| Back | Folk conceptions of The Anglo-Christ |
|
Pre Christian Heathenry was in many respects defined by the concept Sacral Kingship. There is some confusion, for instance, over whether Woden/Odin was an heroic King so revered by his people that he came to be seen as a God, whether he was God in a human form who became a great king - or whether earthly kings were named after a mighty God to show where their authority lay. Anglo Saxon Kings (including Christian ones) saw themselves as the literal descendents of Woden. Tacitus tells us that north germanic peoples (including the Angles) saw themselves as descendents of Ing Frey (FreyR). Indeed, Ing Frey can be seen as a pre-christian manifestation of the Word - just in the way Jesus was. Ing Frey is very much an Anglo-Christ (or at least a pan Germanic Christ) and those who come to Kingship of the Anglo-Saxon people come to it through Ing as well as Woden. Alfred is clearly an extremely important person to the Anglo Saxon English. He should be seen as an extremely important Saint (or whatever word we choose to describe a human who has become one with God. I strongly believe that a religious culture is an element of maintaining group cohesion and ethnic identity. I do not see religion as the preserve of those holier than thou types who have seen the light. I see it as an expression of our culture, history and our native understanding of the wonderful mystery that is the world we inhabit. The ‘Anglo Christ’ can be seen as a manifestation of the ‘Logos’, literally the Word of God. This aspect of Christ has revealed himself in different ways to different people, though fulfilled in the life of Jesus of Nazareth. This concept forms the basis for various forms of folk Christianity. ‘Germanic Christianity’ is also relevant here. This is an historical term for the form of Christianity that grew out of the conversion of the germanic peoples, including the Anglo Saxon English. It was heavily influenced by the ‘heroic culture’ of our heathen forebears and had a huge impact on the medieval Church. For instance, it spawned the concept of the dashing knight, chivalry and the military orders. Germanic Christianity embodied the old ideas of ‘Sacral Kingship’ in which the king is believed to be an incarnation of God, or originally the gods. Early Anglo-Saxon Kings saw themselves as direct descendents of one or another of the old (folk) gods, usually Woden. This belief was maintained well into the Christian era – though Woden himself was turned into a past great King. Alfred would have seen himself in this light. We therefore have a clear historical link between King Alfred and his descent from God (the Anglo Christ).
English Folk Church Society |
| Back |