." Listen carefully to those who gather in the name of the gods because not everyone's intention is good, and to some people only power over others matter. Leadership is always important with a group to ensure things go smoothly, but ANYONE who demands obedience without question is a viper.

[sillygoblin]

"Come from all different backgrounds and Walks of life" that's right, and Odin tests how others are treated. If we work with Odin, as Pagan, Norse Pagan, or otherwise he tests us as The Wonderer. Odin tests our hospitality and treatment of people, especially strangers.

[NastroGG]

The old norse passage that you just busted out was pretty impressive.

[JourneyIntoAnimism]

I'm part of the lgbtq community also. No matter what our ancestors did or didn't do we should do better today. It's not the religions, it's us who needs to change.

My biggest issue has been some accusing me of being some racist, crazy, end of the world type because I do survivalist and guns and self defense. I'm literally a veteran with PTSD who has healed immensely on this path and this group was going around calling me crazy based off of a lie someone told just because they had some unknown to me issue with me. Not all communities are as inclusive as they make themselves out to be.

[annetteprince]

It’s an ancestral religion. Ben Shinto venerated ancestors. Make your ancestors proud. And anyone can be Norse paganism. Hitler dishonored some of our ruins and symbols and dishonored the ancestors. They where all races within Viking raids. I think this is splitting hairs and giving liberals something to cry about. If your a honorable human being then you can be apart of our religion. Christians have been trying to get rid of the religion because they don’t want us as a people united. Because we will have power. Think about if you look back at the past Charlemagne. Forced our people to accept Christianity at the end of a sword. If you was pagan back then you couldn’t trade, sell, buy or anything . I’m proud to be Norse pagan and proud of my people. And they accept native Americans religion and yet not ours.

[annetteprince]

Idc anything that spreads the ancient religion is good. Come back home people to your roots and everyone is welcome in this faith. Hail the Aesir Hail the Vanir Hail the Folk. And paganism is very diverse and their is no right or wrong way to do it

[harthal]

Holy crap the video quality is great. What are you using to record this??

[TerfBashingMFer]

books say this books ay that, ancient books were rewritten blah, When it comes down to it, the gods will talk to whomever they want, and you feelings don't matter. Keep abrahamic bs out of paganism.

[sillygoblin]

The more I watch your video, the more I like it. Something I would add to the Dogma problem is, rhetoric. The language hate groups use. Is used to to control.

[TCG]

Lol at the start, you said there is no right or wrong. Then proceed to tell viewers everything you find wrong.

[ThomasBoyce]

I used to be a practicing Norse pagan, but you've said basically everything I was thinking. We kinda went opposite ways, but I didn't become one of those fuddy-duddy fundies in Christianity; I can rant about those psychos for days lol

[Cherabreena]

As a mixed race Dane, who looks more "other" than Danish, I'd sadly never dream of openly practicing Asetro or attempt to join in on the community, because I know I'd have to deal with a bunch of racist gatekeepers and having to "explain myself to be accepted". Screw that. So private practice it is. But I'm sure if I looked white-passing like my white ancestors, they wouldn't have a problem.

[elitetrash]

What is that song in the beginning its amazing

[truanarchy]

I clicked on this video excitedly, thinking Tyr dropped a new song. Great video nonetheless!

[SplashyCannonBall]

Paganism is conservative. It’s conservation is historic racial ancestral.

You are all born with that. Stick to your kind. It’s what makes us all different.
Practicing some other paganism rituals is one thing. Saying the door is open is another

[TheRedHaze]

I don't think being big traders or anything automatically means the Norse peoples were not racist or anything. At least, less racist and xenophobic than any other group of people at the time.
Muslims were also big traders, even though their doctrine teaches that infidels (anyone who isn't a follower of an Abrahamic faith) must be put to the sword.
Certainly there would be individuals who were more open-minded, but you're making a claim about an entire culture. One I'm not sure you have the evidence to back up.
I do agree, however, that is no evidence, at least as far as I know, for any support of white nationalist/supremacist ideals in Norse culture or religion. Just the general racism and xenophobia of the people of that time.

[traditionaltaekwondoramblings]

Is it article 127 you’re referencing and think is not any good?🤔

[snakefires]

I think you are right on one term but at another u must remember that this is our culture. I agree don't be racist. Or judge someone because of there sexuality but we must remember that in all reality the white man is loosing there identity due to the thought of " the evil white man" that is being portrayed within america today. White folk are losing their identity because it is being takin away. Like I said, don't be racist, and don't tell ppl your way is the only way. But we have to know OUR ancestors and our ways. Otherwise that is my opinion. Skal

[AM-gmjg]

And why wouldn't you put the name of the racists out there ? Unless they hold governmental powers against you, not attacking them directly is cowardly

[macssylvester]

Lmfao.

"Paganism is what you want it to be, except when it conflicts with my view. My emotions determine your religion."

Hypocryte.