Posted by Sigfather I was raised in a mixed Roman Catholic / agnostic atmosphere, but for the last 10 years, I've been a practicioner of Asatru, a Northern European religion that worships the Scandinavian / Germanic pantheon of gods and goddesses (Odin, Thor, Freya, etc), our ancestors, and the various land wights and spirits. Yep, I'm a heathen.

Some of the best parties I've been to have been thrown by Odinists (which is what the ones I know call themselves), that the same thing?

It actually depends on who you talk to. Some people assume Odinists are closer to "Wotanists" and that the term denotes a more racist subgroup of Asatru (kind of like Christians have those Christian Identity guys). The organization that I belong to, the Asatru Folk Assembly, doesn't really place any emphasis on either term, except that people tend to shy away from "Odinist" because it implies that Odin is our god of choice, when we actually worship all of the gods and goddesses. Hence the term Asatru, which translated from Icelandic literally means "true to the gods".

*edit - And yes, we do throw kickass parties.

Posted by Sigfather It actually depends on who you talk to. Some people assume Odinists are closer to "Wotanists" and that the term denotes a more racist subgroup of Asatru (kind of like Christians have those Christian Identity guys). The organization that I belong to, the Asatru Folk Assembly, doesn't really place any emphasis on either term, except that people tend to shy away from "Odinist" because it implies that Odin is our god of choice, when we actually worship all of the gods and goddesses. Hence the term Asatru, which translated from Icelandic literally means "true to the gods". *edit - And yes, we do throw kickass parties.

Sounds interesting.

Posted by Oryx Sounds interesting.

If there's anything you want to know, feel free to ask away. I'm more than happy to talk to people about my religion.

Posted by Sigfather It actually depends on who you talk to. Some people assume Odinists are closer to "Wotanists" and that the term denotes a more racist subgroup of Asatru (kind of like Christians have those Christian Identity guys).*edit - And yes, we do throw kickass parties.

Well I'm pretty sure these ones aren't racists, one of them is married to a hot asian girl. And several (male and female) are either bi or gay. Though they do seem to focus mostly on Odin with other deities brought in when their areas of interest are the main point of the ceremony (I'm kinda guessing here, so cut me some slack if my terminology is bad. I normally don't show up for the rituals that precede the party unless they need me to help set up stuff.)

Posted by underdark Well I'm pretty sure these ones aren't racists, one of them is married to a hot asian girl. And several (male and female) are either bi or gay......

Yep, that's pretty much what I mean. A lot of terms (Odinism, Wotanism, Asatru, etc) can be used interchangeably, but due to the efforts of some over-zealous rights groups, a number of those terms have become wrongly associated with racism.

Posted by Sigfather It actually depends on who you talk to. Some people assume Odinists are closer to "Wotanists" and that the term denotes a more racist subgroup of Asatru (kind of like Christians have those Christian Identity guys). The organization that I belong to, the Asatru Folk Assembly, doesn't really place any emphasis on either term, except that people tend to shy away from "Odinist" because it implies that Odin is our god of choice, when we actually worship all of the gods and goddesses. Hence the term Asatru, which translated from Icelandic literally means "true to the gods". *edit - And yes, we do throw kickass parties.

I went to an Asatru meet and greet once. Great people and a mix from all walks of life/professions. The homemade mead was excellent.

I haven't really read much into Asatru. Main thing I keep hearing is how racism is prevalent. But that's what I heard on a TV show. TV isn't exactly a truth box. Still seems interesting though.

Any recommended books/websites?

Posted by Oryx Any recommended books/websites?

Well, as a member of the Asatru Folk Assembly, I would be somewhat remiss if I didn't talk it up a little. Their website can be found at: www.runestone.org

"New to Asatru" website: http://www.erichsh...sanew/newtotru.htm

Wiki: http://en.wikipedi...rmanic_Neopaganism

As far as books, primarily our basic beliefs are based off of surviving documents and books from the pre-Christian period of European history. The Poetic Edda, and the Prose Edda, both recorded by Snorri Sturluson in the 11th century, outline a good deal of the myths and beliefs that the ancient Europeans had about the gods and their faith.

Also helpful are a variety of books on various topics, from history to runelore (if working with the runes appeals to you). A search on Amazon for Asatru will bring up a ton of stuff. Personal recommendation, if you're interested in reading about Asatru, stay away from books by Galina Kraskova or Raven Kaldera. Their faith is a synthesis of Wicca, Asatru, and New Age faiths, and doesn't really resemble Asatru except superficially.

Definitely a longer reply than I thought it would be, but everybody says "Asatru is the religion with homework"!

Posted by Sigfather Well, as a member of the Asatru Folk Assembly, I would be somewhat remiss if I didn't talk it up a little. Their website can be found at: www.runestone.org "New to Asatru" website: http://www.erichsh...sanew/newtotru.htm Wiki: http://en.wikipedi...rmanic_Neopaganism As far as books, primarily our basic beliefs are based off of surviving documents and books from the pre-Christian period of European history. The Poetic Edda, and the Prose Edda, both recorded by Snorri Sturluson in the 11th century, outline a good deal of the myths and beliefs that the ancient Europeans had about the gods and their faith. Also helpful are a variety of books on various topics, from history to runelore (if working with the runes appeals to you). A search on Amazon for Asatru will bring up a ton of stuff. Personal recommendation, if you're interested in reading about Asatru, stay away from books by Galina Kraskova or Raven Kaldera. Their faith is a synthesis of Wicca, Asatru, and New Age faiths, and doesn't really resemble Asatru except superficially. Definitely a longer reply than I thought it would be, but everybody says "Asatru is the religion with homework"!

Nice thanks. I was really hoping wicca played little part in it. From what I read of Wicca, it's all dumbed down and regurgitated. The fact that Asatru is "a religion with homework" appeals to me even more. Occultish things fascinate me since there's SOOO MUCH to it all.

Posted by Sigfather Well, as a member of the Asatru Folk Assembly, I would be somewhat remiss if I didn't talk it up a little. Their website can be found at: www.runestone.org "New to Asatru" website: http://www.erichsh...sanew/newtotru.htm Wiki: http://en.wikipedi...rmanic_Neopaganism As far as books, primarily our basic beliefs are based off of surviving documents and books from the pre-Christian period of European history. The Poetic Edda, and the Prose Edda, both recorded by Snorri Sturluson in the 11th century, outline a good deal of the myths and beliefs that the ancient Europeans had about the gods and their faith. Also helpful are a variety of books on various topics, from history to runelore (if working with the runes appeals to you). A search on Amazon for Asatru will bring up a ton of stuff. Personal recommendation, if you're interested in reading about Asatru, stay away from books by Galina Kraskova or Raven Kaldera. Their faith is a synthesis of Wicca, Asatru, and New Age faiths, and doesn't really resemble Asatru except superficially. Definitely a longer reply than I thought it would be, but everybody says "Asatru is the religion with homework"!

What do you think about the books by Stephen Flowers/Edred Thorsson?

Well, I don't claim to be an authority, but I own copies of Runelore and Northern Magic, and I found them both to be, on average, pretty informative. Not everything in Northern Magic applies, but for an overview of seidr and rune-work, his stuff is pretty dependable.

I've heard it said that the religions of the current age are the literary entertainment of the next. So I'm laughing at you pagans.

paganism is dead, the new paganism is based on hearsay, conjecture, philosophy, and the occult.

Posted by Planar I've heard it said that the religions of the current age are the literary entertainment of the next. So I'm laughing at you pagans.

Laugh all you like. But I want you to know who you are laughing at. Now, Go define pagan. What does that mean to you?

Pagan technically just means many gods right?

Posted by Oryx Pagan technically just means many gods right?

Pagan, in a Judeo-Christian context, usually means any religion that is non-Abrahamic (i.e., not Jewish, Christian or Muslim). So that would include Hindu, etc. in paganism.

Posted by Oryx Pagan technically just means many gods right?

More or less.

Which means to make fun of "pagans" is to make fun of a whole host of spiritual practices that are not burning candles and saying silly words. Not all pagans were all black, make-up, and pentagrams. That said, I'm completely for people dressing that way. It's a easy way of knowing that said person is fucking retarded.

Posted by dirt Not all pagans were all black, make-up, and pentagrams. That said, I'm completely for people dressing that way. It's a easy way of knowing that said person is fucking retarded.

Lol I wish this was just a stereotype. Last time I visited the new age section at B&N there was a small group of 13 year olds wearing slipknot shirts, huge pentagrams, heavy black eyeliner, and talking about summoning demons from the necronomicon. I'm not even exaggerating.

Posted by Oryx Lol I wish this was just a stereotype. Last time I visited the new age section at B&N there was a small group of 13 year olds wearing slipknot shirts, huge pentagrams, heavy black eyeliner, and talking about summoning demons from the necronomicon. I'm not even exaggerating.

Lawlz. I went through that stage when I was 13. I tried to summon the spirit of Kurt Cobain in my parent's basement and got so freaked out that I threw away the book I had and never touched the stuff again.