Is it any better or worse than the term derived from Paganus? I prefer Odinist, it better describes my beliefs. But, there are those word warriors out there that insist on attacking verbage. The same people who are offended by "pagan" and also offended by terms like "gypsy" and "slav" but likely have zero toes to any of them.
I agree, and the term Pagan doesn't offend me personally, but we all know there are quite a few people who find the "Romanized" terms offensive. 🤷🏼♂️
I ran across the term Holstein and it's etymology as I was researching the history of the residents of Schleswig-Holstein. Which by the way is a fascinating piece of history. They are genetically the same people going back to at least 25,000 years, and are possibly the same group that carved the Venus of Hohle Fels. A carved figurine that dates back to 35,000 to 40,000 years.
Another "odd" fact, there is a pocket of people who lived in the Danube valley on the Black Sea, that were linguistically and genetically the same as the Schleswig Holstein people going back to 5,100 - 3,700 BC. While being entirely surrounded by Celtic tribes. 2 pockets of "corded ware" culture people separated by a thousand miles, and completely surrounded by funnel beaker and bell beaker cultures of the Pre- Celtic tribes.
Let’s say a Greek idol worshipper, a Native American from the Amazones, and a Siberian Shaman were to meet. They would be vastly alien to each other. Grouping them together only makes sense through a christian lense. I don’t mind the term pagan. Sometimes a derogatory term becomes a badge of honor, much like the term ‘Yankee’ back in the day. But the most precise term would simply be ‘Polytheist.’
And why must so called pagans and polytheists be country dwellers? May I remind you that many pagans used to live in cities, in the case of the greek and roman world. In fact, most of the world’s pagans now live in cities. They’re called Hindus. Most newer pagans probably are urban as well.
When it comes to us Norse heathens …Åsatru is also a constructed word, but it has a nice ring to it. Another term that has been used is ‘Forn Sed,’ meaning something like ‘Old Customs.’
To conclude: Polytheist is the most precise term. The terms Pagan, Heathen and Åsatru are here to stay, because they have a nice ring to them.
"Holstein" just makes me think of cows 🐄
Calling yourself something that brings cattle to mind is probably not ideal
Is it any better or worse than the term derived from Paganus? I prefer Odinist, it better describes my beliefs. But, there are those word warriors out there that insist on attacking verbage. The same people who are offended by "pagan" and also offended by terms like "gypsy" and "slav" but likely have zero toes to any of them.
The other terms I find more appropriate...
Vinlander.
Heathen.
Germanic.
Polytheist.
And Odinist American.
I agree, and the term Pagan doesn't offend me personally, but we all know there are quite a few people who find the "Romanized" terms offensive. 🤷🏼♂️
I ran across the term Holstein and it's etymology as I was researching the history of the residents of Schleswig-Holstein. Which by the way is a fascinating piece of history. They are genetically the same people going back to at least 25,000 years, and are possibly the same group that carved the Venus of Hohle Fels. A carved figurine that dates back to 35,000 to 40,000 years.
Another "odd" fact, there is a pocket of people who lived in the Danube valley on the Black Sea, that were linguistically and genetically the same as the Schleswig Holstein people going back to 5,100 - 3,700 BC. While being entirely surrounded by Celtic tribes. 2 pockets of "corded ware" culture people separated by a thousand miles, and completely surrounded by funnel beaker and bell beaker cultures of the Pre- Celtic tribes.
Let’s say a Greek idol worshipper, a Native American from the Amazones, and a Siberian Shaman were to meet. They would be vastly alien to each other. Grouping them together only makes sense through a christian lense. I don’t mind the term pagan. Sometimes a derogatory term becomes a badge of honor, much like the term ‘Yankee’ back in the day. But the most precise term would simply be ‘Polytheist.’
And why must so called pagans and polytheists be country dwellers? May I remind you that many pagans used to live in cities, in the case of the greek and roman world. In fact, most of the world’s pagans now live in cities. They’re called Hindus. Most newer pagans probably are urban as well.
When it comes to us Norse heathens …Åsatru is also a constructed word, but it has a nice ring to it. Another term that has been used is ‘Forn Sed,’ meaning something like ‘Old Customs.’
To conclude: Polytheist is the most precise term. The terms Pagan, Heathen and Åsatru are here to stay, because they have a nice ring to them.