Iceland: The Perfect Pagan Country?

[Dagna]

Iceland: The Perfect Pagan Country?

John Carlin of The Guardian looks at why Iceland is the happiest place on Earth.

“Iceland … tops the latest table of the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Human Development Index rankings, meaning that as a society and as an economy – in terms of wealth, health and education – they are champions of the world. To which one might respond: Yes, but – what with the dark winters and the far from tropical summers – are Icelanders happy? Actually, in so far as one can reliably measure such things, they are. According to a seemingly serious academic study reported in the Guardian in 2006, Icelanders are the happiest people on earth. (The study was lent some credibility by the finding that the Russians were the most unhappy.)”

The secret to their happiness? According to Carlin, a big part of it is their lack of connection to Christian ideas of morality, and a deep connection to their Viking and pagan ancestors.

“As a grandmother I met on my first visit to Iceland, two years ago, explained it: ‘The Vikings went abroad and the women ran the show, and they had children with their slaves, and when the Vikings returned they accepted it, in the spirit of the more the merrier’ … It is a largely pagan country, as the natives like to see it, unburdened by the taboos that generate so much distress elsewhere. That means they are practical people.”

Indeed, from reading Carlin’s take, Iceland sounds like a paradise for the Pagan spirit. A land that incorporates a deep respect for women, industriousness, a focus on family and community, a robust social safety net, a healthy capitalistic economy, and a sense of social justice that bypasses the backwards-looking morality that often marginalizes outsider groups and derails progress. For instance, while the culture warriors in America are sharpening their knives after California approved gay marriage, homosexual couples in Iceland have enjoyed the same benefits as married heterosexual couples since 1996, which was expanded in 2006 to include protections for adoption and artificial insemination.

As for full-blown religious Paganism, Iceland has that too. It was the first Scandinavian country to give legal recognition to Asatru (1973), and is home to famous Heathens like Hilmar Orn Hilmarsson, a musician and producer who has worked with artists like Bjork and Sigur Ros, and serves as Chief Godi of the Icelandic Asatru Association.

So when we muse about what a “post-Christian” future will look like, perhaps we should turn to the Scandinavian countries like Iceland, where such a reality exists and thrives. It could be that the best of what a “pagan” future holds has been here for generations, waiting for the rest of us to notice.


http://wildhunt.org/blog/2008/05/iceland-perfect-pagan-country.html

[GroeneWolf]

For instance, while the culture warriors in America are sharpening their knives after California approved gay marriage, homosexual couples in Iceland have enjoyed the same benefits as married heterosexual couples since 1996, which was expanded in 2006 to include protections for adoption and artificial insemination.

Ahem, what in the name of the Gods. This sounds more like a left-liberal paradise then a real pagan paradise. Such a thing would be highly unlikely to be tolerated in the Classical Heathen Era.

[velvet]

Nonsense.

And this anti-homo sentiments really are a christian thing. Heathens value freedom the most of all things, and freedom in choice of partner is freedom as well.

The least problem we have are some gays, really

[Siebenbürgerin]

Hmm, but the ancient Germanics punished homosexuals by drowning them into bogs. This had nothing to do with their cultural and religious beliefs?

[Oski]

Nonsense.

And this anti-homo sentiments really are a christian thing. Heathens value freedom the most of all things, and freedom in choice of partner is freedom as well.

The least problem we have are some gays, really

Well there is something very unnatural about homosexuality. They are suppose to be genetic dead-ends. The best way they could contribute to the volk would be to be a soldier on the front or HIV infected spy for our enemies to play with

But I agree they are the least problem we have.

On topic, iceland belongs to ethnic icelanders no matter what religion they practice or what their sexuality is. We need to stop punishing our own peoples and focus on modern outside influences.

[velvet]

Well there is something very unnatural about homosexuality. They are suppose to be genetic dead-ends. The best way they could contribute to the volk would be to be a soldier on the front or HIV infected spy for our enemies to play with

You cant be serious with that last notion?
Honestly, they are, in doubt, members of your family, at least of your folk, and as long as they dont become traitors or murderers or something I dont think such a punishment is in any way appropiate.

Beside, although it is relentlessly repeated it doesnt, homosexuality does occure among all mammals. There really isnt anything unnatural about it.

Yes, I agree, they are supposed to be genetic dead ends, therefore I dont support their marriage, let alone adoption. But otherwise I dont think the state or society should interfer with their private life. It's their choice.

And no, I'm no fan of gay pride parties or love parade or other nonsense either.
But I guess this isnt common on Iceland due to their unanimous handling of such topics. In more (ex)conservative regions like Germany this extreme counterreaction is after all a reaction to extreme intolerance before.

But I agree they are the least problem we have.

On topic, iceland belongs to ethnic icelanders no matter what religion they practice or what their sexuality is. We need to stop punishing our own peoples and focus on modern outside influences.

[Dagna]

I opened this thread to discuss the status of Germanic Heathenry in Iceland, not homosexuals in particular. I understand some parts of the discussion since homosexuality was mentioned in the article, but when it comes to homosexuality in Serbia or California, it becomes too off-topic.

There is a thread about homosexuality already. I suggest moving your discussion there and focusing on the true topic of this discussion.

[Hauke Haien]

Heathens value freedom the most of all things,

People like Grettir are celebrated for being strong. The fact that they can pull it off as an outcaste and against the combined strength of society just emphasises that further. Freedom in the sense of personal autonomy sometimes coincides with important values, but it is not one of them and certainly not an end-in-itself.

Moreover, the definition of freedom within historical context differs drastically from its modern reinterpretation in that it either signified the social rank of a non-thrall or the independence of one's social unit (e.g. Sibb/Sippe/ætt, tribe, tribal confederation, Germania as a whole) from outside powers.

and freedom in choice of partner is freedom as well.

Homosexual behaviour does not establish a legacy, it is not part of the generative force of nature and it does not contribute to the success of one's people, who would have responded to a failure of one of their own to have children with endless harassment.

[Oski]

‘The Vikings went abroad and the women ran the show, and they had children with their slaves, and when the Vikings returned they accepted it, in the spirit of the more the merrier’

I think it went both ways, men and their female slaves, not just the women and slaves.

For instance, while the culture warriors in America are sharpening their knives after California approved gay marriage, homosexual couples in Iceland have enjoyed the same benefits as married heterosexual couples since 1996, which was expanded in 2006 to include protections for adoption and artificial insemination.

Gross but I think almost any system can work out fine if it is "all-germanic".

So when we muse about what a “post-Christian” future will look like, perhaps we should turn to the Scandinavian countries like Iceland, where such a reality exists and thrives. It could be that the best of what a “pagan” future holds has been here for generations, waiting for the rest of us to notice.


http://wildhunt.org/blog/2008/05/iceland-perfect-pagan-country.html

Sounds like a fairy tale

[Hauke Haien]

The Vikings went abroad and the women ran the show, and they had children with their slaves, and when the Vikings returned they accepted it, in the spirit of the more the merrier

A gross misrepresentation. While it is true that maternal ancestry was decisive for the status of thrall offspring, it was also less socially accepted for women. The more common offspring of free men and thrall women, by contrast, continued to be thralls.

And it was not 'the women' who ran the show, but wifes who acted in the name of their husbands.