I think we have to return to the question - "why do you disbelieve in Thor?" And not Thor as a condescending "they were worshipping MY god really - they misinterpreted all the thunderbolts and flying hammers". The documented Thor of earnest historical belief.
Hullo! It's where I started - this is a post of mine in response to Dawkins on Thor
It's from January 2nd 2007, the original is here
http://www.richarddawkins.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=5341
My personal journey to Athorism
I was amused by Prof. Dawkins little article on athorism. Athorism, for those who have not seen the piece, is lack of belief in Thor. Strangely enough, I think it was the closest thing to a religion my father ever attempted to teach me. I seem to recall that he, a heroic Dane, finds the idea of cowering before Gods odd, and I still recall once in a thunderstorm, aged perhaps eight or nine, him getting me to insult Thor, shaking my fist in defiance at the heavens. Closest to the blasphemy challenge I'll ever get, but quite a rush. Try it sometime you rationalists - go stand on a hill and do that.
Apparently the old God's love those who can earn their respect.
There was nothing neo-pagan, or even religious about that. Still I was brought up with eight legged horses, ravens and magic hammers, vast serpents, tricky salmon, wolves dwarves and at the end Ragnarok, the final battle, followed by the remaking of the universe. None of this was taught as true, but as myth, legend...
Unsurprisingly I was an atheist by the age of nine, and remained so for many years. Eventually I became a Christian, and remain so to this day. I think its my sympathy with and understanding of the atheist position that brings me here.
Still athorism is not as in vogue as you might think. I have one very respectable Fundamentalist something friend who as far as I can work out is actually henotheistic - he believes in all Gods, he just worships the Christian/Jewish one, as the biggest and best. He seem to think this is entirely in line with the Old Testament. He's a kind soul though who does a lot of work helping the local pagans sort stuff out, and giving old ladies lifts -- religious belief is central to him, but he never allows his different beliefs to get in the way. Late for a coven meeting, and need a lift? Call him. Odd -- I may actually misunderstand this theological stance, and he may be orthodoxly monotheistic, but whatever he is, he is rabidly religious and a bl**dy good bloke.
Anyway last year a friend died (with his boots on) and was cremated in a simple and moving ceremony. He was like his boyfriend a Norse pagan, and we had reading from the Edda's, and Wagner played as the coffin vanished. The funeral was conducted by the wonderful Humanist Association of the GB, who were happy to overlook our desire to introduce some religious elements. Christian and pagan alike we donated to the Humanist cause, then went and drank mead in memory of our fallen friend. I hope he's fighting and drinking in Valhalla today.
Now most Norse pagans I know are actually Odinists - which I find odd, as Odin always struck me as a God one would actually not want to worship much? "Sociopaths and magicians" as my fundie mate remarked, as we drank mead in a howling gale on top of Glastonbury Tor one dawn a decade or more ago "they are the folks who worshipped Odin." Personally Freya and Thor seem far more my types. I even rather like Loki, that mischievous Trickster and Betrayer, who ends up destroying the universe by bringing about Ragnarok as far as I can see.
Still, whatever you may think about these things, Athorism is not yet as prevalent as you might think.
Have fun
cj x
)
