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The Odin Brotherhood

Helm of Awe: a symbol used for protection

The Odin Brotherhood is a secret society of men and women who practice Asatru, a germanic neopagan religion (also known as Odinism). Asatru is the name for an ancient Norse warrior religion honoring the Norse pantheon of gods in Asgard. This society focuses on self spirituality instead of one universal truth. Formal membership is said to be exclusive, passing on only by word of mouth. This exclusivity was due to the very strict requirements of race and ethnicity that the group was very stringent upon.. Due to past groups other than the Odin Brotherhood, there has been talk about Asatru and Odinism being separate religions; Odinism focusing on race and ethnicity while Asatru was less focused on race. No clear and defined line has been drawn between the two, only those who practice defining themselves with one or the other.

History

Sacrificial scene on Hammars: a Religious Viking stone (I)

When the Vikings ruled over most of Europe , they worshiped what was called the Aesir. The Aesir was the pantheon of twelve gods, ruled over by Odin. Odin was known as “All-Father”, ruling the earth and heavens with many other gods. These gods ruled over different aspects of human life. The common belief was that these gods lived amongst humans and participated in everyday life. “Asatru stresses that it's deities are personifications of the forces of nature. Thor, Odin, and others are friends, never masters”.This belief in Norse mythology died off when Romans conquered Europe around 1000AD. In 1972, Nordic Paganism was recognized as a legal religion.

Reconstruction

In 1969, Odinist Fellowship came into creation by Else Christensen. Christensen showed a more racially and politically centered look on Asatru, also noting traces of sociological influence. She also created and published “The Odinist”: a newsletter published on a very regular basis. Activities with Christensen's group slowed down significantly due to deportation to Canada after serving a prison sentence for drug trafficking. In 1969-71, a former roman catholic priest, Steve McNallen, started the Viking Brotherhood (later to be defined as the Asatru Free Assembly)in Breckenridge, Texas. McNallen “claims to gain strength and wisdom through examples of ancient Norse gods and goddesses and believes man harmonizes more closely with nature by observing changes in the moon and stars”McNallen focused more on a religiously “ethnic” interpretation. Though some may see his political beliefs, “his vision about a future stateless American confederacy based on decentralized tribal units...” is said to be without political reference. Followers of Asatru have been accused of being almost Neo-Nazis, on the accounts that both have very similar symbols. This accusation is raised even more with the heavy concern on genetics that comes along with Asatru. Followers have publicly regretted using the same symbols. One was recorded saying “We are not racists, but we are racially aware.”

Odin Brotherhood in Today's society

In today's society, most chapters of the Odin Brotherhood are under the radar. However, some chapters have really been looked upon, those in prison. In 2005, the court case Cutter v. Wilkinson ruled in favor of a group of prisoners. These prisoners, mixed of different backgrounds and religions, were denied the right to worship and wear medallions of their religions preference. According to Intelligence Report: a magazine published by the Southern Poverty Law Center, "more than 15 state prisons now recruit non-inmate Odinists to develop policy, write scripts for rituals and lead ceremonies behind bars."

Initiation

While there are no formal initiation rites, there is the belief that there is a “trial by blood” one must partake on to initiate yourself into the brotherhood. However, there is circulation of the material used in the Odin Brotherhood that anyone can easily obtain. Recently, more circulation of material has allowed more “Lone Wolves”, as they are called, to initiate themselves into the Odin Brotherhood by their own means.

Beliefs

Beliefs differ from group to group, but there are three positions that are normally taken that are key to Asatru (also referred to as the “Triangle”). The anarchist position promoting all interested parties to join and participate; the radical racist position promoting an exclusively Aryan out look to Asatru; and “the ethnic position that, not always successfully, tries to get beyond the issue by claiming that Asatru is linked with north European ethnicity.” There are no current statics that show the popularity to one position or another. However, “There are an estimated 10,000-20,000 people in the United States who consider themselves Asatruars or Odinists...” Followers also believe in self-spirituality, normally hostile to the idea of universal truth. Along with that, they believe that the gods they worship walk among humans on Earth and are incarnated in different elements of nature. “Man is not free to exploit an objectified nature, Asatruers maintain, but shares a sacred environment with other soul-bestowed beings.”

Along with these beliefs, Asatruars look to their sacred text of the “Eddaic Verse” (also known as the “Poetic Edda”). These texts describe the lives of the gods that one sage wrote down while he stayed with the gods. It is said they were created when the young sage went to defy the gods. By doing so, the gods invited him to stay, appreciating his boldness in defying them. The stories in these “Poetic Edda” are now looked upon by Asatruars as their sacred texts.

The Valknut

Metallic Valknut white background

The Valknut is a Norse symbol normally represented in Asatru culture. “It is formed in modern times through combination of ON valr, ‘the dead’ or ‘the slain’ and knut, ‘knot’.” It is comprised of three interlocked triangles. Another interpretation of the three triangles refers to the legend of “Hrungnir’s heart”: the stone heart of the god Hrungnir with three pointed corners. Another belief is that the three triangles represent the nine worlds of Norse mythology united by the Yggdrasil (or the world tree).

References

• "Pagan religion Asatru gains kindred among prison population." Religion News Blog. The Post and Courier, 04 Jul 2006. Web. 20 Sep 2011. <http://www.religionnewsblog.com/15351/pagan-religion-asatru-gains-kindred-among-prison-population>.
• "Valknut – A Norse Viking Symbol." VikingRune: Website on Vikings and for Vikings. vikingrune.com, 05 Jan 2009. Web. 20 Sep 2011. <http://www.vikingrune.com/2009/01/valknut-viking-symbol/>.
• Gadell, Mattias. Gods of the Blood. Duke University Press, 2003. 150-164. Print.
• Larson, Bob. Larson's New book of Cults. Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, 1989. 115-119. Print.
• Sanchez, Casey. "Prisoners of Belief: Supreme Court Ruling Boosts Odinist Inmates." Intelligence Report. Fall 2009: n. page. Web. 28 Sep. 2011. <http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2009/fall/prisoners-of-belief>.