Basics

Asatru Sites

The
Pantheon

Philosophy

Metaphysical
Ideas

Calendar

Other Notes

Home

Ásatrú (usually pronounced "AY-suh-troo," the first syllable rhyming with "hay" -- the accent on a letter in Icelandic makes it a long sound) is usually considered by outsiders to be a neo-pagan or "earth religion". However, it would be more accurate to call it a "Reconstructionist" religion; one dedicated to researching, reviving and emulating the ancient beliefs of Northern Europe. Asatru has become an umberella term which usually is considered to include Odinism (modern worship of Odin), Vanatru (worhsip of the deities known as the Vanir) and Theodism (Anglo-Saxon tribal and religious reconstructionism) But before we go any further, let's start with some basic definitions...

Pantheism:
1. A belief or philosophical theory that God is immanent in or
identical with the universe; the doctrine that God is everything and
everything is God. Freq. with implications of nature worship or (in a
weakened sense) love of nature. Cf.

Animism:
1. The doctrine of the anima mundi, upheld by Stahl 1720; the doctrine that
the phenomena of animal life are produced by an immaterial anima, soul, or
vital principle distinct from matter.

2 The attribution of a living soul to inanimate objects and natural
phenomena.

3. Extended polemically to: The belief in the existence of soul or spirit
apart from matter, and in a spiritual world generally; spiritualism as
opposed to materialism.

Polytheism:
The doctrine or belief that there is more than one god; worship of several
gods.



What We Are Not...

While Asatru has a good deal in common with other pagan religions, there are also some differences. Most Asatruar I have met are hard-line polytheists. Many are also ancestor worshippers and animists (both). Very few are pantheists.

While the broader pagan world seems to lean toward pantheism (all goddesses are aspects of The Goddess, for instance) Asatruar tend to reject this, believing that the gods and goddesses are individual beings and not archetypes nor aspects of one another.

It is good to bear in mind that polytheism does NOT signify worship of each deity in existence. As a polytheist, I believe in the validity of all the gods and goddesses throughout the human world. However, I am also Heathen, which means I hold my troth only to one "family" of deities, that being those of the Norse.



What We Are...

"Asatru" means "faith in the Aesir", which are the Gods of pre-Christian Scandinavia. It was the glue that solidified Scandinavian culture and fostered the arts, development of justice systems, and tribal culture interactions.

Other European peoples, such as the Goths, Teutons, Dutch, Frisians, Anglo-Saxons, etc., worshipped essentially the same pantheon, though there are subtle cultural differences. Many of the Gods even have parallels in Celtic tradition which is one way in which I have found common ground with my local Pagan community. Much about this pantheon and religion dates back to the Bronze Age and has roots as far away as India where some of the deities seem to have originated (the Gods of the Rig Veda).

Of all the pre-Christian religions, Asatru survived as an independent entity the longest before it was driven underground to survive in folk beliefs and "traditional customs". One reason for this was the settling of remote Iceland by the Norsemen. Medieval Icelandic books of magical spells (galdrabok) show that some were calling upon the Aesir long after Christianity was forced upon the rest of Europe. It was here that many of our myths and legends were written down and preserved. In northern Scandinavia, the Lappish (Saami) people were openly celebrating the worship of Thor, which they had learned from their Scandinavian neighbors, as late as 1800.

The modern revival began in the early 1970's with independent groups forming in the USA, Iceland, and Britain. Today, Asatru is recognized by the government of Iceland as a legitimate religion. There are currently established groups throughout Scandinavia, in Ottawa, Canada; Uppsala, Sweden; and in at least the following states of the US: AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, MI, MO, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, VA, WA and WI.

Most of what we know about Ásatrú today comes from study of medieval texts such as the Eddas, historical accounts such as the writings of the Romans, and archaeology. We also study folk traditions that have survived through the years. Most Asatruar prefer to emulate the old ways of worship rather than invent totally new ways. It just feels more authentic that way and does honor to our ancestors. Of course, this is not to say that we can't be creative! Merely that we want to resurrect and interpret an ancient religion for a modern world, not invent a new one whole cloth.

As a folk religion, Asatru is a vast and very diverse community with as many approaches to the Gods as there are individuals. Nothing wrong with that; "There are 80,000 paths to the same goal." as the Dalai Lama once said.

Asatruar tend to have a reputation for being more politically conservative than other earth religion practitioners (that usually means they are "moderates"). Certainly, most Asatruar show the strong will and sense of independance so emblematic of the old Northern peoples.

Anyone who wishes to join Asatru may do so, regardless or race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc. This is important to note since some of the Asatru beliefs and images were perverted by evil souls in the early 20th century. It should also be noted that "Odinism", while related to Asatru, is not always the same religion. Some Odinists consider themselves Asatru, while others do not and vica versa.