Re: Sources for beliefs
Most academia is simply a more indepth look at the Eddas. Like watching DVD commentaries or reading a thesis on the social impact of Batman. The core of heathen belief is mostly myth-based but many people like to study their beliefs a bit deeper with the academia.
For some heathen traditions there aren't any poems, or if there are, they are very short snippets. Continental Heathenry more often has to rely on ancient and modern academic sources to piece things together.
The reason Odin is a large factor in the poems is because the skalds told tales for the elite (warriors and chieftains). The goal of the warrior was the immortal heroic deed. Skalds told of these deeds. Heroes must die for eternal fame, and their deaths kept skalds employed as they told tales for the new elite. Since this was the elite, these tales were the ones that lasted the longest. It was a symbiotic relationship. The everyday common worship was a bit different.
Originally posted by Heka
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For some heathen traditions there aren't any poems, or if there are, they are very short snippets. Continental Heathenry more often has to rely on ancient and modern academic sources to piece things together.
The reason Odin is a large factor in the poems is because the skalds told tales for the elite (warriors and chieftains). The goal of the warrior was the immortal heroic deed. Skalds told of these deeds. Heroes must die for eternal fame, and their deaths kept skalds employed as they told tales for the new elite. Since this was the elite, these tales were the ones that lasted the longest. It was a symbiotic relationship. The everyday common worship was a bit different.
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