Pagan Politics: A Heathen Introduction

I’d like to start out with a short introduction about myself, before I get into heavy-duty issues and musings.

Hi, I’m Muninn.        ::waves hello::

I identify as a Heathen.  For those not familiar with the term, it generally refers to someone who is following a Reconstructionist path with Norse deities.  That means, personally, that I look to historical records to help me construct my path with the Norse pantheon.  I am generally not as interested in UPG (Unverified Personal Gnosis) beliefs within the Heathen tradition, although I always have an open mind.

I also believe that every religion changes with time, so I don’t think Heathens should all do exactly what is laid down within the Eddas and only these things.  Religion is not a static thing, and I believe people should explore personally within the tradition, to see what works best for them.  I am also a fledgling seidr practitioner, and I am only beginning to plumb the (often very murky) depths of what that will mean in my life.   I will no doubt talk more about these things as time goes on.

In this blog, I want to talk about my personal explorations with my religion, as well as my personal politics, and how they relate to my religion.  I believe that politics are not intrinsically intertwined into any religion by any stretch of the imagination;  however, I believe very strongly that personal religious beliefs should certainly influence our personal politics.  Below are a few points I’d love to explore in depth.  These things are not only very important in our political climate, but also to me personally.

Climate Change. As a Heathen, I believe very strongly in preservation of the environment in which we live.  Part of being a Heathen is having a great respect for the spirits of the land, the Land Wights.   If we are not respecting the land, then we are not respecting the Wights, and I take this very seriously.

Reproductive Rights. In traditional Heathen society, women were highly respected as protectors of the homestead, crop tenders, and marriage partners.  They had rights; they were able to divorce their husbands, take issues before leaders, and make their own decisions.  In our modern world, we have many rights we did not previously have.  I believe that part of the rights modern women should have is total control over their reproductive systems.  If we are to be truly equal, we must be able to have our say about what happens to our bodies.

Voting according to our beliefs. I believe that we should use our religion as a guideline to how we vote.  What does that mean?  We should make sure we vote in order to preserve our rights as Heathens and Pagans.  We should be free to practice our respective religions.  In order to assure this, we need to make sure that everyone has the same rights; no matter what religion we follow, we all deserve the same rights.  We should also use our voting voice to ensure that the things that matter to us aren’t steamrolled by politics.  This includes the freedom to preserve familial customs, the right to not have to follow anyone else’s religious traditions, and the right to be seen as a legitimate part of society, instead of a fringe element.

Equality. All of us, as human beings, should be granted the same treatment under law.  I refer to gender, sex, sexual orientation, race, and every other category.  That means that we should uplift political parties who are interested in proactively preserving the right for every person to marry, to have healthcare, to not be harassed at work, and to not be disrespected simply for the color of their skin.

All of these issues are complicated, and I’m not here to push any political party over another.  I believe ALL political parties are flawed.  What I want is to start a conversation; I want people to start thinking about politics not as a choice between one party or another, but instead a choice to uplift what they believe in and cherish.  As pagans and Heathens, we are one of the many minorities in this country that are not protected by our current laws.  We should use our political voices to continue to push for change, for the better.

Velsignelser,

Muninn