I am new to all this Reddit and to the community of Asatru, at large. I have studied a little on the history, archaeology, evolving culture and the remaining literature of the Norse and Germanic peoples. Yet, when seeing this subject (Jotun vs. Aesir), I fail to understand how the modern spiritual culture of the Norse (Asatru and such) seems to delineate "real" or "authentic" gods from mere titans (Jotun) and spirits posing in a god/dess's stead. In this instance, someone is tentatively asking (correct me if I'm wrong) "Is it wrong to follow a Jotun god/spirit? Do they have a culture and what would that be? Even if I don't worship them, how would one come to know them?". I'm hearing (reading) three types of answers: 1. Jotuns are just personifications/intellectualizations of primal and potentially destructive natural forces. 2. Jotuns are evil, opposing the Aesir and wanting destruction of human civilization as we know it. 3. Your ignorance of TRUE Heathenry means you don't know what you are talking about and you should read more.

The last one may seem harsh, yet, it is how I read into it. Please clarify if the third idea needs it. The first concept begs the counter question: "Then what are the Aesir, Vanir and any god of any pantheon, in which makes them different than a personification of a natural force with a unique and culturally centered relationship and intelligence?"
Polytheism is not concrete and neither are gods. Their forms change with the people and environments, keeping timeless aspects of their personality and source of power in Nature. If this is not your community's definition of Polytheism, then what would that definition be. Because, in the hard line between titans/jotuns and god/desses is the definition, fundamentally. The second sounds awfully christianized and rehearsed. From what I've understood, pre-Christian ethnic beliefs were very plastic, that is flexible and malleable, in their canonization of "official" gods and demons. One moment, a jotun/thurs/riese is an enemy of men, then the next, the same one has been changed into an awkward savior (like the history of Set, in Khemetic traditions). This is NOT to say that some are very much the wrong sorts of spiritual entities to consort with. What I am saying is, what kinds of evidence and investigation leads to proper evaluations of who is people-friendly and who is not (especially for earnest seekers of Northern faith)? Blindly following Eddas written by Christians, instead of searching professional (theurgic or occultic) consultation on the matter or doing such investigation one's self, would be tantamount to telling the gods how and what they are (mortals inventing gods), right? The third concept said is minority and ignorant enough. I will not comment. There is something in the original post by WhiteFeatherShaman that seems misunderstood, too. Valhalla is not the historic, nor all-agreed upon destination of good people, passed away. From what I've been told, both by faithful Asatru and historic sources, Valhalla (Asgard) is for the servants of the gods (most often the warriors dedicated to the Aesir). Helheim (or what you will) is a many-varied place that is the place of those departed, in general. Like Greek Hades, it is a place with both paradise AND areas of torment. Essentially, it is a reflection of the living world likened unto a place of eternal memory. Similar rules and details of what the Underworld is/was/will be are found in many cultures. Only the caretakers and "orthodox" details are different. The "End of Time" is a Christian concept that was been melded into the medieval expression of Ragnarok. Do we, as Heathens, agree with this concept? I know many who don't. There are both mortal and spiritual sources that point to the concept of Ragnarok as a reoccurring change of the Ages, being told from an epic narrative but dealing with climate, ethnic and psychological changes. Most literary sources, even, state that the battles of Ragnarok are the result of the breaking of oaths and misdeeds that the AESIR did, not the evil and spite of Jotuns. If we want to meld ancient faith with modern Christian and Jewish faith to get where we think we belong, then perhaps an open dialogue with the Heathen and Pagan community needs to happen. So, Jotuns are jotuns from the lens of the written sources. Some were the lovers, friends and allies of the gods, others were far from that and sought to destroy all that the gods held dear. WhiteFeatherShaman, does this help your search?