The Troth signs both the Declaration of Deeds and Declaration 127 2.0
Declaration 127 appeared first on Hugin’s Heathen Hof in 2016. It had a massive impact on the Norse Pagan community, because up until that point, the White Nationalist element within Heathenry was tolerated. It was tolerated because people believed that through this tolerance, the White Nationalists would eventually extend this tolerance to include people of non-white backgrounds. People believed that through extending hospitality to the White Nationalists, we would teach them to show tolerance in return towards others–and that inclusivity would soon follow.
This not only did not happen, but the Folkish contingent had become even more vocal about who they really were. It wasn’t as if they had been hiding all of it, either.
We had been fooling ourselves into thinking that this wasn’t who they were the whole time, and that these deep rooted beliefs would simply come out in the wash. But they don’t. Racism, Nazism, White Nationalism and the Folkish movement are all tied together in the same stain. And that stain did not come out. In fact, it spread.
Declaration 127 was the product of that realization. It wasn’t drawing a line; rather, it was the recognition that a line had been drawn and we could no longer ignore the fact that some of the people we tolerated in our community for the sake of keeping the peace were on the wrong side of that line.
And we should no longer be afraid to say that there truly is a right and a wrong side to that line. In Paganism, making such firm declarations of right and wrong are regarded with extreme skepticism if not open hostility. But as novel as this declaration was at the time, it soon became apparent that the original Declaration wasn’t enough.
Two New Declarations
Heathens in the community recognized this problem.
Simply saying we won’t associate with White Nationalists is not enough. We cannot merely declare what we are against, we must declare what we are for.
This kind of positive declaration of belief is even more difficult to formulate. Some of the difficulty comes from that deep rooted independence that comes with modern Pagan religions. “You can’t tell me what to do” is kind of our mantra. For some, even saying who we ought not to associate with was too much, too restrictive of the absolute freedom that so many Pagans crave.
Beofeld wrote his own formulation of a positive Declaration 127, which he called the Declaration of Deeds.
Soon after, the Committee that developed Declaration 127 formulated a new formulation of Declaration 127, which they simply called Declaration 127 2.0.
Which Declaration should The Troth sign onto?
We put the question to our membership after review of both Declarations. the result of the poll and the subsequent action we took is described here by Lauren Crow, current Steer of The Troth.
From the Steer, Lauren Crow:
Last year we polled the membership about signing Declaration 127 2.0 and Declaration of Deeds, and it received almost unanimous support. Signing onto both statements is incredibly important for an organization like The Troth. These statements should be the minimum hallmarks of what it means to be inclusive. However, as an organization, we will always strive to do more to create not just inclusion but belonging for those who have been marginalized by our religion and our society. This work will continue as we address the systemic problems inherent in all organizations and work to create a more diverse, equitable, and just environment.
Signing one statement does not preclude signing any other, nor does any part of either declaration contradict any part of the other. They are simply two different formulations of a positive principle following from the original Declaration 127.
Here are the two declarations that The Troth has signed.
Declaration of Deeds
We heathens, pagans, followers of the old ways, we are more than the choices that brought us into being; we are more than our orlay. Instead, we are our deeds, we are the choices we make and not those chosen for us. In acknowledgement of this we declare the following points:
I. We endeavor to be better than our forebears. Their society was a product of its time and was often deeply flawed, but their religious belief in the gods we hold to be timeless. We endeavor to reconstruct their religion, not the flaws in their society.
II. Our religion gives no basis for discrimination based on race, ethnicity, or origin; the gods have nothing to say on the matter of race. We maintain that a person’s race, ethnicity, or origin does not impede their ability to participate in our religion or our group.
III. Our religion gives no basis for discrimination based on gender, including gender identity, or discrimination based on sex; our religion has divine and powerful goddesses and gods who are themselves complex at best. We maintain that a person’s gender or sex does not impede their ability to participate in our religion or our group.
IV. Our religion gives no basis for discrimination based on sexual orientation; the gods we worship do not always conform to one orientation or another and still hold their positions and importance regardless of their sexuality. We maintain that a person’s sexual orientation does not impede their ability to participate in our religion or our group.
V. Deeds matter to our communities and to our gods, deeds are the foundations of our reputations. We maintain that the basis we are to be judged on is through our actions and our deeds and not merely through circumstances beyond our control.
We are charged in the Havamal to speak out against evil when we see evil; bigotry and discrimination based on the chances of our birth is just such an evil. We heathens, pagans, followers of the old ways; we join our voices in unison with this our Declaration of Deeds, that we may declare that the chances of our birth that are beyond our control have no bearing on our ability to participate in this religion nor to lead full spiritual lives, but rather that in all cases it is our actions and deeds that truly matter.
Declaration 127 2.0
As in the past, today we are confronted with challenges and choices. Among the most difficult of these is how to respond to those who intentionally cause harm. As Heathens, our religion gives no basis for discrimination of any kind. Unfortunately, that has not stopped certain actors from trying to do so. Their actions force the wider Heathen community to adopt the qualifying word “inclusive” to define ourselves, and to stand against bigoted people who continuously twist the ancient Germanic religions towards exclusionary, hateful, and violent ends. It is illogical to place exclusionary limits on Heathenry.
We decry the damage the Nazi Party, their allies, and those of similar ideologies have caused historically. We also recognize the damage their ilk continues to inflict. They continually weaponize ancient Norse and Germanic symbols for use in campaigns of exclusion and terror against anyone who does not fit their fantasy. They dishonor our deities.
We hold that the deities themselves created and celebrate diversity. We hold that respect is an inherent right of all human beings. To violate those rights is to forfeit the community’s good graces. There is no greater dishonor.
The signatories listed below represent a diverse set of voices within modern Heathenry. They are national organizations, resource centers, authors, community leaders, local kindreds, and individuals. They come from every branch of our religion and walk of life.
These signatories have signed this Declaration to state their complete denunciation of, and disassociation from, any and all organizations that include any form of discrimination as described below as part of their policies and practice.
Declaration 127 signatories shall not promote, associate, or do business with any organization or entity so long as they practice discriminatory policies and exclusionary ideologies. Discriminatory organizations do not represent our communities. We do not condone hatred or discrimination carried out in the name of our religion and will no longer associate with those who do.
We hereby declare that we will not maintain silence just to keep the peace, especially with those who would use our traditions to justify prejudice on the basis of: age, ability, health status, race, color, ethnicity, national origin (including ancestry), veteran status, gender, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, socioeconomic class, or any other form of bigotry.
We stand together in defiance of unjust discrimination. Oppressive and exclusionary institutions shall receive no support from us. We will actively work against them in favor of a more welcoming faith community and society which embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Signed,
The Declaration 127 Team
March 17, 2021