Can someone explain in laymen's terms Heathenism?
816713
Heathenism is typically when the Nordic/Germanic polytheists use to self-identify - though there's been a trend among some of the Celtic polytheists to lean towards that term as well.  In either case, it's used pretty much exclusively by folks following the northern European pantheons - I'm not aware of any other groups using the term.\n\nThe reason they favor this is differentiation, really.  A large number of people assume that "Pagan" equals "Wiccan" (or, at least, "near-Wiccan"), and it's easier to say "Heathen" than to say "Pagan-but-not-Wiccan".  Some Heathens do not even consider themselves Pagan any more, due to the "Wiccan Assimilation" of the Pagan community - they feel that they have little in common with a vast majority of the Pagan community (on both religious and secular levels).\n\nThere's some minor differences between the groups that you listed - typically based on focus, specific Nordic culture, etc.  As far as I know, all three of the groups that you listed are Nordic polytheists of one form or another.\n\nRacism is an unfortunate stain on the history of the Norse faiths - the legacy of WW2, if you will.  There are several organizations based on fighting that (such as Heathens Against Hate), and the racist strains of Heathenry are less common than they had been.  Remediating Heathenry's reputation is going to be just as difficult and time-consuming, unfortunately.
940839
http://altreligion.about.com/library/glossary/blsymbols.htm\ncheck this link and see if you can find it there\n\nhope it helps
16573
I think you're referring to Norse mythology, which was sort of a religion.  Here's a link to give you a good bit of info.
943363
The "hell" is a christian concept.  I was a christian for many years.  In my desire to become more enlightened I find that I'm more spiritual than religious.  I've looked into some pagan religions.  The idea is about finding peace and a spiritual path. (I would like that for all of us)
834042
Worship is basically... say, greeting them for the morning with a simple gesture that you have deemed necessary for appropriate worship, and also praying before bed. Or having an item like a hematite stone to remind you that, say, Loki is your personal god that you worship and you let people know it.\n\nAcknowledgement is more difficult to explain, because you know there are higher-ups in the universe but you don't do much with that...
611262
I have looked for and found personal experience with the spiritual world. I was raised Christian, but found the dogma and blind faith to be not enough. I got into witchcraft and formed a relationship with ancient Germanic dieties. I can say from personal experience that spirituality is real and not just all about blind faith and social conformity. Something is there, but it conforms to your expectations so its something that science can easily dismiss as fantasy. I read that some recent study on particle physics showed that some particles can 'pick up' on the expectations of the researchers and thus ruin an experiment by always created the 'desired results'. \nReligeon is a social contruct for the purpose of explaining the unexplainable to many other people who have not directly witnessed the original events or situations. Spirituality, on the other hand, is an innate and highly individual part of each human's psyche. You could try an experiement on this. Choose an ancient god or goddess, look up their associations, create an altar to Him/Her, and pray to them regularly for a specific thing and see if it happens. Dietal associations are things like colors, flowers, stones, metals, incense, objects, animals and other stuff that are representative of that diety. Praying has several parts. Giving of adoration, like saying a flowery speach about he good things you admire about the diety (try to mean some of it). Petitioning is the part where you ask the diety to help you do something, bring something to you, or cause something to happen. Thanksgiving is at the end and its when you thank the diety for its attention.\nPersonal experience is not very scientific and it generally cant be reproduced for another person it exactly the same way with the same results. Religeon is the attempt to replicate the spiritual experience for others. Thats the nature of the spiritual.
884494
I think you may have your terms a little off.  \n\nAn agnostic is someone who feels that the belief in a diety cannot be proven therefore his or her own belief is one of ambivalence. They don't necessarily have faith, but they don't necessarily deny God's existence either.  They are simply saying they don't know.  \n\nA person who has a belief in a diety, but feeling the existence of that diety, or it's characteristics is unknowable would be a mystic.
145620
I'm a heathen... couldn't help you.
570846
"Religious" = A person that subscribes to a specific faith. "Spiritual" = A person who doesn't necessarily subscribe to any faith, but who believes in a Power(s) greater than themselves and tries to live by spiritual principles. ~~~ The two aren't mutually exclusive, but can be.
660128
I just did a quick search to try to get some grasp of what Ayyavazhi is, because I had not heard of it.  Thank you for introducing to me this religion or sect.  From what I can tell, it seems like a fine religion for those who wish to follow it, and I have no problem with it as long as it does not insist that those who follow another way are wrong.  For example, from what I was able to discern, it advocates no murtis and discourages ritual.  That is fine if that is the way which best leads a particular person to God.  However, if murtis and rituals help another person attain God more quickly, then they ought to be entitled to use them.  So I say it is an acceptable path so long as it is not condemning of those who do not wish to follow it as the best way for them.
90152
Sunday Sabbath is heresy\nEaster Sunday is heresy\nHeresies (all iniquity) is an abomination to God.\n\nThose who love God with all their heart, soul, mind, might, also love His Law, the Torah - His will circumcise their heart with His will written on it.\n\nOne-hour and then back-to-worldly- pleasures won't make the mark. Begrudgingly observing the Sabbath won't cut it. If you love the holiness of the Sabbath, you've got it! :)\n\n[See "How to test a prophet...?"]
68099
There is a big difference between 'faith' & 'religion.'\n\nReligions are man-made concepts, dogmas, institutions, hierarchies, etc. None of them will save you.\n\nWhat God wants is a personal relationship based on individual faith.\n\nFollow the way of the Torah-observant Messiah who is the only Savior.
921919
PIOUS (piety)\n\nPiety is a desire and willingness to perform spiritual, often ascetic rituals. It is a traditional virtue because in some religions, it is the only known way to win the favor or forgiveness of deities, that is, to "propitiate" them. It is humility and pacificity before God or 'the gods'.\n\nPious is a cultural center for peaceful resolution of societal conflicts. Historically, humankind has pursued war and oppression in the name of religion. But the solution is actually quite simple - a pious life is about love, not hate.\n\n\nRELIGIOUS\n\nA general term given to a specific organization that defict their faith, beliefs, and movements.\n\nRefers primarily to a type of Religion, and their works, faith, and belief.\n\nHOLY\n\nSinless, without blemish.\n\nHoliness is the state of being holy, that is, set apart for the worship or service of God or gods. It is most usually ascribed to people, but can be and often is ascribed to objects, times, or places.
1089037
Indeed, Preterism is 'this religion' of this/that religions biblically called impure/pure religions. "Pure religion" paid a "visit" (not a ransom) to those afflicted with a bad case of life + death, notably arrived undefiled and remained unspotted; thereby could not be holden of death, the sting of sin which law is source & strength of.\n\nPreterists are divided (divisional) among themselves, like the McCoys of Hatfields vs McCoys, who feud amongst themselves over who's a real McCoy. I liken such to the dumb-sheep of scape-goats vs dumb-sheep on left vs right sides of a sides war, where both sides are unaware the Son of man has one thing in store for both sides: destruction, as in the days of Noe (Lk 17). \n\nPreterists "believe" things true and untrue, whereas freedom is via "know" the truth (Jn 8:32), thereby being made "free" of believe things. For even devils "believe" there is one God.\n\nChrist-ianity should be focused on the "Christ", of "Jesus Christ"; Since "Jesus Christ" (not Christ Jesus) is the only foundation laid by the wise masterbuilder, notably via the "grace" of God. And "peace with God" is notably "through Jesus->Christ", which end focuses on "Christ": "the end of the law"(sin & death thereof), our "peace" who abolished the law, the author of "eternal" salvation, and for all(not for some only).\n\nAs for "the end" we're told to "endure unto" to be "saved"(only) by grace(only), it is already written:\n\nThe "grace" of our Lord Jesus Christ with you all. Amen.
649416
I don't think that anyone would report you for being a religous fanatic or a zelot.  Your UN-christian attitude toward people that don't see things exactly the way that you do, is probably exactly why "heathens" pick on you, or at least seem to single you out.\n\nStudy the Book, read the words and the meanings, before you get all jerked out of shape.  \n\nYou are setting a bad example for Christianity, with your bad attitiude, thoughts, and words.\n\nFind a website where people share your views, then ask all the questions you want.  I am sure that you will get answers more in line with your questions.
1134460
The official: not believeing in one God:  paganism refers to 'one who worships something other than God'\n\nPaganism (from Latin paganus, meaning "a country dweller" or "civilian"). It goe back to even Witchcraft, Wicca and astrology \n\nIf you further interested in history:\nhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/history/history.shtml\n\nBUT TO SUM IT ALL WITH WORDS FROM A PAGAN\n(for more question from him directly: earthreligions@yahoo.com)\n\n\n\nWhat are Earth religions? \nWhat is Paganism? \nWhat kinds of people are Pagan? \nDo Pagans worship Satan? \nWhat god do Pagans believe in? \nDo Pagans have holidays? \n \n\nWhat are Earth religions? \n\nEarth religions are religions which focus on connection to divinity through nature. Sometimes they are called alternative religions or earth-based spiritualities as well.\n\nWhat is Paganism? \n\nPaganism, many times referred to in our times as Neo-paganism, is a religion, or perhaps a set of various spiritual paths and traditions, that celebrates reverence for the Earth and all its creatures. This question is actually quite complex since every follower of an earth-based spiritual tradition would probably give you a different definition. Fortunately, there are several concepts that seem to be quite popular among most of us. "Pagans" generally believe that all life is interconnected and try to experience this interconnectivity as part of their religious practices. Some may choose to do this by taking care of the space they inhabit, while others try to deal with the problems that are destroying the earth on a wider scale. The ways in which each of us views our connection and duty to the Earth are truly limitless.\n\nWhat kinds of people are Pagan? \n\nThere can be no one stereotype applied to any of the individuals who follow these spiritual paths. Any person may choose to be Pagan no matter their station in life, and just because an individual is interested in this group, or in any of the traditions that fall under the general "pagan" umbrella, does not mean they are Pagan.\n\nDo Pagans worship Satan? \n\nThis is a very old myth, and one I will be happy to dispel. No, Pagans do not worship Satan. In fact, Satan is not even a part of Pagan lore. I'm sure there are some of us who agree with Christians and believe in the existence of the Devil, and just as fervorously as any Christian, I would also hope that no person would worship that type of evil icon.\n\nWhat god do Pagans believe in? \n\nPagans, in general, believe in many different gods and/or goddesses. Many individuals believe that the gods and goddesses are facets of the larger, unknowable Divine Source, which is neither male or female, and cannot be described with any specific characteristics since it is all inclusive. It is up to the individual to decide which god(s) or goddess(es), if any at all, they want to believe in and/or commune with. Unlike structured religions we do not have sacred, religious texts (ie. the Holy Bible or the Torah) describing a specific set of beliefs that we must follow. Some individuals see the Earth (or Mother Earth) as the ultimate divine symbol, while others believe in a single divine source referred to by many, many different names. Some also choose to worship a set of gods/goddesses derived from ancient pantheons (ie. Greek, Roman, Egyptian, African, Native American, etc). Generally, it is acceptable to believe in any divine concept, so long as that concept represents life-affirming qualities.\n\nDo Pagans have holidays? \n\nAbsolutely! Most traditions within earth-based religions have specific holidays that are observed by their members. There are too many holidays to name individually here, but many of our holidays tend to recognize the changing of the seasons, the passage of the earth around the sun, and the cycles of the moon. There are many resources (including the members of Earth Religions) available to help you learn about
937605
Sounds good to me.  Sounds like my standard answer to the "explain your morals, heathen" questions