What's the deal with Asatru?

Question

I thought I was reasonably well versed with different pagan beliefs. As I'm searching to find my place (which I'm beginning to wonder if there is one), I've looked at a bunch of beliefs... but I've only heard of Asatru recently, and at that, only on YA.

So I'm curious. What's the deal with Asatru? Is it some recent thing? I feel monotheism is right, so I wouldn't ascribe to it, but there are a lot of things people said about it that appeal.

Answer 1

Asatru was founded in the mid 1970s by 2 men, one in Texas, one in Northern Europe. They felt there had to be a path for Northern European oriented viewpoints among pagans - honor, courage, loyalty, etc. Slowly Asatru - Aesir True slowly developed into a thriving religion in the 1980s to the present, ever growing.

Asatru is a belief in the Aesir, Vanir and wights and other beings of the Northern European/Anglo Saxon myths and legends. We hold to Noble Virtues - living honorably and trying to follow the following virtues: Freedom, Tolerance, Boldness/Courage, Self Rule, Moderation, Steadfastness, Generosity, Truth, Hospitality, Justice, Family Responsibility/ Community, Honor, industriousness, Strength, Troth/ Loyalty, Self Reliance, Wisdom.

There are some basic difference between Wiccan, general paganism and Asatru - which I can go into more depth, if you'd like.

Some of our deities are: Odin, Thor, Frigga, Freya, Freyr, Sif, Uller, Skaldi, Nerthus, and many more. We believe the deities are separate entities and not "aspects" of a divine male/female cosmic creator.

The realms are divided into nine world - Earth (Midgard) being one. After death a person goes to their patron god's hall if they've led an outstanding life, a peaceful rest if they haven't won a place in the hall. Those that live dishonorably end up in the River of Knives.

Let's see - what else..... we like meat (most of us, a rare Viking vegetarian does exist), mead (fermented honey), ale or cider in rituals.

Rituals are called Blots, ceremonial toasting rounds are called a sumbel. The altar is a harrow...... we don't think a Thor's Hammer is a ritual tool but we use it to identify ourselves to our gods and to each other (most do)

Answer 2

Asatru is a reconstruction of Norse beliefs that's been around for about 100 years. Read some Norse Eddas and Sagas and you'll find the base scriptures out of which Asatru followers recreate their religion.

Answer 3

Actually, Asatru had been around for a long time. It was officially recognized here in the US, in England and in Iceland back in 1973 and has been steadily growing ever since. One reason that so many are unaware of it is that most non-Asatruar don't like to talk about it because of the connecition in their minds of things Germanic/Nordic/Teutonic to racism and there are far too many that are unable to get past that stigma.

Add to that the fact that the majority of pagans that get the press are not nordic and prefess to be representative of what ALL pagans are and theinformation just seems to ge lost in the shuffle.

Answer 4

1) Asatru is about Family? yes 2) There are not really gods and goddesses. yes there is. They are just the anthropomorphic representations of the forces and Laws of Nature, and moral teachings. To some people they might say yes to this too. (Wotan was an exiled tribal leader who sacrificed himself to the self above him [Higher Self]... and later deified after his death? this is a answer you could find out for yourself in the eddas. 3) Were the Norse customs the same regarding male and female (I mean, I know that it was a Patriarchal Society, but, were women equal socially)? yes 4) When were the Nine Noble virtues made? (I find them listed on every site dealing with Asatru-but not actually listed as such individually in the Eddas)? I believe they are about thiry years old but the general out line of the nine noble virtues is in your havamal and stories of beowulf and sigurd. The 9 noble virtues is like the tenets/laws we live by. 5) Same with the Six-fold Path? I would have to say my answer for this is the same as your forth question. the 6 fold goal is a day to day thing we work.

Answer 5

Asatru is a reconstruction religion based on Norse Viking religions ( I think formed in the 60s )
it is taken from the information found in the Eddas ... which is some pieces of poetry , as there isnt a lot of information out there other than this on Viking beliefs
http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/pagantraditions/p/Asatru.htm

http://www.blessingscornucopia.com/Heathenry_Heathen_Asatru_Troth_Eddas_Mythos_and_Way_of_Troth.htm

Answer 6

Asatru is older than almost all of the modern Pagan religions, dating back to the 19th century, IIRC.

http://www.irminsul.org/ is a good resource....at least it was many years ago.
One of our local Asatruar will correct me if I'm wrong, I'm sure.

Answer 7

No, I don't think it's recent, but I'm sure Frau will be able to answer your questions if she sees this. Or Heathen Daughter for that matter. I didn't delve tooooooo deep into Asatru while I was studying paganism.


EDIT: Ooooh, see I was wrong... It WAS more recent!! LOL... whoopsy.... I think I was thinking about it's earlier roots when I said that....

Answer 8

other answer is correct (I'm not looking for points)

One reason you may not have heard of it though is that they disassociate themselves from "Pagans" they generally use the term Heathen.. (some even get mad if you connect them in any way with the word Pagan)