How a Thor-Worshipping Religion Turned Racist

[Kazimiera]

How a Thor-Worshipping Religion Turned Racist

Source: http://www.vice.com/read/how-a-thor-...1c7846a4433964



The ceremony of blot starts with a blast. An ancient Moot Horn cuts through the congregation's idle chatter, allowing the clings of metallic pendants to rise and fill the new silence. The horn is a rallying call to all attendees—both in this realm and beyond. There is a period of meditation before fire-lighting and invocations, a time to considers ancestors, kin, future bloodlines. A runic mantra follows, linking congregants and immersing them in the energy of vibration. The ceremony closes with the passing of the Mead Horn, a curved drinking vessel filled with spirits. Everyone makes a toast, the horn is emptied, and the feast begins.

The ceremony of blot is carried out by followers of Odinism and Asatru, two denominations of the same religion focused on worshipping the Norse gods. There's Odin, the god of war, death, poetry, and the alphabet; Freyr, god of virility and fair weather; Freyja, goddess of love and fertility; and of course, Thor, the hammer-wielding god of thunder and lightning, as portrayed by Chris Hemsworth in the Marvel movies.

Together, Odinism and Asatru constitute the largest non-Christian religion in Iceland, officially recognized by Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. It's gaining steam in America, too, where Thor's Hammer is now allowed to be carved onto military gravestones and prisoners are granted special accommodations to carry out rituals.

But there's a dark side, too. "When I see the word Odinist, the red flags go off," says Joshua Rood, an expert on Old Norse Religion at the University of Iceland. "A lot of people who don't know any better, usually very new people, will consider themselves Odinists because they like Odin, they think he's cool. But they have no idea they're referring to themselves by a term that's connected to a movement that's racist."


The Swedish Asatru Society performs a ceremony.

To understand Odinism—and the way that it became a religion entangled with racism, exclusion, and American prison culture—you need to start with the original Scandinavian pagans. These groups worshipped Norse gods through songs and ceremonies, celebrating the mythology of gods like Thor and Odin, who went by many names. Between the 8th and 12th centuries AD, Christians "explained" to the heathens about the One True God, and so-long went paganism, until the mid-1800s, when a nationalistic climate led Scandinavian countries to rediscover their own history. They found something to call their own—Norse Gods—and rebirthed the religion into Germanic neopaganism.

In 1936, Australian author Alexander Rud Mills established the First Anglecyn Church of Odin, which claimed Odinism as "the indigenous religion of the northern European people." In his opening liturgical text, he mentioned "the fall from grace of the White Race by being untrue to the spirit of their forefathers." Else Christensen, a Danish woman, was struck by the work. After WWII, Christensen and her husband Alex emigrated to Canada and founded the Odinist Study Group after WWII with the claim that "religion is in our genes." After Alex's death in 1971, she moved to the United States and published The Odinist newsletter.

The return to Norse gods was regaining steam. In 1972, Icelandic farmer Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson founded the Asatru Fellowship (or Ásatrúarfélagið)—a spinoff of Odinism—which was granted recognition as an official religion in Iceland. While many components are the same as Odinism—including the celebration of blot, the worshipping of Norse gods, the same Moot Horn blasts and Mead Horn gulps—the religion wasn't based on an indigenous claim. "The Asatru has a holistic, environmental touch—and they feel very closely connected to Mother Earth," said Michael Nielsen, a professor of Viking History at Copenhagen University, in an email. All are welcome, no matter your heritage or color.

But a few years later, in 1976, American Stephen McNallen also adopted the term "Asatru" for the creation of his own organization, the Asatru Folk Assembly, a non-profit organization based in Nevada City, California. (McNallen created a precursor to this organization in 1972, under the name The Viking Brotherhood.)

"I found the Norse system of courage, honor, and daring much more compelling than the submission and submergence of the individual I saw in Christianity," McNallen told me through email.

But rather than following the tree-hugging vibe of the Beinteinsson-created Asatru Fellowship, McNallen's American version adopted the Mills/Christensen "folk" style regarding the worship of Norse gods, the more "classic" version of Odinism. Generally speaking, in this in this context, "folk" actually means "racist" and has caused many opponents to suggest that he has co-opted the term and ideas of the Icelandic "Asatru" for his own hateful devices.


Odin, flanked by his two wolves and two ravens.

"[Odinists] claim they are opposed to racism, but they define racism very differently from the average person," says Rood. "They say, 'We're not racist. We just believe in keeping ethnicity separate.' Which... it's racist."

McNallen's point-of-view—which mirrors that of Odinist organizations both in America and Europe—is that everyone has their own culture, and we should stick to it. "I do not believe we are born tabula rasa, or 'blank slate,'" writes McNallen. "We are the latest edition of our ancestors in this slice of space and time. Our native culture, or a logical permutation of it, is the one that suits us best because it arises from our very soul." Despite the fact that McNallen's ancestors have been in America for 200 years, his bloodline was in Europe for 40,000 years before then, and thus, he argues, his ancestral line "transcends space, time, and mortality."

For his part, McNallen says he's "never claimed that non-Europeans cannot practice Asatru. But I wonder why they would want to follow European native religion rather than the entirely valid and worthy native religions of their own ancestors. I wonder what their own ancestors must feel at being slighted so."

So, while the European followers of Asatru worship Thor without the emphasis on racial or ethnic heritage, the Asatrus in America look more like Odinists, who emphasize racial heritage. It all gets kind of confusing. "I feel a bit sorry for both movements," writes Nielsen. "The sources about Old Norse religion were written down after centuries of Christianity, and it is therefore possible to fill in whatever suits you."

The idea has caught on in American prisons. The Holy Nation of Odin, Inc., a non-profit church that worships the Old Norse gods, is run by Casper Crowell from his prison cell in California's maximum-security Corcoran State Prison. Crowell is serving a 54-years-to-life sentence as a California Three Strikes offender, the final strike coming when he shot a man in Palm Springs in 1995.

To join Crowell'sHoly Nation of Odin, Inc., you have to pay $40 membership fees, unless you're incarcerated, in which case it's free. In order to be considered, you must give up drugs (prescriptions are OK), leave your political ideology at home, follow the sacred runes, keep holy the blot, and, oh yeah, be white:

This religion and way of life was indigenous to the peoples of Northern and Western Europe and so it remains so of their descendants today, "us"!

Crowell is a former member of the Aryan Brotherhood. He left because it wasn't as pure as he'd liked. Instead, he turned to the teachings of David Lane, the white nationalist founder of The Order who was serving a 190-year sentence for the 1984 murder of liberal radio host Alan Berg. Lane also infamously coined the term that particulary resonated with Crowell, the so-called Fourteen Words: "We must secure the existence of our people and a future for White Children."

It's not shocking, then, that followers of Odinism aren't known as being the most sterling of citizens. Glenn Cross, the 73-year-old who killed three people at Jewish institutions in Kansas last year, wears a Thor's Hammer medallion. Ryan Giroux, who killed one and wounded five in a shooting spree at an Arizona motel earlier this year, has Thor's Hammer tattooed on his chin. According to some reports, 15 percent of American Odinists are "overtly racist."

It's not so much that the white inmates believe in the religiosity of Odinism as much as they need to be affiliated with religious organizations to be granted certain rights behind bars.

"In jail, registering as Odinist has a different significance," writes Daniel Genis, ex-con-turned-journalist, in an email. "It's important because prisons are compartmentalized for reasons of security and religious callouts are often the only way to see someone from the other side of the joint."


Odin throws his spear at the Vanir host in an illustration by Lorenz Frølich

For all kinds of socioeconomic reasons, prison affiliations tend to fall along racial lines, and each of these groups have their own religious affiliations. Jamaicans and Caribbean-based gangs meet at Rastafarian gatherings. The Latin Kings are members of Santeria. Asians are Buddhist, Russians are Jews, Italians are Catholic. In 2003, the black nationalist group The Five Percenters brand-shifted to the moniker The Nation of Gods and Earths, which allowed African-Americans their own officially-sanctioned prison religion. White prisoners wanted the same type of thing. So, the white prison population took over the only religion they could call their own: "the original, indigenous faith of the English people."

"In theory, becoming an Odinist offers brotherhood, protection, and identity to a white prisoner who can find himself [in] crowds [dominated by] men of a different race," writes Genis. "As familiar as this may be to African Americans, it's new and terrifying to many white convicts."

It also grants the ability to symbolically fight the system: Following a 2005 Supreme Court ruling, Asatru/Odinists are allowed to wear Thor's Hammer pendants around their necks. "Prison offers few chances to express one's identity," writes Genis. "Men fight back with tattoos, which cannot be taken away and hairstyles. The only jewelry allowed are wedding bands and necklaces with religious insignia."

Which is why, every now and then, you'll hear a loud horn blast rattling the cold prison walls before the mead cup is passed, and why prisons are now, if not chock-full (there are no stats kept on inmate religions), then at least somewhat comprised of large, angry, heavily-tattooed white guys wearing necklaces that your precocious pre-teen Avengers fan may have on his Christmas list.

[Poise n Pen]

Sounds like propaganda.

[Kazimiera]

Contra Vitium: How VICE Mischaracterized a Religious Movement

Source: https://heathenharvest.org/2015/05/1...ious-movement/


Thor Battering the Midgard Serpent by Henry Fuseli

How VICE Mischaracterized a Religious Movement Through Poor Research

by Dan Capp

___

Have you ever adored a creature so much you felt like you could smother it to death? If so, you’re not alone—it is a known phenomenon called ‘cute aggression’, apparently, and something similar was portrayed in the classic novel Of Mice and Men. Lennie—a migrant field worker in the story—kills his puppy while stroking it, and then a lady likewise. Lennie’s friend George quickly anticipates the vengeance to come and gives Lennie a painless resolution instead. Lennie’s story is a rather bleak yet philosophical tale I think you’ll agree.

An argument offered in metaphorical form can often cool a heated debate. Trigger words can be more easily avoided, and the opponent is invited to consider one’s point in a more objective sense. Our brief glimpse into Of Mice and Men underlines my metaphor of choice as I attempt to respond to an article which appeared recently in VICE Magazine: How a Thor-Worshipping Religion Turned Racist by Rick Paulas. The writer of that political piece set out to demonstrate the prevalence of racism throughout the Pagan religion which honours the Germanic pantheon of Gods and Goddesses; at moments with sound reason, yet at other times with a degree of slander that can only arise from the depths of a predetermined agenda.

The article which appeared in VICE ultimately dismisses any display of ethnic-exclusivity, for whatever reason, as racist and unacceptable. I know from my own experiences that those who take this position are often genuine, seeking a better world, but I would suggest that they are akin to Lennie in Of Mice and Men; so passionate about diversity that they inadvertently end up killing it. Multiculturalism is a wonderful thing – it maintains the rights of a multitude of rich and beautiful cultures (usually quite ancient) to be preserved. Yet for multiculturalism to succeed, cultures must be allowed to remain in the safe hands of those people who have historically guarded them. In this case, Paganism of the Germanic strain—popularly referred to as ‘Asatru’, ‘Odinism’, or ‘Heathenry’—is under attack for being overtly linked to people of Northern European ancestry.

Rick Paulas rightly identifies certain organisations—often based within the American prison system—as using Heathen symbols, words, and talismans to pursue a specifically political, rather than spiritual, agenda. I have encountered them myself. Some of these groups are undoubtedly populated by men and women who are hatefully racist bordering on violent, and in exposing this the VICE writer has done some justice to the title of his article. Yet there is a contradiction to this—in the author’s own words:

‘It’s not so much that the white inmates believe in the religiosity of Odinism as much as they need to be affiliated with religious organizations to be granted certain rights behind bars.’

You cannot label a religion ‘racist’ and in the same breath suggest that those example racists within it do not actually follow the religion. Any extremist organisation can co-opt a reserved and peaceable belief system, but misdoings should never reflect upon the vehicle, only its driver. We could look at the religion of Islam and how well-meaning Liberals insist that wrongdoings by its adherents do not reflect upon Islam’s teachings. Ironic then that the same people seem intent on giving Heathenry a very different treatment—ready to insist that when unsavoury people misuse its teachings that the religion has then ‘become’ bad. Truthfully, a more fitting title (and focus) of VICE’s exposé should have been: How an Ancient European Religion Was Hijacked by Gangs.

This contradiction is no innocent mistake. The VICE article is not one which adheres to fairness or logic, but is one driven by a deeply pervasive political worldview that attempts to redefine language and perception for its own nefarious purposes. This agenda can be illustrated by the following excerpt:

‘Generally speaking, in this in this context, “folk” actually means “racist”‘


Stephen McNallen with Changes

A ‘folk’ are a definable body of people. In the context of Heathenry ‘folkishness‘ simply refers to those of the religion who hold a decidedly ancestral focus. Despite the kind of misconceptions born by VICE, folkish Heathenry does not imply racial hatred. In its unadulterated form, folkishness would only question why a person would choose to practice an ancestral religion which their ancestors did not, and in order to uphold that position effectively—for the good of all peoples worldwide—would exercise a sensible exclusivity. Stephen McNallen—leader of the Asatru Folk Assembly—is quoted by VICE thusly:

‘I never claimed that non-Europeans cannot practice Asatru. But I wonder why they would want to follow European native religion rather than the entirely valid and worthy native religions of their own ancestors. I wonder what their own ancestors must feel at being slighted so.’

This, apparently, is racism. We’re supposed to believe that there is no essential difference between the overtly violent, racial hate of some prison gangs and the worldview of a man who has risked life and limb for the natives of Burma, Tibet, India, and Africa (as his Wikipedia entry attests to). Stephen McNallen has his fair share of critics and their accusations generally centre around two things: his associations with people who hold political ideologies considered to be unacceptable, and his unapologetically folkish approach to religion (which is what VICE’s attack on Heathenry is really all about). We live in an age of fractured ideologies—seemingly a new belief system for every dozen believers. The strong man or woman must therefore be capable of finding common ground with those whose beliefs they do not entirely share, free from guilt-by-association. Not so, according to some. Apparently we’re all empty vessels waiting to be infected by the irrational hatred held by those we communicate with.

The only sense that can be gleaned from this kind of schizophrenia—whereby interracial philanthropy and mindless hate are tarred with the same brush—is that it all boils down to how we define ‘racism’. Despite needing to invoke examples of undeniable racial hatred—mainly confined to prison gangs—Rick Paulas badly wants his readers to believe that an innocent and timeless conception of exclusivity is some kind of evil that can only lead to strife. Meanwhile organisations, religions, and charities exclusive to people not of European origin exist in vast numbers across the Western world. I don’t imagine VICE will be flinging the ‘R’ word at many of them, but hey ho… At the risk of presuming to know what Paulas’ specific views are, people with similar gripes all-too-often operate a double-standard when it comes to issues of ethnic identity. The pride expressed by minorities is interpreted as hate when similarly expressed by a white majority, and this would suggest that the freedom to uphold one’s ancestral ways is determined by whether one is deemed to be a member of the dominant group in society or not. But Heathens are not a dominant group! Our ways are more endangered than many minority religions, and will become increasingly under threat if subjected to this type of dismemberment.


Danish Children in Traditional Dress

If you claim to favour the global patchwork that is multiculturalism then you cannot set about removing chosen patches from that quilt. You also cannot take it upon yourself to redefine any of those patches lest the cultures that they represent have set out to harm you—and even then you’ll be fighting the force of a million forefathers who have slowly woven that world for their descendents. This goes for any folk around the world—all of whom deserve control over the culture of their ancestors. In practical terms this control may manifest as a sense of exclusivity, but consider this: exclusivity maintains the boundary between one thing and another—forest and field; football and rugby; public and private. It is no more hateful an act than it would be to reject D♯ from a musical composition in the key of A-minor.

There is a famous quote: ‘If every man is my friend then no man is my friend.’

My editor and I felt compelled to challenge VICE on this subject precisely because the opening argument too often goes unchallenged. There is a lengthy debate raging out there as to why that is, but suffice it to say the precepts VICE put forth are handed down from above, academically and legally sanctioned in most cases. They are the precepts of a society which does not understand tribal spirituality and so projects all kinds of monsters onto it to keep onlookers at bay. Furthermore, the VICE article in question may well be intended as ‘clickbait’—a deliberately controversial piece which attracts enough attention to keep site-advertisers happy. It is a distinct possibility.

‘Bandy no speech with a bad man:
Often the better is beaten
In a word fight by the worse.’

—The Hávamál

This passage from the realm of Heathen lore is gnomic advice that I may wish I had heeded. Then again, those responsible for the VICE article probably aren’t bad men. They are likely just products of an era in which words are being redefined and perceptions skewed for the sake of the prevailing political ideology. That said. we at the Heathen Harvest Periodical enjoy demonstrating that we are not afraid of the dark, so to speak (and no, that’s not a deliberate pun). Musically we challenge the merit of mainstream music, where needed, and intellectually we challenge the politicisation of art and culture. On this occasion we deemed it necessary.

If and when diversity dies, those who unknowingly slaughtered it may wish that someone had attempted to stop them, particularly if it turns out—as is the case with Lennie in Of Mice and Men—that the unwitting killer is mentally limited.

[JMack]

Shitty leftist article.

Every people has the right to maintain their traditions. If were negroes doing this these VICE leftist cucks would be celebrating 'diversity'.

[Harkonnen]

For some reason a Catholic or Amish has a right to say, I will only marry a Catholic or a Amish.

[Kazimiera]

Shitty leftist article.

Every people has the right to maintain their traditions. If were negroes doing this these VICE leftist cucks would be celebrating 'diversity'.

That is why I posted the second article below it. For perspective.

[Poise n Pen]

Going back to pagan religions is some silly shit on the surface, but that is more true to their roots I guess. And really christianity is based on indo-european religions anyway.