| Argh, fundietru!!! |
[Nov. 29th, 2007|05:14 pm] |
I asked an acquaintance who'd given all the signs of not believing me when I said I was Odin's *why* he thought that way, and was answered with this. Bear in mind that I DIDN'T MENTION LOKI IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, FORM, OR FASHION:
'Hey Mel
First of all, let me say that it makes me happy when *anyone* finds meaning in this crazy world of ours. If someone comes up to me and says, "I've found the answers I've been looking for and all I had to do was put my faith in the Flying Spaghetti Monster!" I say, "that's Wonderful". It doesn't matter *what* somebody believes, it's the fact that they have faith that pleases me. Religion is where things start to go wrong. All of a sudden, there are factions and groups and dogma and infighting and persecution and wars. That's what I don't like.
Another thing to consider: Odin is the Allfather, and I respect him, because without him, I (and basically the whole human race) would not exist. I personally believe that I knew Odin before I came as a fetus to Midgard, and that he breathed the breath of life into me at my birth. But he is also an awesome and terrible God, the lord of Madness and the one being who could possibly understand Life, the Universe, and EVERYTHING. So, although he is my spiritual Father, he can be kinda hard to relate to on human terms. That's why I feel a stronger connection to Thor, I guess. We have more in common.
What I find disturbing is the fascination with Loki. Yes, I know he is Odin's blood-brother, and that we would not have many of the wonderful things the Aesir enjoy today without him (Sleipnir and Mjolnir come to mind), but Loki is not someone to be trifled with. If he is directly responsible for the Ragnarok, and the Gods themselves have trouble keeping him reigned in, then how can we humans even hope to treat with him and come out the better?
I know more than a few would-be Asatruar (since I was the steward for Tennessee) who were just starting out in our religion. Most were women, and one was a father-daughter team. They came from backgrounds like Wicca, and treated Loki as if he were the Norse equivalent of Coyote, the Native American Trickster God. What they failed to understand was, Loki leads the Jotuns in direct attack against Asgard, and takes it upon himself to destroy all life, light, and happiness in the world of Men. We should shun Loki, not celebrate him. And that's one thing that gives me pause when I see things like "the Dark Muse" in your taglines. Loki *is* a trickster, but not
for the betterment of Humankind. He is a trickster in the same way the Christian Lucifer is a trickster...he wants you to do for him what he cannot do for himself, and he doesn't care who he hurts to get it. Lord of Lies ring a bell? Remember those Asatruar I mentioned in the previous statements? Not one of them is still active in our community today. They have all fallen out, or fallen away, from the faith I work so hard to promote and support.
I am not *opposed* to anybody's believing in anything; in fact, I encourage this sort of behavior. It's just that the last time we were close, I noted an unhealthy fascination with the "dark side" of life, one of the many hunting-grounds for Loki and his ilk. It's okay to be depressed and dissatisfied with the life we are currently living, but if you come to embrace and glorify these things, then you are basically setting yourself up for heartache and self-fulfilling disappointment. Since we have grown apart due to choices we both have made, I must rely upon what I know of your past. Perhaps you have become a totally different person while you were away. I don't really know. I trust you, however, when you say that Odin is your patron. I know you well enough to realize you wouldn't make something like that up.
Well, this has all gotten sort of serious and heavy. I really didn't mean it sound like a lecture, but I treat spirituality seriously, you know. Comes from being a parent and a Steward.
Keep seeking,
Cliff'
*twitching with anger* Arrogant little...*growl* |
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I will do this thing...
exhausted beyond measure
fantarded
strange
NERD
ARGH FUNDIETRU
gloomy
crap I've gotta work tomorrow
crazy
kitty!
artistic