Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 1, No. 2, 2002, Page 25
of his death was adorned by the sun-cross. (AFA Community Update, May
31, 2001)
The lack of knowledge among American Ásatrú regarding the murder of such a prominent
figure in the revitalization of the faith in the system‘s homeland is expressive of the general
lack of community and consensus within and among the same. Moreover, Agnarsson‘s
obituary was significant in that it was the first obituary bearing the mark of the Ásatrú
―Othin‘s Cross,‖ rather than the Christian/Lutheran mark of a cross.
Conclusion
Ásatrú is the revived faith of prehistoric Northern Europe and is theologically and
ideologically separate and distinct from Odinism. Emerging in America in the 1970s, while
simultaneously re-emerging in Iceland, Ásatrú is a polytheistic religion that has enjoyed a
healthy rebirth but has not yet been able to secure a firm grounding in traditional American
society. For this reason, some Ásatrúar cling to conspiratorial ideations that border on
paranoia. This is complicated by the affiliation of some Ásatrúar with racialist and culturally-
deviant groups, which can likely further ostracize Ásatrú within American society. Such
alienation may then lead to a cultic ―us-versus-them‖ mentality. Valgard Murray seems
unable to separate from the influence of prior racialist and Odinistic affiliations, judging by
his above-mentioned quotes regarding the FBI‘s Project Megiddo. It would be a tragic
occurrence in the history of a struggling faith if Murray‘s paranoia were to evolve into that
which plagued the late Jim Jones, who ―viewed anyone who defected from or criticized the
People‘s Temple as part of a conspiracy aimed at destroying him and his mission‖
(Goldberg, 1983, p. 174). Unfortunately, the omens of such a transformation and the
ingredients of its cultic equation appear to be portentously present in certain Ásatrú circles.
References
Anschütz, A., &Hunt, S. (1997, Samhain). Call us heathens. Pagan Dawn, 125, 17-19.
Aryan Nations Church. (2001). The church of the aryan nation. Retrieved from the World
Wide Web February 14, 2001. http://www.nidlink.com/~aryanvic/index-E-
Print.html.
Asatru Folk Assembly. (2001). Asatru/odinism: A briefing for law enforcement officials.
Retrieved from the World Wide Web February 19, 2001:
http://www.runestone.org/lep2.html
Becka, H. (2001). Pair may be ‗higher threat‘. The Dallas Morning News, January 23,
2001. Retrieved February 19, 2001:
http://www.dallasnews.com/national/269131_twolarge_23met.html.
Boyle, J.J. (1995). Killer cults. New York: St. Martin‘s Press.
Brown, A. (1999). What is the order? Some say hate group still exists. Retrieved from
the World Wide Web February 14, 2001:
http://www.abcnews.go.com/onair/CloserLook.
Byock, J. (1988). Medieval iceland: Society, sagas, and power. Los Angeles: University of
California Press.
Center for Studies on New Religions (CESNUR). (1999, November 10) CESNUR updates on
FBI and project megiddo. Retrieved February 5, 2001, from the World Wide Web:
http://www.cesnur.org/testi/FBI_007.htm.
Davidson, H. R. E. (1988). Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe: Early Scandanavian and
Celtic Religions. Syracuse, New York: Syracuse University Press.
Fabian, J. (1983). Anthropological approaches to religious movement. In D. Halperin (Ed.),
Psychodynamic perspectives on religion, sect and cult (pp. 131-162). Boston: John
Wright.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). (1999). Project megiddo. Washington, D.C.:
Author.
of his death was adorned by the sun-cross. (AFA Community Update, May
31, 2001)
The lack of knowledge among American Ásatrú regarding the murder of such a prominent
figure in the revitalization of the faith in the system‘s homeland is expressive of the general
lack of community and consensus within and among the same. Moreover, Agnarsson‘s
obituary was significant in that it was the first obituary bearing the mark of the Ásatrú
―Othin‘s Cross,‖ rather than the Christian/Lutheran mark of a cross.
Conclusion
Ásatrú is the revived faith of prehistoric Northern Europe and is theologically and
ideologically separate and distinct from Odinism. Emerging in America in the 1970s, while
simultaneously re-emerging in Iceland, Ásatrú is a polytheistic religion that has enjoyed a
healthy rebirth but has not yet been able to secure a firm grounding in traditional American
society. For this reason, some Ásatrúar cling to conspiratorial ideations that border on
paranoia. This is complicated by the affiliation of some Ásatrúar with racialist and culturally-
deviant groups, which can likely further ostracize Ásatrú within American society. Such
alienation may then lead to a cultic ―us-versus-them‖ mentality. Valgard Murray seems
unable to separate from the influence of prior racialist and Odinistic affiliations, judging by
his above-mentioned quotes regarding the FBI‘s Project Megiddo. It would be a tragic
occurrence in the history of a struggling faith if Murray‘s paranoia were to evolve into that
which plagued the late Jim Jones, who ―viewed anyone who defected from or criticized the
People‘s Temple as part of a conspiracy aimed at destroying him and his mission‖
(Goldberg, 1983, p. 174). Unfortunately, the omens of such a transformation and the
ingredients of its cultic equation appear to be portentously present in certain Ásatrú circles.
References
Anschütz, A., &Hunt, S. (1997, Samhain). Call us heathens. Pagan Dawn, 125, 17-19.
Aryan Nations Church. (2001). The church of the aryan nation. Retrieved from the World
Wide Web February 14, 2001. http://www.nidlink.com/~aryanvic/index-E-
Print.html.
Asatru Folk Assembly. (2001). Asatru/odinism: A briefing for law enforcement officials.
Retrieved from the World Wide Web February 19, 2001:
http://www.runestone.org/lep2.html
Becka, H. (2001). Pair may be ‗higher threat‘. The Dallas Morning News, January 23,
2001. Retrieved February 19, 2001:
http://www.dallasnews.com/national/269131_twolarge_23met.html.
Boyle, J.J. (1995). Killer cults. New York: St. Martin‘s Press.
Brown, A. (1999). What is the order? Some say hate group still exists. Retrieved from
the World Wide Web February 14, 2001:
http://www.abcnews.go.com/onair/CloserLook.
Byock, J. (1988). Medieval iceland: Society, sagas, and power. Los Angeles: University of
California Press.
Center for Studies on New Religions (CESNUR). (1999, November 10) CESNUR updates on
FBI and project megiddo. Retrieved February 5, 2001, from the World Wide Web:
http://www.cesnur.org/testi/FBI_007.htm.
Davidson, H. R. E. (1988). Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe: Early Scandanavian and
Celtic Religions. Syracuse, New York: Syracuse University Press.
Fabian, J. (1983). Anthropological approaches to religious movement. In D. Halperin (Ed.),
Psychodynamic perspectives on religion, sect and cult (pp. 131-162). Boston: John
Wright.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). (1999). Project megiddo. Washington, D.C.:
Author.
