Lesser Gods ? Not In My Book !!
The worst thing that Snorri Sturluson did may not have actually been being a Christian, or allowing his Christianity to effect his writing of the Eddas ! It is that in Gylfaginning he " numbers" the Gods and Goddesses which has become seen by some in our religion to mean that there is a ranking of importance for our Gods and Goddesses. Nothing could be more untrue than that ! All of our Gods and Goddesses are different, and all have different responsibilities in Asgard, Vanaheim, and to us. This in no way diminishes the importance of one God from another, and it definitely does not diminish the importance of the Goddesses. If you remember in Gylfaginning the Goddesses are listed second.
That does not mean that you cannot have a special relationship with just some of the Gods and Goddesses. The Triad of Odin, Thor and Freyja, is very important to me ! As is Skadhi, Magni, and Modi ! But my special relationship with them does not diminish the way I feel about Gersemi, Thrud, or Hermod. I would never....... insult them, for lack of a better word, by calling, or categorizing them as " lesser Gods, or Goddesses.
I also don't particularly like the term "Frigga's handmaidens " to describe some of the Goddesses. This to me lessens their importance in the eyes of Asatruar, and leads to prejudice that in some cases has placed them on a second tier in our view of their place in that Pantheon . Vor, Var, Gna, Snotra, Lofn, etc......, are not second tier Goddesses, they simply have different roles that some seem to believe lessens their importance. If you look, ( read), what these Goddesses' duties are you will see that their importance is magnified by that knowledge.
So don't ever let me hear, or read, anyone calling our Gods and Goddesses, lesser Gods ! In my eyes and in my heart they are all equally important in their own unique ways !!
Thank you for this. The "Frigga's Handmaidens" paradigm likewise strikes me as being off. To the best of our abilities, no God or Goddess should be diminished in our understanding. Thank you again for this post.
You are very welcome ! I don't know if others feel this way, but I become very indignant when I hear someone, ( anyone ) put down, or diminish through words, or deeds our Gods and Goddesses. I always try to show them the same respect they showed our ancestors, and the great respect they have always shown me personally ! Thank you very much for the comment.
Be well my friend !