Þéodisc Geléafa Part 1

Theodism is a difficult concept to understand, never mind relaying that concept to someone else. Theodism is a religious movement began in 1976 by Garman Lord. Theodism comes from the Old English Þéodisc Geléafa meaning “the belief of the tribe” and is a religious movement striving to reconstruct pre-Christian Germanic heathenry.[1] In its original for Theodism has roots in Wicca and Germanic Paganism, based upon historic Anglo-Saxon pagan society. Over the years it has evolved to encompass other Germanic tribes and incorporate Asatru into its belief system. Theodism is attempting to reconstruct ancient ways of the Germanic tribes that migrated into Europe in the fourth century AD. Here is where the problem lies, Theodism is the reconstruction of a particular Germanic tribe based on historical data to reconstruct its culture, social system, politics, religion, etc., we know surprising little about most of these areas when it comes to these tribes. Historians and archeologists can show us how these peoples lived, but they have no idea why they did particular things. For instants, what was the importance of grave goods in Anglo-Saxon burials? Historians have suggested that they might need these things in the afterlife, or that they were merely to demonstrate the status of the individual at the funeral. The reality is, we just do not know. So how do you reconstruct the past with insufficient data?

From my experience, most Theods have been Anglo-Saxon in nature. We just may know more about the Anglo-Saxons than any other Germanic tribe, and that is not saying much. What Theods do is rely upon the historical data we have and the modern ideas that man has created based upon these ideas. Our primary textual source material derives from later authors, such as Bede and the anonymous author of the Life of St Wilfrid, who wrote in Latin rather than in Old English.[2] These early sources have been called into question, however they are the only contemporary sources we have of pre-Christian England.

Some Theods are stricter that others in how they operate. From what I have read on websites of modern Theodish groups I can see vast differences from the secretive and strict to what looks like a religious Renascence faire. There are however some basic Theodish beliefs that all Theods seem to adhere to. I will briefly touch on these ideas and what my interpretation has ben of them.

Theodish Beliefs

·         Theodism is a tribal movement, seeking to create a "folk" and revive the World view (weltanschauung) necessary to accurately practice the religion of their progenitors

·         Theodsmen hold freedom of conscience as matters of necessity for all Heathens

·         Theodism advocates the Germanic Heathen concept of Sacral Kingship as the gift of the Gods and expression of Luck, Might, and Main

·         Theodish groups advocate a Web of Thew and a Web of Oaths to bind the community

·         The goal of the individual is to struggle in life to build worth, which is something that will remain after death for the individual's family and community

·         Theodsmen adhere to the Three Wynn's: Wisdom, Generosity, and Personal Honor

Creating a “folk” or a tribe is our goal. Look, I can pick up a stone and wildly toss it out and hit a Christian. Heathens are not so lucky. As heathens we need to search for like people who might not be so easy to find because there is a stigma to not being Christian, especially in rural America. Therefore, we have to seek out like folk and see if we bond with them and try to create a sacral community. Its not an easy process. The Hammerhof Kindred has a vetting process that ensures that we have quality like minded folk. Our doors are open, but you need to past the test to enter.

Let’s look at Sacral Kingship.  I am going to briefly touch on this for now. Sacral Kingship is truly Anglo-Saxon. It is the idea that Sacral Kingship is both religious and political by which a ruler is seen as an incarnation, manifestation, mediator, or agent of the sacred or holy. Basically, in Theodish realm the king is not only the political ruler, but the spiritual ruler as well. As far as I know, there is no Sacral King of the Þéodisc Geléafa community. The king is someone selected from the highest level of a Théodish group to be both the leader and highest religious functionary of that group, and has religious functions distinct from – and complementary to – those of the priests.[3] What needs to be said here is that a Theodish king is not a monarch and is answerable and held responsible more that nay one else. It is his duty to uphold the highest standard for he represents all of Theodism.

Thew is something like traditions and customs of the tribe, and in some ways the laws of the tribe. In most cases these are not written down but learned and understood. Tribal members who break Thew must face trail and punishment Learning how to behave in Théodish society is therefore more complicated than memorizing a list of rules: one must be immersed in it and learn by observing, asking, listening, and doing.[4] Thews are the ideas that bind us together and help us to create stronger bonds that last.

Theods have a social structure based upon Germanic tradition. Hammerhof Kindred uses the Saxon social structure of the Dryht or warband. This can be misleading. The Asatru “Hall” concept was developed by myself. Rather than having kingdoms, shires, or whatnot that were developed by Garman Lord and the early Thodish folk I came to the conclusion we should have smaller factions or Halls. Halls represent smaller family unites who may be blood or oath bound. We have a social structure based on early Saxon society, and that of the rural Saxon system of pre-Christian England.

On all that I will talk about Thralldom. Those wishing to become part of a Theod need to petition the Theod to do so. If accepted they enter a period of Thralldom. Simply put, the definition of thrall is slave. People who want to join a Theodish group have to go through a process of being observed and their character tested before being allowed in as full members of the group, this is Thralldom. Théodish thralls have no responsibilities within Théodism other than to listen, observe, and learn, and to repay their teaching with work; thralls have no rights either, except for the right not to be abused, and the right to walk away from Théodism.[5] The idea is that as a thrall you earn your way in through discipline and duty. This can be a tough concept to learn. For those who naysay this, I give you the military, you daily job, or any other institution in America, you need to prove yourself.

Obviously, there is much more to Theodism than this. Over the next few months I will delve into Sacral Kingship, Thews and Oaths, Theodish social orders, Saxon Law, and many other areas of Theodism. The reality is that Theodism is far mor complicated and divers than basic Asatru, but it allows for a better understanding of the Gods, the pasts, and our ancestry.

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[1] The terms Theodism and Theodish Belief were coined by Garman Lord in 1985, but the origins of Theodism are traced back to July 1976. The modern movement is comprised of the efforts of each independent Theodish tribe (OE theod, Old Frisian thiad) to reconstruct the thew of their chosen tribe. Though the movement originally began as an attempt to reconstruct Anglo-Saxon tribal religiosity, it has since expanded to include the reconstruction of the thew of various Germanic tribes.

[2] (1999). "Paganism". In Michael Lapidge; John Blair; Simon Keynes; Donald Scragg (eds.). The Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Anglo-Saxon England. Oxford and Malden: Blackwell. pp. 351–352. ISBN 978-0631155652.

[3] Pitzl-Waters, Jason. “Guest Post: Nick Ritter on Theodish Belief.” The Wild Hunt. Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world., https://www.patheos.com/blogs/wildhunt/2012/06/guest-post-nick-ritter-on-theodish-belief.html.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid.