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Oh, I'm very aware of Snorri's being Christian. Nevertheless, though, it is still a point of reference to make.

I also re-read Voluspa today while waiting after my math test, and it is extremely vague as to what actually went on during the creation of the world; what I had posted before was more of an interpretation based off of basic analytical thinking of Snorri's description as described by my mentor. As he put it, though it is not directly said in Gylfaginning, it is most certainly implied.

I, too, have myself a copy of the Lay of the Gods part of the Poetic Edda and will soon be getting my hands on either a full copy or the second half of the Edda, depending on which happens to be more convenient at the time. I also have a copy of the Prose Edda sitting next to me, and I fully intend to get my hands on a copy of Rune Lore and a few other books along the way.

By the way, you may want to check the main forums; even though the avi is a girl, I'm actually a guy. wink However, that doesn't change my point of interest in studying. I'll probably ask you various questions from time to time, as I'm always seeking new options for my learning.

And on a side note regarding what you had brought up regarding taking Snorri with a grain of salt, it's also a good idea to do so with absolutely everything that is a translation of an original work; it's far too easy to mistranslate something or misinterpret what was said in the translation. As expressed in the last paragraph, I would appreciate being able to continue the conversation with you, as you could very well be another way for me to learn and get more resources from which to do so; please don't write me off as someone that you can't discuss this with simply because I haven't done years of research yet, as I would be much appreciative of any and all resources that you can provide me with.

Though this post is a bit off-topic from the rest of what I've been posting and discussing in this thread, I feel that it is equally relevant in my personal philosophy.

A few hours ago, I sat down with my sister and Mormon grandparents (my sister is getting baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints [Latter-Day Saints or LDS is what they refer to themselves as] this weekend) to watch a movie. While I don't mind sitting down with them to watch a movie, we ended up not watching what I was initially thinking we would, as we were talking about watching a movie called August Rush. Due to my sister's medication, which now includes a sleep aide, she would have been unable to watch the whole thing. Instead, we watched part of a tape on the history of Mormonism.

Though I would have to say that the movie was well-done and quite informative, I quickly caught myself falling into exactly what movies like that are intended to bring up- emotional reactions to convince you that their view is right. I even discovered that I was instinctively crossing my arms in front of me as I watched the rest of the movie- a defensive stance, according to psychology. Every sect of monotheistic religion, no matter if you're looking at Islam, Judaism, Catholicism, or Christianity, it's there. They all believe that their was is the one and only correct way to "heaven"- or whatever they choose to call it- and any other way is wrong.

They so vehemently believe this that some are willing to either die needlessly for their beliefs ("martyrdom") or kill to uphold them ("crusader"). I use the term "crusader" loosely here, as the term doesn't just describe those who kill for their religion- though it's most certainly accurate of the medieval Christians who tried to take back the "Holy Land" in futile or vain attempts to recover the "Holy Grail." It can also be used to describe someone who clears new ground for their religion to step foot on, regardless of what ground that is.

It frustrates me to no end that these "super-religions" are so narrow-minded and so conservative that they are neither able to nor desire to change or understand the beliefs of others. They fail to comprehend that there can be more than one correct way to whatever their "heaven" happens to be, that their religion may be the right one for them, but not for everyone. They seek to get as much emotional response as they possibly can and keep it that way for as long as they can to hold their believers entranced and blinded by the fact that there are indeed other options out there for them that could possibly fill up some of the holes that I'm sure some of them are feeling... but such are the wiles and ways of these so-called "Churches" that rule our modern world. If it doesn't follow their beliefs, then it's "satan-worship"- no ifs, ands or buts. These "super-religions" see things in black-and-white when we live in a world full of blurred lines and shades of gray, one where there is a middle ground and where things aren't as cut-and-dry as they'd like to believe.

This isn't math class, where the answer is either right or wrong. This is more like cooking, in which there is no one way to get the desired result. I have no issues with people who are Christians- but so many of them get the simplest thing wrong about it; according to the Bible, the first coming of Jesus turned the Church from the building to the body- hence the phrase "your body is a temple." Is it so difficult to move beyond the walls into something infinitely more expansive known as the human mind? It must be, because out of all of the religious people that I've talked to, only a couple of handfuls of the thousands I've met still believe, but "believe in their own little way." After all, how many non-monotheistic religions focus on the building instead of the body?

Oh, of that I have little doubt, Josh. I just find it endlessly aggravating that so many people are so close-minded (and I've met a few pagans/heathens like this, too, don't get me wrong) to believe that their path is the only "right way" into the afterlife that I do get strong urges to reach out and either smack, strangle, stab, or otherwise mutilate some of these people. However, I resist these urges simply because I don't feel like getting thrown in jail or sentenced to death just yet- and probably not ever, for that matter.

But before I allow myself to get diverted from the topic any more than I was just about to, I'm not even going to say that religion in general is the way. Most of the wars that have come about have been over differences in opinion of religion; very few from my knowledge were specifically caused by the desire for power or monetary gain- at least, not until relatively recently.

The separation that our country was founded on was a total failure, which should not have been the case; every congressional meeting is opened with prayer. If a politician isn't Christian, it's almost guaranteed that they're not going to get very far in the "grand political scheme" of things. There are a few pagan mayors here and there throughout the country, but they never really get much farther than that. I don't know if it's because they don't want to or if it's because they can't due to the fact that nobody will vote for them beyond that, but that the highest I've heard of them being. I would honestly be surprised if the USA were around for long enough to even get a member of congress who wasn't Christian- openly, that is. I can't recall hearing about any who weren't. It would be nice if our government would have actually adhered to the separation like the UK has, but we're a county full of hypocrites; it really doesn't surprise me that it failed so horribly. After all, this country was founded on the belief of religious tolerance- and yet, we still "somehow" manage to find ways to indirectly persecute any who are openly non-Christian or, worse yet (ohmygosh!), openly Pagan or Heathen.

Honestly, I think that fundamental religious do-gooders ought to be thrown in a pit full of the same people that they criticize- while they're horrendously angry, no less. I think that that is one of the few instances in which I might get some kind of satisfaction from watching somebody either get mutilated and/or die- and I don't care what religion (or non-religion) is. I believe that if someone is so close-minded as to not even consider the possibility that there could be more than one "correct path", they don't really even deserve to walk the earth. I just won't be the one to eradicate them.