Reddit reviews Living Asatru

Living Asatru by Greg Shetler

Short but sweet. A very concise introduction to Asatru, Ive found it extremely helpful.

Coming from a Christian background, I understand the oddity. I am viewing the transition more of a set of tools which I did not have previously. Myself, I'm not much for the praying to a god as I am praying with a personality. My objection to the whole praying "to" is that it is myself that needs to do the work. The notion and idea of something external to myself to which I am dependent on and whom will be doing the work doesn't feel quite right. An addict can pray to their hearts content, but it is the practice of life that makes change.

In Buddhism, it is called practice for a reason. It is also work. It is participatory. I think that this is a major difference. Something that Christianity has pointed at and talks about but seemed to have lost in the somewhere. Religion is the intersection of politics and entertainment. The Protestant revolt was, basically, who collects your taxes.

The structure of Hinduism is very interesting as this religion is, in all essence, applied psychology. The book Living Asatru by Greg Shetler has been very good to me - I love the attitude that the author has.

My point of view is that we, as humans, need certain tools. Our conscious minds are specialized for linear tasks - a BEAR! Run! (Or free beer, same thing.) Our subconscious minds are great at abstract things. This subconscious brain also doesn't have to deal with eye-brain visual object recognition requirement which frees up a lot of brain power. The disadvantage is that it can only communicate through symbols.

This need for a linear structure within a circular system called the Universe, Time, is why we have the solstices and equinoxes -- it takes a circle and converts it into a line. Beginning, middle and end. This is what the linear brain is good at dealing with.

There is a lot of psychology and practical aspects to a polytheistic interaction between human and Universe. Feel free to take what you have learned from previous work and apply it with these new tools. Also ask yourself why you moved away from the Christian structure - what were you missing with that structure? Other people will be going through the same process as yourself.

All the best in your journey!