posted on December 3, 2000 10:20:23 AM
Hail, Fellow Watchonians. I am sure you, too, have been struck by the similarity in the Nine Noble Virtues of Asatru and the Law of the Boy Scouts of America, but humor Pareau if this old hat to you:
The Nine Noble Virtues of Asatru
Courage
Truth
Honor
Fidelity
Discipline
Hospitality
Industriousness
Self Reliance
Perserverance
Scout Law
A scout is:
Trustworthy
Loyal
Helpful
Friendly
Courteous
Kind
Obedient
Cheerful
Thrifty
Brave
Clean
Reverent
Troop 1239 has made the connection(http://eagle.webpipe.net/scouts.htm). The BSA is a not-for-profit organization that was chartered by Congress. Asatru, a belief system recognized by the Icelandic government as a religion, predates Christianity. It does not appear that the Asatru Troop has been accorded such sanction by the BSA (http://www.scouting.org/awards/religious/awards/index.html), hopefully because of their folkish practices.
posted on December 3, 2000 10:44:04 AM
Hey, Pareau--
Cool post. I'm familiar with the Asatru path (had an ex who was very much a part of it) and I sincerely wish this troop well with this quest....I would guess the only problem they might have is the fact that Asatru is not a monotheistic religion. People have a tendancy to discount/disparage non-monotheistic religions due to the fact (I think) that the Judeo-Christian background (even if they're not religious at all! or even completely atheistic!) tends to underlie and inform people's perceptions. People whose faiths include polytheism (such as Hinduism, and many other living faiths I could mention) are often belittled because they lie outside the scope of most people's religious knowledge and experience, which in American is most likely Judeo-Christian, and J/C faiths tend to be seriously judgemental in this regard. I have experienced this in growing up with a step-parent from a non-monotheistic Eastern faith and also with those I have worked closely with of the same beliefs. There is always work to be done in this area in regard to education and outreach. Hope this troop is successful. Are you involved with it?
posted on December 3, 2000 11:03:17 AMpareau!!!
Great to read your words again.
As I spent part of last night looking at some of the more fringe churches on the net (the church of shatnerology???), the Nine Noble Virtues of Asatru reassure me that some things never change.
posted on December 3, 2000 12:51:06 PM
I am very ignorant on this, but I did go looking for a website about ASATRU and found this one for beginers. Thought someone might be interested in reading it also:
