Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Asatru

2007-03-21T13:19:55Z

N00b:

'''"Asatru"''' is the name of a pre-Christian religion of Northern Europe, specifically based on Norse/Germanic ("[[Viking]]") mythology, It has numerous gods, such as [[Tyr]], [[Odin]], [[Thor]], and [[Freya]], among many others, major and minor. The most accessible current book on the mythology underlying this religion is Kevin Crossley-Holland's "The Norse Myths".

Ásatrú was established in the 1960s and early 1970s in Iceland, by the Íslenska Ásatrúarfélagið, an organization founded by Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson. Ásatrú is a religion officially recognized by the governments of Iceland (since 1973), Norway (since 1994) and Denmark (since 2003). The United States government does not officially endorse or recognize any religious group, but numerous Ásatrú groups have been granted nonprofit religious status going back to the 1970s. While the term Ásatrú originally referred specifically to the Icelandic adherents of the religion, Germanic neopagan and reconstructionist groups widely identify themselves as Ásatrú. In this wider sense, the term Ásatrú is used somewhat synonymously with Germanic neopaganism or Germanic paganism, along with the terms Forn Sed, Odinism, Heithni, Heathenry and others.

The formal name "Asatru" (pronounced OW-sa-troo) is a fairly recent invention of the 19<sup>th</sup> Century: if the Viking Age people had an explicit name for their religion, that name has been lost. The casual name for this religion is [[heathen]]ry. Whether Asatru can or should be classed as [[neo-pagan]] is hotly debated, as it reconstructs a religion that is known beyond question to have historical roots. Many heathens distance themselves from practitioners of more popular modern pagan religions such as [[Wicca]].

Asatru is a "hard-polytheistic" religion. Its many gods are seen as distinct, not as specifics of some larger generalization. Furthermore, the gods of other religions are acknowledged, but not worshipped. Heathens are quite willing to respect other religions, on the condition that such respect goes both ways. Proselytizing is frowned upon, but discussion is not.

Among pagan religions practiced in modern times, Asatru is one of the most conservative. For example, military service is highly respected by the heathen community, and the right to keep and bear arms is not considered a legalistic abstraction to quibble over.

A ''Kindred'' is a local worship group in Ásatrú. Other terms used are garth, stead, sippe, skeppslag and others. Kindreds are usually grassroots groups which may or may not be affiliated with a national organization like the Asatru Folk Assembly, the Ásatrú Alliance, or the Troth. Kindreds are composed of hearths or families as well as individuals, and the members of a Kindred may be related by blood or marriage, or may be unrelated. The kindred often functions as a combination of extended family and religious group. Membership is managed by the assent of the group.
Kindreds usually have a recognized Goði to lead religious rites, while some other kindreds function more like modern corporations. Goði or Gothi (plural goðar) is the Old Norse term for a priest and chieftain in Norse paganism.

Asatru has some similarities to the Japanese [[Shinto]] religion: respect for nature and its forces, and veneration of ancestors. A list of explicit virtues is promoted (the "Nine Noble Virtues), and the swearing of oaths (not to be confused with foul language) is taken ''very'' seriously.

1. Courage
2. Truth
3. Honor
4. Fidelity
5. Discipline
6. Hospitality
7. Industriousness
8. Self-Reliance
9. Perseverance

Paganism

2007-03-21T13:13:24Z

N00b:

Paganism is the practice of worshiping a god that is not that of Christian, Muslim, or Jewish faith, or practicing [[polytheism]]. Paganism, from Latin paganus, literally means (as a noun) "country dweller." Pagans are also sometimes called Heathens.

==Subdivisions==

Pagan subdivisions coined by Isaac Bonewits:
*Paleo-Paganism: coined to contrast with "neopaganism", denoting a pagan culture that has not been disrupted by other cultures. The term applies to [[Hinduism]], [[Shinto]], pre-Migration period Germanic paganism as described by [[Tacitus]], Celtic Polytheism as described by [[Julius Caesar]], the Ancient Greek religion and religion in ancient Rome.
*Meso-Paganism: A group, which is, or has been, significantly influenced by monotheistic, dualistic, or nontheistic worldviews, but has been able to maintain an independence of religious practices. This group includes Native Americans and Australian Aborigine Bushmen, Viking Age Norse paganism. Influences include: [[Freemasonry]], [[Rosicrucianism]], [[Theosophy]], [[Spiritualism]], as well as [[Sikhism]], and the many Afro-Diasporic faiths like Haitian Vodou and Santería.
*[[Neo-Paganism]]: An attempt by modern people to reconnect with nature, pre-Christian religions, or other nature-based spiritual paths. This definition may include anything on a sliding scale from reconstructionist to [[New Age]] and non-reconstructionist groups such as [[Asatru]] and [[Wicca]].

Religion

2007-03-21T13:04:39Z

N00b:

A system of belief in, worship of a supernatural power or god.<ref>[http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/Religion Webster Dictionary Definition]</ref>

== Religions ==

* [[Animism]]
* [[Bahá'í]]
* [[Buddhism]]
* [[Cao Dai]]
* [[Christianity]]
* [[Discordianism]]
* [[Evolutionism]]
* [[Hinduism]]
* [[Islam]]
* [[Jainism]]
* [[Jehovah's Witnesses]]
* [[Juche]]
* [[Judaism]]
* [[Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints|Mormonism]]
* [[New Age]] beliefs
* [[Paganism]]
* [[Rastafari movement]]
* [[Satanism]]
* [[Scientology]]
* [[Shamanism]]
* [[Shintoism]]
* [[Sikhism]]
* [[Church of the SubGenius|SubGeniism]]
* [[Wicca]]
* [[Zoroastrianism]]

==References==
<references/>

==See Also==
*[[Atheism]], a lack of belief in the supernatural
*[[Naturalistic religions]]
*[[Secular Humanism]], an approach to moral philosophy
*[[World Religions by Number of Followers]]

[[Category:Religion| ]]

Talk:Heavy metal music

2007-03-21T13:01:58Z

N00b: /* Christianity? */

== Christianity? ==
I find the statement on Christianity to be rather inaccurate. While I understand this is a conservative encyclopedia, that is no excuse for fallacies. Many metalheads and musicians are openly Christian, such as Dave Mustaine and Dave Ellefson of Megadeth, Jack Owen, and Tom Araya of Slayer. I believe a more accurate statement would be that Anti-Christian sentiments are quite prevalent in extreme metal music. There is also a strong Christian Metal Subgenre, see bands such as As I Lay Dying, Believer, and Stryper. I shall change the statements to be more accurate and less condemning. [[User:Mustaine12390|Mustaine12390]] 16:25, 20 March 2007 (EDT)

I wouldn't even say that Anti-Christian sentiments are quite prevalent at all. I listen to metal music, and sure some of it is about death and killing and things like that, but I wouldn't say it's Anti-Christian. Some metal music includes themes that are similar to many popular songs of other genres, just in a different form. --[[User:ALFa|ALFa]] 16:33, 20 March 2007 (EDT)

That's primarily what I hoped to get across, I suppose the term "present" is more accurate. I consider the music to show, when it discusses Satan, a Christian perception of the being. What I meant to say was that the only genre, to my knowledge, that contains overtly anti-Christian themes would be death metal or black metal, and even there it is somewhat rare. I think many mainstream Christians misconstrue the disrespect for organized religion (i.e, a church, pastors, or priests.) for being Anti-Christian. They are not one in the same, as to not believe in church is not the same as not believing in god. I'll change it to be more accurate.[[User:Mustaine12390|Mustaine12390]] 18:07, 20 March 2007 (EDT)

As a metal fan (who's wearing a Dream Theater shirt right now), I think that the Satan reference was ridiculous. I took it right out. [[User:MountainDew|MountainDew]] 18:08, 20 March 2007 (EDT)
:Agreed, i thought of it as inappropriate as well, but since it referenced it as the opinions of conservatives, I left it. Dream Theater! Another openly Christian metal band (though not in the Christian metal genre). I have a few more changes to make on the article, you left a slight typo! I forgive you! [[User:Mustaine12390|Mustaine12390]] 18:13, 20 March 2007 (EDT)

Actually, creating this article in the way I did was almost a joke; this is indeed a conservative encyclopedia -- so I used those particular statements to be, in a way, on the extreme of what some people might think. Don't take it the wrong way. Plus, the username I chose might have tipped people off: I really don't know much in the way of creating encyclopedia articles, so I left things vague and unopinionated (my opinions, anyway). I am actually a metal fan who laughed at the article, not believing in what I was typing. Then again, some of the more extreme Black metal bands do reference Satan in non-metaphorical terms. But most of those bands are without actual substance and therefore suck. [[User:N00b|N00b]] 09:01, 21 March 2007 (EDT)

Heavy metal music

2007-03-20T13:57:22Z

N00b: feel free to edit!

Heavy Metal was developed around 1969 and 1974 from Blues Rock, Classical music, and apparently Satan - according to many Christians and conservatives. The aural aspects of metal generally revolve around highly-amplified guitar distortion and fast guitar solos. Metal has a large amount of fans, few of whom advocate Christianity in any form.

Subgenres include Black Metal, Death Metal, Thrash (or Speed) Metal, New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, Doom Metal, Folk (or Viking) Metal, Power Metal, Progressive (or Avant-Garde) Metal, and Gothic Metal.