Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 1, No. 2, 2002, Page 13
This paper will deal with three general areas: a definition of terms specific to the topic, the
history of modern Ásatrú, and an examination of its cultic, exploitative, and altogether
ersatz deviations and derivations.
Definitions
This section will endeavor to define and distinguish three sets of terms: Ásatrú, Odinism,
and Reconstructionalism the Aesir, Asynjor and Vanir and Vinland.
Asatru, Odinism, and Reconstructionalism
The term Ásatrú is contemporary Icelandic. Phonetically pronounced au•sah•trü, this term
is composed of the Old Norse words ása (referring to the Aesir pantheon), and tru (meaning
faith or religious belief). ―Asatru, in its broadest sense means ‗the religion of the Germanic
gods‘, and in a narrower sense means ‗faith in the Aesir‘‖ (Anschutz &Hunt, 1997, p. 17).
The Aesir pantheon will be discussed and defined below. The term Ásatrúar (or the less
common Asafolk) refers to individuals who practice Ásatrú.
For the purpose of this discussion, the term Ásatrú will be used to denote the modern
religious practice of belief in and worship of the Aesir pantheon. Many Ásatrúar would
disagree with the use of this term. For example, Grauwolf, co-Gothi of the Wolfgar
Freehold, ―a small, yet growing, independent Kindred‖ in Montana, explains that:
it is our feeling that over the years the term ―Asatru‖: has become, for most,
little more than a convenient catch phrase...we prefer to refer to our faith as
―The Religion of Our Traditional Northern Heritage‖...preferable to the
stewpot labeled ―Asatru.‖ (personal communication, February 17, 2001)
Continuing this disparity, HeimdallR hinn gamli, the ―presiding Elder, Society for the Elder
Way, Samfundet for den Forna Seden USA, Inc.‖ reports:
I do not use the term ―asatru‖ to describe my personal religious
beliefs...because ―asatru‖ is a misnomer, ―not the correct name‖ this is a
word used by the Icelandic Government in 1972 and which the Icelandic co-
religious community freely admits they are stuck with. Forn Sed© is the
―correct linguistic‖ term describing those who follow the ―old traditions.‖
(personal communication, February 5, 2001)
Though respecting those who may disagree, this discussion will use the term Ásatrú to
encompass practitioners who have diversified themselves under several different labels,
including but not limited to Northern Tradition, Norse Tradition, Neo-Paganism, Germanic or
Teutonic Paganism, Elder Troth, and Heathenry (also Northern or Germanic Heathenry). It
is important to note that the use of this term will be limited to those who practice religious
devotion to the Aesir. In order to draw proper distinctions, and with apologies to those who
would object, the term Odinism will be used in reference to Far Right, white supremacist, or
domestic terrorist deviations and perversions of Ásatrú. While Odinistic practices will be
discussed in detail below under a separate heading, a brief definition will help to illustrate
the distinction.
Odinism, as used in this paper, refers to a racist offshoot of Ásatrú thought. It is a
perversion of true Ásatrú belief in that it incorporates tenets found in Christian Identity,
British Israelism, and other strains of Judeo-Christian influenced white supremacy,
demonstrated especially in its Millenarian outlook. Kaplan quite excellently further explores
these distinctions:
Odinists, like Ásatrúers, posit the tribal ethos of Germany and Scandanavia...
however, the Odinist seeks to reconstitute that golden time virtually
unchanged in the postapocalyptic modern world. The Odinist dream is of
This paper will deal with three general areas: a definition of terms specific to the topic, the
history of modern Ásatrú, and an examination of its cultic, exploitative, and altogether
ersatz deviations and derivations.
Definitions
This section will endeavor to define and distinguish three sets of terms: Ásatrú, Odinism,
and Reconstructionalism the Aesir, Asynjor and Vanir and Vinland.
Asatru, Odinism, and Reconstructionalism
The term Ásatrú is contemporary Icelandic. Phonetically pronounced au•sah•trü, this term
is composed of the Old Norse words ása (referring to the Aesir pantheon), and tru (meaning
faith or religious belief). ―Asatru, in its broadest sense means ‗the religion of the Germanic
gods‘, and in a narrower sense means ‗faith in the Aesir‘‖ (Anschutz &Hunt, 1997, p. 17).
The Aesir pantheon will be discussed and defined below. The term Ásatrúar (or the less
common Asafolk) refers to individuals who practice Ásatrú.
For the purpose of this discussion, the term Ásatrú will be used to denote the modern
religious practice of belief in and worship of the Aesir pantheon. Many Ásatrúar would
disagree with the use of this term. For example, Grauwolf, co-Gothi of the Wolfgar
Freehold, ―a small, yet growing, independent Kindred‖ in Montana, explains that:
it is our feeling that over the years the term ―Asatru‖: has become, for most,
little more than a convenient catch phrase...we prefer to refer to our faith as
―The Religion of Our Traditional Northern Heritage‖...preferable to the
stewpot labeled ―Asatru.‖ (personal communication, February 17, 2001)
Continuing this disparity, HeimdallR hinn gamli, the ―presiding Elder, Society for the Elder
Way, Samfundet for den Forna Seden USA, Inc.‖ reports:
I do not use the term ―asatru‖ to describe my personal religious
beliefs...because ―asatru‖ is a misnomer, ―not the correct name‖ this is a
word used by the Icelandic Government in 1972 and which the Icelandic co-
religious community freely admits they are stuck with. Forn Sed© is the
―correct linguistic‖ term describing those who follow the ―old traditions.‖
(personal communication, February 5, 2001)
Though respecting those who may disagree, this discussion will use the term Ásatrú to
encompass practitioners who have diversified themselves under several different labels,
including but not limited to Northern Tradition, Norse Tradition, Neo-Paganism, Germanic or
Teutonic Paganism, Elder Troth, and Heathenry (also Northern or Germanic Heathenry). It
is important to note that the use of this term will be limited to those who practice religious
devotion to the Aesir. In order to draw proper distinctions, and with apologies to those who
would object, the term Odinism will be used in reference to Far Right, white supremacist, or
domestic terrorist deviations and perversions of Ásatrú. While Odinistic practices will be
discussed in detail below under a separate heading, a brief definition will help to illustrate
the distinction.
Odinism, as used in this paper, refers to a racist offshoot of Ásatrú thought. It is a
perversion of true Ásatrú belief in that it incorporates tenets found in Christian Identity,
British Israelism, and other strains of Judeo-Christian influenced white supremacy,
demonstrated especially in its Millenarian outlook. Kaplan quite excellently further explores
these distinctions:
Odinists, like Ásatrúers, posit the tribal ethos of Germany and Scandanavia...
however, the Odinist seeks to reconstitute that golden time virtually
unchanged in the postapocalyptic modern world. The Odinist dream is of
