Thor, a Wolf's Cross (combining Thor's Hammer and a late Viking age Cross

symbolism), and a US quarter with the motto, In God We Trust





The Future of Force and Faith conference where Josh advocated for the inclusion of religious diversity in the military

Understanding: remember that everyone has a story. The brief story I told about myself is only a small segment of my personal history. It is what I felt was most relevant, but there is much more I could tell and much more which likely impacted my interest in heathenry. When a friend is considering embarking upon a new discovery of faith, or seeking to deepen their connection to their existing faith, be considerate of their journey through life, of the story that they have to tell. The connection, the spark that speaks to them may not always be clear, but from my experience there is always something in a person’s history that can help them along the way.

Openness to questions: This part is something which either the person seeking faith, or choosing to move away from faith, and others need to be ready to encounter. If you are exploring a lesser known religion, you should expect questions from your friends and family. They may want to know details, they may want to know why this particular faith speaks to you. You may not have all the answers at that moment, but I think it is helpful to consider them. It also should be acceptable to say something along the lines of this, “I am moved by the divine when I consider this faith.” Or alternatively, “I’ve never been moved by the divine and I don’t feel faith, so I am seriously questioning the role of religion in my life.”

At the same time, if you are supporting someone in their faith exploration, I think it is useful to ask them questions. “What made you initially interested in this faith?” “What are some of the tenants of this faith?” What is the history of this faith, and how to others see it?” These are just a few, open ended questions that can be helpful to the person you are supporting, and can also open an exchange of understanding between you both. That is key, trying to understand and be open to questions, if you find yourself getting defensive, or upset, tell the person that, you might not be the best person to help them and as long as you are there for them in general, that is ok.

Listening : Active listening is essential to helping someone through a faith exploration. You might not have the answers, or you might think you do, or, you might know that you have answers to specific questions. However, there is a time and a place for advice in these journeys. At times, all that is needed is to hear a person, to really truly hear what they are saying and why they are saying it. A person may have been moved by the Holy Spirit, or felt Allah’s presence while reading the Qu’ran, hearing them describe these moments is invaluable. You may not be moved the same way, you may not want to be moved the same way, but it cannot hurt to listen to a friend recount this experience. Alternately, a person may express their frustration at trying to receive these experiences and want to talk through the situation.

Support: This support will come in a myriad of different ways, and sometimes in ways not related to faith directly. You may find yourself reading a book alongside your friend/family member to understand what they are saying when they talk about a component of their new faith. You may bring them to church, or mosque, or drive them to the local druid grove to meet people involved in their new faith. You might watch their children while they get baptized, or stand by with the kids while they declare their new faith. If this is a person you love, you should be willing to support them in all the ways you are comfortable doing so. If you are uncomfortable with any request, being open and honest is the best advice I can offer.

. . .

The Open Halls Project

Josh (and Nisse, a house elf from Danish and Swedish lore)





Josh Heath is the Co-Director of the Open Halls Project, a n advocacy organization for military Heathens. Josh is also a graduate student at American University where he is studying International Peace and Conflict Resolution. He is an advocate for dialogue and his studies have largely been focused on ethnic identity creation and ethnic based conflict. On top of all of that, he is an Admissions Counselor for an educational technology company in the Washington D.C. area and a loving father and husband.