Frequently Asked Questions & Frequently Referenced Policies
The Troth exists to educate and serve the inclusive Heathen community and anyone who is interested in our faith; membership in the Troth and participation in our activities is open to worthy folks regardless of race, ethnic origin, gender or sexual orientation, and we do not permit discrimination on these grounds in the activities of the Troth or any of its affiliated groups.
If you feel drawn to our faith, and would like to participate in our community, consider this your invitation to join us.
Heathens worship the Gods as they were called by the names known to the various Germanic peoples of what is now modern Europe. Names like Odin, Thor, Frigg and Freyja are common but there are also names like Tiw, Zisa and Donnar. We also worship and remember our beloved dead and give to the good spirits that fill our world and our homes with joy.
The Troth adopted this policy in 2008 (the organization had not had a policy like this before that point):
As a Germanic heathen organization, it is not part of the Troth’s mission to promote or advance the honoring or worship of:
Beings from Germanic mythology that are understood to be hostile to the Aesir and Vanir, to humanity, and/or to the cosmological order, for example: Angrboda, Fenrir, the Midgard Serpent/Jormungandr, Surtr, Muspel’s Sons, Garm, Nidhogg.
Discussion of such deities and other beings, when relevant to issues surrounding heathen Germanic religion, is a normal and necessary occurrence in Troth forums, meetings, and publications. However, it is not the purpose of Troth programs, publications, offices, or certifications to advocate, promote, or carry out the honoring or worship of these entities. Troth members are expected to recognize and respect such boundaries in the context of Troth affairs.
While Loki isn’t mentioned by name in the policy, it was generally interpreted to include Loki as part of the “Beings from Germanic mythology that are understood to be hostile to the Aesir and Vanir, to humanity, and/or to the cosmological order...”
Thus, the rather tamely titled “2008 Position Statement” became known as the “Loki Ban.” In 2019, the High Rede issued a carve-out for Loki specifically as exempt from the general 2008 policy.
As of January 1, 2019, the ban on hailing Loki has been rescinded on an organizational level (Motion 4.07 Q42018). TKP kindreds retain sovereignty to determine content of Troth-sponsored rituals that they host, including whom it is appropriate to hail at a given ritual, insofar as the determination is consistent with the organization’s Position Statement (4.11/16.06 Q42018). Leaders of other rituals outside of the Idunna Blót (where only Idunna may be hailed; 4.10 Q42018) and Grand Sumbel (open for all hailing consistent with Position Statement) will determine the rules and content of their rituals.
It is easier to think of “Heathenry” as an umbrella term like “Christianity” or “Buddhism” which is usually a place-holder for a wide range of religious experiences and traditions. But what we share in common is a trust in the goodness of the Gods and the practice of reciprocity in the gifting cycle through which we engage both the Divine through sacrifice and our fellow man through expressing virtues like hospitality, benevolence and generosity.
Troth clergry may not refuse to perform any rituals (with exceptions, noted below) on the sole grounds of race, gender, sexual orientation or any other divisive criteria.
Marriage or Unions
A member of the Troth Clergy is not only within his or her rights, but morally obligated, to refuse to perform a marriage rite in any of the following situations:
- If the relationship is clearly and visibly abusive.
- If one or both of the participants are legally underage.
- If the laws of the state would class even an unregistered ceremony as contributory to bigamy.
- If one or both of the participants is demonstrably incapable of making and keeping the oaths of marriage due to a psychological, emotional or intellectual handicap.
Within the United States, a wedding ceremony from Troth Clergy is legal if it meets all the various and sundry requirements of local law. Whether in the US or another country, one should check the requirements of the local jurisdiction. (3.12 | 55.04 discussions Q42019)
The Troth’s swastika policy is a done deal. The organization does not believe that the swastika can be “reclaimed” or “rehabilitated.” It is as simple as that.
That symbol has caused too much pain to be reclaimed, and, instead of being frustrated by the people who recognize this fact, all anger should be directed toward the people who corrupted the symbol and who continue to utilize it to inflict pain today. In-fighting over a lost symbol merely continues to weaken the cause. The swastika is lost.
Heathenry will survive without it. In fact, inclusive Heathenry is more likely to advance if we stop trying to reclaim it and focus on protecting the symbols we do have and on advancing public awareness and knowledge of what we have to offer as a religion. This policy also applies to the Black Sun, winged Odal and Wolfsangel symbols.
To allow discussion of reclaiming a symbol used to commit genocide and murder of people in WW2 and that is still being used by white supremacy today, is to support a non inclusive environment, which is contrary to our role not to use the religion to promote white supremacy. (43.06 Q42017)
Although the Troth itself imposes no grooming, dietary, dress, or other such requirements on its membership as a whole, we recognize and respect the religious beliefs of our individual members regarding bodily autonomy and any vows, pledges, oaths, and affirmations therein.
For some Heathens, core tenets of their religious practice involve specific clothing, grooming, and other standards of action.
We support their right to follow the tenets of their sincerely-held and professed beliefs within reasonable accommodations as established under the law.
No. Except for Rede and Officers who are deemed to represent it, The Troth holds to “roof-beam thew,” or the concept that in each person’s hall (under their roof beams) their own personal practice remains supreme. The Troth holds a collective thew or custom that we practice beneath when together at events, and whose customs bind our discussions and define frithful conditions and conduct inside our halls, both event halls and electronic gatherings and communications. This thew binds The Troth when we gather together but does not bind or restrict your personal practice in your own halls, or another’s.
We expect the members of The Troth to support our stance on Inclusive Heathenry as well as our Mission and Position statements. (3.08 Q42017)
Clergy may refuse to perform or compose rituals under the following circumstances
- When the Priest feels a significant degree of serious doubt about the legality or ethical/moral appropriateness of the ritual (such as the reasons to refuse to perform a marriage, listed above).
- If the ritual is public, Troth-related, and directly opposes the Troth’s stated mission or position.
As of April 2024 there are 2732 active members of The Troth worldwide.
Longstanding Troth policy was affirmed via Rede discussions (4.05 Q42018) that The Troth and its representatives may neither confirm nor deny the membership status of any individual outside of Troth Officers or other representatives with a titled position in the organization.
The Troth tries to assist its members in forming local groups to practice our religion and make it more widely available. This is done by referring people to existing groups, providing networking help through local coordinators, or “Stewards,” listing affiliated groups, and supporting and publicizing local and regional gatherings when requested.
Stewards are volunteers who work to build community for heathens everywhere in conjunction with the Troth. They start by providing a presence and giving information to individuals who are interested in The Troth or in heathenry in general. They may also help heathens find each other, start kindreds, and create opportunities for local kindreds to get together with each other or organize regional meetings.
The work of the Steward in the troth is about bringing together threads of individuals and kindreds. They are familiar with the Troth members and kindreds in his or her area, and know the other heathen organizations that are willing to work with the Troth. They usually have strong ties to the broader heathen community local to the Steward’s territory.
A listing of all the current and proposed stewards is inside the back cover of each Idunna and can also be found on our website on our Steward Page as well as on our Facebook Page in our Discord Server. Please feel free to contact your regional steward (if there is one for your area) about Ásatrú, the Troth, and/or heathens in your area. If you receive no reply, please email the High Steward as he or she can answer you as well.
Idunna is the quarterly journal published by the Troth. The journal is named for the Norse goddess Íðunn, whose golden apples keep the gods and goddesses ever vibrant. With this journal and our other worthy actions, we revivify these Gods and Goddesses, and restore them to their vital role in our world and our lives. We come together now to forge again the Hammer of the North that is our own Troth.
The Troth currently offers The Lore Program and Clergy Programs to eligible members.
To enter the Lore Program, a Full Troth Member must first complete the Introduction to Heathenism Course.
Completion is proven by passing the test for the Introduction to Heathenism Course. Note: new Troth members may work through the Introduction to Heathenism Course during their first year of membership and thus be ready to take the test when they become Full Members. After passing the Introduction to Heathenism test, a Full Troth Member may then complete the Lore Program Application and send it along with a writing sample to the Provost.
The Clergy Program is designed to meet the various religious needs of its members by producing a generalist clergy who can serve in a wide variety of functions. Many other individuals within the program feel called to a specific cause beyond these general needs, and they are free to explore this calling so long as it matches the ethos of the Troth clergy program and the values of The Troth itself. (3.12 | 55.04 discussions Q42019)
Your Oath of Service (updated 17.07 Q12019) reads, in part:
With The Troth I stand against any use of Germanic religion and culture to advance causes of any form of prejudice. All are welcome within our Hall, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, ethnicity, or race. As my word is my bond, I will strengthen my good name and the good name of The Troth.
What does “stands against” mean in this context?
“Stand against” is a moral and ethical stance. It is not a call to violence.
The Troth does not condone violence of any sort, nor do we promote active violation of the law, outside civil disobedience which some members may do by attending protests as individuals. So, should someone attend who is clearly not in line with our beliefs, such as a white supremacist wearing a t-shirt that espouses their beliefs, we do not stand with them in blot. Of course we can’t know who is and who is not. But as an individual with integrity, should someone say something over the horn that is clearly racist, homophobic such as mentions above, we would choose to walk away.
The In-Reach Heathen Prison Services program as well as some emergent Clergy needs may serve as exceptions to this policy per their policies and and procedures. Please direct questions regarding their policies to the appropriate team leadership.
The Troth calls out racist behavior in our ranks and we remove those people who demonstrate that behavior.
In-Reach Heathen Prison Services is an effort designed to help prison chaplains, prison administrators, and incarcerated Heathens to learn more about Heathenry through the provision of positive Heathen materials. This program is a coordinated effort of Troth members and local kindreds and individuals.
The Troth’s Red Hammer program is designed to collect money to donate to the victims of disasters or tragedies. The goal of this program is to create a disaster relief program.
The Troth also offers a Heathens in Recovery program to assist those struggling with addiction and mental illness.
All members of The Troth are encouraged to engage with their communities in ways that promote the Heathen values of peace, understanding, and justice–but we will not dictate to our members how they must or must not engage in activism for causes they care about, provided said activism does not cause a conflict with the original oath of membership.
Members may not claim to be official representatives of the Organization without express permission. Permission may be obtained from the Organization to act as official representatives for activist events like Pride Parades, Sit-Ins, or peaceful protests via a petition.
These requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the Board of Directors, who may delegate this task to a subordinate department as needed.
The Troth reserves the right to participate in activism as an Organization through venues like interfaith partnerships that promote the Heathen principles of generosity, hospitality, democracy, equity, and peace.
The Troth will not partner with organizations, nor will we participate in actions that promote violence, racism, sexism, bigotry, or are otherwise in conflict with the Organization’s principles.