Do Heathen/Asatru consider themselves "seperate" from Pagans?

Answer 1

Some do just as some members of all Pagan religions do.If you take the term Pagan technically they are Pagan but that doesn't mean they have to think of themselves that way.

They are a continuance of 1 of the many Pagan religions that never totally died out,I am a Celtic Pagan and our religion was never totally destroyed either.So in that sense we are different from neo-Pagan religions like Wicca.Religion is complicated.

Answer 2

From a practical basis, the Heathen/Asatru should be kept separate from other Pagan groups, because their traditions are more established in an ancestral, tribal kind of faith. The ancestral component of their beliefs make them similar to Native American spirituality.

There is a lot of established historical and archaeological input to the Asatru/Heathen traditions. Moreover, in some parts of Scandinavia the "old Ways" or Forn Sidr did not pass away, so in a sense, there was not need to even reconstruct it.

When Heathens/Asatru are generalized as Pagans, there is a tendency to consider them to be a kind of "Norse Wicca," which they are not. While there are a few common themes, the Asatru philosophies and beliefs are vastly different from those of Wicca. What Asatru/Heathens find really annoying is when Wicca practices get slapped with a thin veneer of Norse flavor and are passed off as "Asatru." This tendency toward the eclectic in Wicca and other neo-Pagans tends to cause the serious Asatru/heathen to keep their distance from the other pagans.

Answer 3

yes we do, we are considered by some a reconstructionist religion, but how can you reconstruct something that never was truly de-constructed? It simply went underground, being passed on along familial lines, especially in Scandanavian countries. In the states it emerged around the 70's so even calling it a ::shudder:: neo-pagan religion is false.

Most pagans are soft polytheists, believing all deities are a manifestation of a singular energy, we heathens do not, most if not all of us are hard polytheists. Our gods are our Elder kin, each with their own individual personalities.Odin is Odin, Thor is Thor and so on. We also know how our ancestors lived through the lore we have and try to live thay way in a modern era. I am not saying all pagan religions are made up, but we heathens have a rich history, both written and oral to go by.

We know it was not only a real religion, but a real way of life, a unique worldview and one we are proud and honored to continue.

pagan is an umbrella term, heathens may be "under' that term, but we are UNIQUELY different.


EDIT:"Every belief system considers those who have different beliefs to be "pagan"."

What????? Since when do pagans consider kristjans/jews/muslims/buddhists/etc. pagan?

last time I checked theyw ere considered their respective religion, it is anyone outside the Big 3 that the term pagan gets pasted upon.

Answer 4

For the most part yes. I will admit that Heathenism/Asatru is a Pagan religion in one sense, but not in most others. Wicca was invented or pieced together in the 1940's; Heathen religion is a reasonably accurate reconstruction of an actual historical religion. Heathens tend to be well to the right politically and socially than Pagans. For instance, I'm a registered Republican who is pro-gun, pro-military for the most part, pro-hunter....I'm not out of place in the Heathen community but the larger Pagan community sees me as a right-wing nut job so I keep a polite distance. Jordsvin GOP

Answer 5

I know a good many who consider themselves very seperate from the neo-pagan/wiccan movement, but not the recon movement. Just depends on which Heathen you ask.

As almost every Heathen has told me "Put 10 Heathens in a room together and you 11 different answers" LOL

Answer 6

It depends on how you define pagan. If you take it to mean any non-Abrahamic religion, then yes, Asatruar consider themselves pagan. If you mean pagan as a synonym for Wicca or the neo-pagan movement then the answer would be no. Asatru is an independent religion not linked to Wicca or other neo-pagan movements.

Answer 7

Not the ones I know. They consider themselves within the same grouping as other neo-pagan and recconstructionist religions.

Answer 8

I know some do.
I do, inasmuch as it's a separate religion than any other pagan religions, which can be said about EVERY pagan religion.

EDIT:
Jordsvin... I'm Libertarian, which has been described as so far right that the GOP looks like socialists. ;)

Answer 9

Every belief system considers those who have different beliefs to be "pagan". Muslims consider Christians to be pagans, Christians consider Hindus to be pagans, Hindus consider Jews to be pagans, Jews consider Wiccans to be pagan, and Wiccans think the Muslims are pagans. Pagan is a word used to describe those on the outside.

Answer 10

no not really.

I am Pagan.
In some eyes I am a heathen.

Thats fine with me.