Weird News

[Carruthers]

A group of Heathen sailors aboard the USS John C Stennis gather to worship Norse gods

Sailors on the USS John C. Stennis operate a warship that brings American power to the Arabian Sea and deploys jets to bloody fronts in Afghanistan.

But occasionally some gather on their long boat to recognise another power, thought to rule the waves and command the winds.

“We do a lot of praying to the god of seafarers, Njord,” said Joshua Shaikoski, one of a small group of practising Heathens who take part in “sumbels”, or ceremonies to worship Norse gods.

These are led by Joshua Wood, an aviation electrician’s mate from Alaska. The US Navy said Mr Wood had practised Heathenry for five years.
“I took a world mythology class in high school and that opened my eyes to the Nordic Gods,” he said.

Contemporary efforts to revive the Norse religion of Odin and Thor have involved reconstructing the cosmology laid out in medieval Icelandic texts such as the Prose Edda, by the 13th-century politician Snorri Sturluson.

In Iceland, the revival was recently marked by the reconstruction of a Norse temple, although a high priest suggested that the religion was not necessarily taken literally.
“I don’t think anyone believes in a one-eyed man who is riding a horse with eight feet,” Hilmar Orn Hilmarsson told Reuters.
“We see the stories as poetic metaphors and a manifestation of the forces of nature and human psychology.”

In the US military, one manifestation of rising Heathenry was a successful appeal by a soldier to be allowed to wear a beard, in observance of his “Heathen, Norse Pagan faith”.
The hammer of Thor has been added to a list of symbols that may be carved on a veteran’s headstone in Arlington National Cemetery.

Mr Wood said the Edda made him realise he identified more with the polytheistic system of faith of the Vikings than his family’s Roman Catholicism. In San Diego he found a group of Norse worshippers and through them became “certified to lead services on this ship”.

Whatever floats your boat...

The Times

(It's paywalled, but there are ways and means).

[Griff]

If warriors need religion, why not a warrior's religion?

[tw]

Originally Posted by Griff

If warriors need religion, why not a warrior's religion?

It already exists. We will pay for their temple. $5 billion for a wall.

If they get their wall, they will not even say, "Thank you." Some religions are not even gracious. Some religions insist they are entitled. Then will demand another $20 billion to finish it.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Oh poppycock, it's not the military asking for the wall, it's Trump, 100%, this is his baby from the git-go to the end.


Oh, and Trump is as far from a warrior as possible.

[tw]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Oh poppycock, it's not the military asking for the wall, it's Trump,

But Trump said the military wants that wall. It must be true. Trump says it.

It must be a national emergency. Trump says it is. We need that temple to worship the gods of security. All praise Cesar.

[sexobon]

Originally Posted by tw

… It must be true. Trump says it. … All praise Cesar

Sour grapes because you've been upstaged.

[Carruthers]

US driver in 'Bird Box blindfold' crashes in Utah

Police in the US state of Utah have taken the unusual step of urging residents not to drive blindfolded after an online challenge inspired by a horror film led to a crash.

A teenager with her hat over her eyes drove into oncoming traffic in the city of Layton while taking part in the so-called "Bird Box Challenge".

The craze has come from the Netflix film Bird Box, starring Sandra Bullock.

Last week Netflix warned fans not to attempt the challenge.

This week the same advice came from Layton police department.

"It's just inexcusable to do something as dangerous as this, not only to yourself but everyone else on the road," said police Lt Travis Lyman, quoted by KSL.com.

He said it was a warning he never thought he would have to give - don't drive while blindfolded.

The 17-year-old driver, her 16-year-old passenger and the occupants of the other car all escaped serious injury.

However, police have requested that the driver be charged with reckless driving, Lt Lyman said.

Well, at least she wasn't attempting to send a text at the same time.

That would have been really silly.

Link


Moving on...

A police investigation has been launched after a blindfolded man walked on train tracks near Bridgend in an online challenge inspired by Netflix horror film Bird Box.

Footage of the stunt has been viewed nearly 200,000 times since it was uploaded to prankster Ben Phillips' YouTube channel on Sunday.

In the video, Phillips' partner, Elliot Giles, is filmed putting on a blindfold and walking along a railway line near Bridgend.

Phillips shouts "where are you going, there's a train coming", but Giles remains on the tracks while the sound of an oncoming train and a warning bell can be heard.

"Not only is it shocking to see that someone is willing to put their life in danger by blindfolding themselves and walking onto a live railway, it's illegal and a criminal act.

They are quite literally playing a game of life and death.

The railway is full of hidden dangers and we cannot overstate how dangerous it is to trespass.

Trains travel at incredibly high speed and can often approach silently.

This footage is being investigated".

– British Transport Police spokesman

Link

If Darwin had any idea of the trouble it would cause, he'd never have written that damned book.