CALL FOR A MILITANT PAGANISM

The origin of the Germanic word 'pagan' is 'heath dweller'; someone who worships the gods of the land. Today the word is mostly used by those who are devoted to the Germanic spirituality, also known as Germanic paganism.

The Germanic Spirit

The mythology of the Germanic peoples is more than just a collection of beautiful and frightening stories. Myths are at the basis of the formation of civilization, it is the root of or 'thought' and 'being'. As such, they represent the essence of the Germanic civilization. The Germanic mythology gives us essential answers to the mysteries of the human existence and serves as a guideline for moral- and social behavior. Paganism gives us an insight in the absolute essence of the Germanic identity.

Above all, paganism teaches us that every human is the bearer of its own fate. By our actions and accomplishments we are able to take our lives into our own hands. The gods teach us through the example of their own lives. The nine noble values*, as given in the Edda and other Pagan sources, serve as a moral guideline for our actions.

The virtue which the Germanics considered most highly was, loyalty of the given word. The whole Pagan mythology exists of hymns about heroes who sacrificed their honor and luck to loyalty. Within the Germanic peoples betrayal humiliated not merely the individual, but brought shame among the whole family and tribe. This is for instance expressed at the end of Beowulf, when Wiglaf addresses his comrades who abandoned their lord: “Your generation will be deprived of treasures and gifts, the joy of paternal inheritance, of all support; even the rights of civil society they will miss and be robbed from everything they will roam, persecuted by the memory of your degrading act. For each warriors death is better than a life of shame.”

 Kinship was also one of the foundations of the Germanic existence. With the Germanic peoples the family and tribe stood central, Germanic man lived as a part of it. Outside the circle of kins no existence was possible for him or her. Their tribes might have been independent and autonomous, but this does not mean they were blind for their blood-relationship. Tacitus wrote: “From the god Tuisto, who sprouted from the earth, Mannus was born, the primeval man, from whom all tribes have emerged. Mannus had three sons, who became ancestral parents of the three major peoples: the Ingvaeonen, Istaevonen and Erminonen.”

Strictly centralized states as we see nowadays, were alien to the Germanic peoples. They did not know the so-called 'rights’ and 'freedoms' of a citizen bound by laws and regulations. The Germanic spirit created independent souls, who were lord and master over their own actions. They put self-preservation above submission, chose their own masters and kept every form of authority in their own hands. The proto-democratic Thing-peace was one of the most important expressions of this.


The Pagan Gods

We worship the Pagan gods not because they are forgotten archaeological antiquities, but because they are living and powerful energies that still live in our peoples. They live eternally in the group memory and collective subconsciousness of the descendants of the Germanic peoples. As ethnic and spiritual history of our folk community, Paganism is an indispensable part of our folk consciousness and the essence of your folk spirit.

 In contradiction to the Abrahamic religions, the Pagans, who did not tolerate kings other than those they chose themselves, did not serve their gods by slavish submission. The Germanic peoples did not make themselves subservient to the gods like a servant to his master. The relation between a Germanic and his lord excluded such a form of servitude. In an Icelandic sage** Thorkel is driven from his property. Therefore, he takes an ox and goes to the temple of Freyr, where he says: “Freyr, who has long been my friend, to whom I can trust completely and who has got many gifts from me. Now I once again give you an ox, that thou shalt give me satisfaction.” The Pagan sources tell us that the relation between a Germanic and his god is one of sincere friendship.

Humanity and deity do not represent two different worlds, but exist in extension of each other. When a Germanic calls a god his friend, he does not mean that he is in a personal relation with a being of a higher order, but he engages that deity in his own circle of life. By sacrificing, man can get into an intimate relationship with the gods. However, not without risk. The Edda warns: “Better no prayers, than too many sacrifices” and “every gift expects retaliation”. A sacrifice to the gods was seen as a weakness of man. A man with a lot of own strength, does not have to seek it outside of himself.

The Germanic spiritual feeling was awakened by its eternal struggle against the powers of nature. The Germanic revered nature as its ally, who made its life on earth possible. From this venerated nature forces the gods developed, who in their human form could come into contact with man and give protection from birth till death.

The advent of Christianity was not able to destroy the Germanic folk spirit. Although the Germanic traditions and customs are long neglected and forgotten, they can still be found in all aspects of our societies. One can hardly call a current tradition or festival that does not originate from Pagan times. The living and powerful energies of the Germanic gods are still among us. The Germanic mythology serves as an important time capsule filled with esoteric wisdoms, which show us how our far ancestors lived. It serves as a shining beacon in the alienation and rootlessness of modern society.

 Tacitus wrote about the Germanic peoples: “They are only equal to themselves.” The Germanic could not deny its own ego. They loved their freedom and rejected any state authority. They wanted to defend their own interests and wanted to live their own life. Above all they were warriors, who's Teutonic anger (Furor Tutonicus) was legendary all over Europe. They were driven by an unprecedented contempt for death, that was the result of a realization that life and death are equally desirable, if they bring glory and honor to theirself, but above all for their family and tribe!

Naturally we as Germanic pagans reject every form of apathy and passivity. Being Pagan means first and foremost thinking and acting according to the wisdoms our Germanic ancestors had to offer. It means living by a comprehensive Germanic ethic, that has to be implemented in all aspects of our lives. It is our task to strive for a revival of the Germanic folk consciousness to honor our far ancestors, as well as coming generations. Therefore, we advocate a Pagan militantism: not a Paganism of the word, but of the deed!

Notes:

* The Nine Noble Virtues of the Germanic mythology: Courage, Truth, Honor, Fidelity, Discipline, Hospitality, Self Reliance, Industriousness, Perseverance.

** The Icelandic Víga-Glúms saga from the 13th century