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Steven Abell

Columnist

Steven T Abell is a Heathen, a storyteller, and the author of Days in Midgard: A Thousand Years On, a collection of original stories based on Heathen myths. His live performances and his book have been well-reviewed and well-received by the Heathen community. As of 2013, he is also Steersman of the High Rede of The Troth, one of the major Heathen/Ásatrú organizations; any opinions stated in his articles are his own.

He grew up in a farmtown in central California, then attended the University of California at Davis, where he earned a B.S. in Mathematics. He makes his living as a software designer in Silicon Valley.

Steve came to Heathenry, not from some other religious standpoint, but from a rather stark atheism. He no longer calls himself an atheist, but he remains less interested in magical or supernatural issues than many pagans. Along the way, he learned to have constructive conversations with people whose views differ. Well, often, anyway. Steve sees himself more toward the left end of the Universalist-Folkish spectrum, and firmly in the libertarian-right corner of political space.

He came to storytelling by way of amateur and semi-professional stage acting, which was often his other full-time job. Storytelling puts him more in control of his time, and now he always gets all the good lines. One of the hints Steve received telling him that he really was Heathen was the manner in which the Days in Midgard stories came into existence.

You can reach Steve and learn more about his book, his thoughts, and Heathenry/Ásatrú in general at http://www.StevenAbell.com.

Works by Steven Abell

Thicker Than Water

Steven Abell | July 01, 2014

Time has a way of reaching out unexpectedly and tapping one on the shoulder. I received......

That Special Gift

Steven Abell | December 18, 2013

Yule, the Winter Solstice, is the birthday of Frey, one of the Vanir, a Fertility God......

"The Lost Sun": A Book Review

Steven Abell | September 08, 2013

One day, this part of your life will be over, and things will be different. You need to......

Bolts

Steven Abell | August 21, 2013

The Son of Earth and I have had a wonderful evening together, out for a joyride....

Who the Bad Guys Are

Steven Abell | June 19, 2013

Of all the calamities that can befall a people, an uncontrollable government is one of......

Thialfi's Wish

Steven Abell | June 10, 2013

The story of Thialfi, who gave up comfort for his wish to be one of the best of men....

Persuasion

Steven Abell | May 22, 2013

I may never change anyone's mind, but if I do, it won't be because I lectured and......

Why I Am a Heathen

Steven Abell | April 03, 2013

Steven T. Abell answers Patheos' 200-word challenge....

Table Magic

Steven Abell | March 20, 2013

How does a Heathen family sit down for a meal together? Looking at an important and......

Killing Miss Prignasal

Steven Abell | January 07, 2013

Prudery is not a Heathen virtue. But have we banished prudishness and lost our ability......

Promote, Publicize... Proselytize!? A Heathen View

Steven Abell | December 20, 2012

You might say that we expect a world of many religions, and that's the way it is......

Jealous, Fragile, Weak, and Small

Steven Abell | October 03, 2012

Don't like my religion? Nobody said you had to. Want to say so right out loud? Go right......

The Little Things

Steven Abell | September 05, 2012

Some of you have heard me tell this. Let's see how it works in print....

Wallowing in Obscurity

Steven Abell | August 01, 2012

Refuse to say the Aurora shooter's name. Deed remembered, but he himself forcefully......

Gods Are Useful

Steven Abell | July 26, 2012

Gods can be useful even to those who don't believe in them....

Some Assembly Required

Steven Abell | July 05, 2012

Remembering the presence of the remarkable....

Trothmoot 2012

Steven Abell | June 17, 2012

What really happened....

Not Interested in Love

Steven Abell | May 23, 2012

A fun fable about what matters in marriage....

Norse Myth in Academia

Steven Abell | May 10, 2012

A roundup of UCLA's conference on Norse mythology -- which was nothing like Pantheacon,......

Compassion in Cold Climates

Steven Abell | April 26, 2012

You can try to solve the world's problems. You will fail. Or you can try to solve your......

Wandering Around in the Moral Dimension

Steven Abell | April 17, 2012

Noble Virtues, Golden Rules, and how to know what to do (and not do)....

Words and Viewpoints in Indigenous Religious Language

Steven Abell | March 21, 2012

I wonder if Lithuanian is very well equipped to talk about religion, just not about......

A Heathen's View of LGBT

Steven Abell | March 01, 2012

Let's accept that there are different ways of being human and leave each other to be who......

Thinking of Heathen Women

Steven Abell | February 16, 2012

The perspective can challenge the unprepared....

Mouths and Ears

Steven Abell | February 03, 2012

Remember this was once the only way: the way our whole culture was kept alive....

Law and Religion in Indiana

Steven Abell | January 19, 2012

Allfather, who art in Asgard: many be thy names . . ....

Unmistakable Connotations of Groveling

Steven Abell | January 05, 2012

We don't do that. We have no reason to....

Tomten: A Yule Tale

Steven Abell | December 16, 2011

In which we learn of many strange and familiar things on the longest night of the year....

Ritual and Reconstruction

Steven Abell | December 01, 2011

Hammer in the North! Hallow and Hold this Holy Stead!...

If You're New to Asatru

Steven Abell | November 17, 2011

Be respectable, be hospitable, and be in the company of the gods....

Up In The Air

Steven Abell | November 02, 2011

When I read the headlines, especially with all the sound and fury we're seeing now,......

Mitt Romney vs. The Guys Who Just Don't Get It

Steven Abell | October 19, 2011

Challenging the veracity of Mormon history is problematic for other religious believers......

Longing for Freya: A Bedtime Story

Steven Abell | October 05, 2011

Not all Heathens want to go to Valhalla. There are other options....

Becoming Heathen

Steven Abell | September 21, 2011

What are gods, and what does it mean to believe in them?...

Minding Your Manners

Steven Abell | September 07, 2011

Never been to a Heathen event before? Here's what you need to know....

Whacking the Monk

Steven Abell | August 25, 2011

Is it useful to carry a grudge for 1200 years? Depends how you go about it....

Labels and Identity

Steven Abell | August 10, 2011

Who are these people, anyway?...

Religion and DNA

Steven Abell | July 27, 2011

Is a folk religion really a matter of DNA? Or are most people just more interested in......

Why We Need Vengeance

Steven Abell | July 13, 2011

Osama bin Laden's death reminds us that vengeance is a dish best served cold -- and with......

Fish Stories

Steven Abell | June 29, 2011

Are you really a big fish in our small but growing pond? Or are you simply someone who......

Pride and Arrogance

Steven Abell | June 15, 2011

Of course, the Pride and Arrogance I'm talking about here have responsibilities that go......

That Frightening Word

Steven Abell | June 01, 2011

If you want us to be ashamed of the name you gave us, you'll wait a long time....

On Not Living Stupid

Steven Abell | May 19, 2011

There's a lot to be said for Not Living Stupid, however one achieves that. When groups......

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