A friend of mine has been studying Asatru, and considers himself an Asatruar, however, as of late he has been felt as if he was called to a different pantheon. Would it be considered an affront to the Norse Gods, if he were change religions. Even if he hasn't practiced anything, and has just been studying?
the Norse gods are not possessive. Thor might throw a thunderbolt at his heels, but it would only be in fun. Astra does not teach exclusivity. your friend may find benefits from both pantheons.
If he has taken no oaths to the Gods... then the only reason they'd likely care is that one of their literal descendants is turning away from them... just like so many others.
As a Hellenic Pagan, I cannot definitively answer for the Norse Gods as understood by the Asatru/Heathen community. HOWEVER, that being said, if your friend by studying the teachings of the Asatru has found that his heart was called to a different pantheon, I PERSONALLY do not think the Gods would be offended.
There is a reason that your friend was initially called to learn about the Norse Gods, even if that was only because of ONE member of the pantheon.
There are Gods that fulfill similar roles in most European Pantheons so some degree of pancreatic practice may be historically viable. (I am a Hellenic Reconstructionist, so mixing pantheons such as the Norse and Egyptian would not work for me although the Norse and Greek OR the Greek and Egyptian might)
If he has only been studying and not either oath ed himself to a particular deity or professed heathery/Asatru then it is no harm, no foul. As has been stated, if he were to have made ANY oaths and broken them, and not done anything to put layers of good in the well on top of the broken oath, then it would not bode well.
I know people who came to heathery from different paths as well, so to me it is not an issue, unless that is he swore any oaths.
The Aesir are above petty jealousy. Who has courage does not fear even the wrath of a god. All who stand strong by their beliefs, whatever they may be, are worthy of respect. One who cannot respect his opposition cannot have respect for his own cause. That is the teaching of Val-Father.
In the Voluspo, an ancient Norse saga, the gods met in council and decided that it would be very wrong, unjust and destructive to be jealous of their followers. They also decided not to make any one god supreme over all, so I don't think they would be offended at all.
Really depends. I took a "learning break" and explored my catholic roots for a bit. and I came back to Astra recently.
It do sent make sense for the Gods to care. Not based on the myths and not based on my experience. Acctually I felt Odin very strongly with me while in mass. Asatru is about family, you dint beat your kids because they spend the night at someone Else's house or because they run away.
I think that your friend should follow his calling
I wouldn't worry as these Gods do not exist, boy did I love getting to say that instead of hearing it. better he worry about the one true God that isn't going to put up with this crap.
I believe that The One True God has many names. So what is the difference of learning about one God and about others? I believe it's just different aspects of the same God. There is no one who can understand the in finiteness that is God.
Blessed Be
How can one be an affront to archetype beings after all they did not exist as Persons but rather as Ideals of the Norse people. Even they knew that the beings and stories were for moral value only. Christianity on the other hand is real and even non-believers in his Divinity acknowledge that Jesus was a real being.
Asatru Question?
