Heathenry at Sea

[Somerville]

The times they are a changing.

A Kindred Spirit: Heathenry at Sea

USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74)
Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jacob L Greenberg

Date: 12.20.2018

Sailors’ puzzled faces strain to make sense of what was just passed over the one-main circuit: “Heathen lay service will now be held in the Ship’s Chapel.”

Heathenry, a religion with roots in Norse culture and mythology, is being practiced by a small, committed group of Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74).

Aviation Electrician’s Mate 2nd Class Joshua Wood, from Eagle River, Alaska, is John C. Stennis’ Heathen lay leader. Wood has practiced Heathenry for over five years.

“I took a world mythology class in high school and that opened my eyes to the Nordic Gods,” said Wood.

Wood, who was raised Roman Catholic, found Heathenry’s teachings within the religion’s Eddas aligned with his personal beliefs more than the monotheistic philosophies he was raised with. The Eddas, two separate works of poems and prose, are the largest collections of Viking mythology and are essential pieces of work for Heathens.

Wood said that he found a kindred (a community of practicing Heathens) local to him in San Diego, which enabled him to further connect with the religion.

“They are my surrogate family,” said Wood. “They helped me understand the religion, and with their help, I transitioned from someone who was merely interested in the religion to someone who is well-versed enough to lead others in prayer. I went through them to get certified to lead services on the ship.”

For more news on John C. Stennis, visit Carrier Strike Group 3 or follow along on Facebook at USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) - Home | Facebook.

 

[Bum]

The times they are a changing.

Not seeing this as a problem. :shrug:

 

[Manc Skipper]

The Royal Navy has at least one Satanist, and it's not Theresa May!

 

[Excon]

The times they are a changing.

Just further degradation of society.

 

[Somerville]

Just further degradation of society.

So only Christians can prevent the degradation of society?

 

[Excon]

So only Christians can prevent the degradation of society?

*sigh* Why create a straw man?




And here is a better link that will not force a print dialog box to come up.

 

[PleasantValley]

As a kid, I enjoyed reading Norse mythology.
I think there might be something cool about being a "heathen".
Though, I would call it a philosophy rather than a religion.
An ancient Norse lifestyle is nothing you would want to emulate in these modern times.
They were pretty brutal to themselves and everyone else.

 

[Somerville]

*sigh* Why create a straw man?

You were the one who wrote: "Just further degradation of society." after I posted a news story about heathens on a US Navy ship, so what should one assume about your comment? Who is causing the degradation of society? Who can stop this downfall of our modern world?

And here is a better link that will not force a print dialog box to come up.

 

[Excon]

You were the one who wrote: "Just further degradation of society." after I posted a news story about heathens on a US Navy ship, so what should one assume about your comment?

That I believe that heathens being allowed to practice onboard navel a ship is a further degradation of society. Duh!

Who is causing the degradation of society?

Why do you ask who, instead of what?
Leftist ideology.

Who can stop this downfall of our modern world?

I doubt it can be stopped.


Regardless, you still created a straw man as I did not make such an argument.

 

[Fledermaus]

The times they are a changing.

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

 

[marke]

The times they are a changing.

No surprise. The atheist crowd which advocated kicking God and Jews out of the 2012 Charlotte convention was bound to try to kick Jesus off US ships as well, replacing Christianity with devil worship.

 

[Bum]

While I am not a practitioner, I do find something to be said about the philosophy of:

"An it harm none, do as you will"


Having a difficult time finding any primary religious texts of the big three Abrahamic's that does not have a passage somewhere calling for smiting another human , discriminating against unbelievers, fire and brimstone, etc....

Just my two cents.

 

[Hari Seldon]

Just further degradation of society.

How are they degrading society?

 

[Beaudreaux]

First Amendment right. Good for them.

We could use Thor’s hammer from time to time in war.

 

[Excon]

How are they degrading society?

Seeing your lean after I already stated it was leftist ideology causing it tells me you wouldn't understand.
So I am going to decline trying and explain it to you.

---

First Amendment right. Good for them.

We could use Thor’s hammer from time to time in war.

Someday.

The applications of the KEP are mainly theoretical for now, and we’re certainly decades away from a floating Thor’s hammer circling the planet.

 

[Manc Skipper]

No surprise. The atheist crowd which advocated kicking God and Jews out of the 2012 Charlotte convention was bound to try to kick Jesus off US ships as well, replacing Christianity with devil worship.

The Norse Gods are not devils. US ships are not crewed exclusively by Christians. Live with it.

 

[spud_meister]

 

[marke]

The Norse Gods are not devils. US ships are not crewed exclusively by Christians. Live with it.

I am living with it. Obama helped transform our fighting forces into homosexual havens and military freedom of religion into freedom to be made tolerant of all religions, including devil worship.

 

[Manc Skipper]

I am living with it. Obama helped transform our fighting forces into homosexual havens and military freedom of religion into freedom to be made tolerant of all religions, including devil worship.

Freedom of religion means all religions, not just your extreme sect. It means freedom from religions too.

 

[Somerville]

I am living with it. Obama helped transform our fighting forces into homosexual havens and military freedom of religion into freedom to be made tolerant of all religions, including devil worship.

Sorry you feel so oppressed living in this modern world. You do complain about it often enough, but that is your right under the First Amendment. Now - let others enjoy the same rights.

 

[Dragonfly]

Damn that pesky First Amendment!!! :naughty

 

[Dragonfly]

No surprise. The atheist crowd which advocated kicking God and Jews out of the 2012 Charlotte convention was bound to try to kick Jesus off US ships as well, replacing Christianity with devil worship.

The fact that you suggest atheists are somehow advocating "devil worship" shows just how little you actually know about any of this.

 

[Hari Seldon]

Seeing your lean after I already stated it was leftist ideology causing it tells me you wouldn't understand.
So I am going to decline trying and explain it to you.

---

Someday.

The applications of the KEP are mainly theoretical for now, and we’re certainly decades away from a floating Thor’s hammer circling the planet.

In other words you don't share their beliefs so it's degrading. Got it.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[marke]

Freedom of religion means all religions, not just your extreme sect. It means freedom from religions too.

0
But it does not mean freedom to force Christians to give up God and bow to human laws where those laws contradict God.

 

[Rucker61]

I am living with it. Obama helped transform our fighting forces into homosexual havens and military freedom of religion into freedom to be made tolerant of all religions, including devil worship.

I was an atheist in the Army 30 years ago, and we had gay men and women in our unit then, too. They did their jobs same as the rest of us.