Odinists

[chox]

I read this wierd thing that said odinists were pagan and athiest at the same time. Dosent make much sense to me.

[Dreamweaver]

Odinism, or Asatru, is the belief in worshipping the gods and godesses of Norse mythology. I wouldn't consider them athiests, since they certainly believe in in form of god(s).

[Cathurian]

Except Odinism is white supremacist style.

[Sanvean]

Err, right.... I dated a practioner of Asatru once, and he would have been horrified at being called an Odinist.

[Cathurian]

Yeah. Because Odinism = racism.

Asatru, while pagan...isn't racist.

[Sanvean]

I'm quite aware, although I would note that even within Asatru there is a large white-supremacist community, of sorts, who would in no way shape or form consider themselves Odinists. Just as there *Are* non-racist Odinists... like everything else within the big pagan umbrella, *nothing* is simple.

Heh. We made quite the couple back then... a Slavic Reconstructionist and an Asatruer. Yes, we were one quirky couple of heathens.

Edited March 27, 2005 by Sanvean

[Sanvean]

OK. I suppose I should give a clarification, since it's really not fair to claim that Odinists are racist as a whole(and, in fact, the term *does* refer to the same "religion").

The term Asatru tends to be much more accurate, as Heathens of the Northern traditions tend to worship gods from both the Vanir and the Aesir. The term Odhinnist implies worship of only Odin. Roughly translated from Old Norse, Asatru means "to worship the Aesir."

That said, in the 1930's, Adolf Hitler and his National Socialist Party did attempt to co-opt Norse mythology in order to gain support of Germany's indigenous people.
Today, many other misguided people attempt to do the same. The ridiculous "white-power" Odinists go against the basic principles of honour and integrity dear to the Asatru/Odinist Alliance.

Regardless, to call onself an Asatruer and *not* worship the old gods is... contradictory at best.

[Socrates]

Many modern neo-pagans, I think, can be both atheist and pagan. Some are atheist, beleiving in no actual God, while worshipping "gods" as symbols they do not really believe in.

Modern neo-paganism is largely practiced as a reaction against Christianity, a kind of "religion for the godless," rather than a genuine religion.

[Melchisedec]

[quote name='Socrates' date='Mar 28 2005, 01:26 PM'] Many modern neo-pagans, I think, can be both atheist and pagan. Some are atheist, beleiving in no actual God, while worshipping "gods" as symbols they do not really believe in.

Modern neo-paganism is largely practiced as a reaction against Christianity, a kind of "religion for the godless," rather than a genuine religion. [/quote]
While they may believe in the power that resides in the symbols of these gods. The very practice contradicts atheism. Worshiping these gods while even still not believe in their existence is still under the theism umbrella.

[burnsspivey]

[quote name='Melchisedec' date='Mar 28 2005, 03:12 PM'] While they may believe in the power that resides in the symbols of these gods. The very practice contradicts atheism. Worshiping these gods while even still not believe in their existence is still under the theism umbrella. [/quote]
Kind of...but, then again, not so much. Atheism refers only to the disbelief in a supreme being. One can believe in any number of other things, such as a soul or an afterlife and still disbelieve in a supreme being. I wouldn't say that many pagans are atheists, though.

[Winchester]

They are just non-commital. The Odinist I knew drank poison to become a priest. He was pretty cool, and liked CAtholics. I think because we were warlike and drank beer.

And he did not care for "neo-pagans" (pagan-lite)