hey sorry if this is a stupid question, but is asatru racist? i’m norse pagan but i’m kinda new to the religion. i’ve heard people calling it racist because apparently a lot of white supremacists and nazis believe in norse paganism. i’m just making sure because i like this religion but i don’t want to be racist or be seen as one.

valkyraven:

grimnirs-child:

Unfortunately, yes, there are a number of white supremacists and neo-Nazis in Asatru. This really dates back to Nazi occultism and usage of Norse pagan imagery and mythos, because they saw it as representing a “white” or “Aryan” religion. For instance, the Sowilo rune used for the SS logo.

But is the path as a whole racist? 

The tales of the different clans of Gods who intermarry – Aesir with Vanir with Jotuns – who value hospitality above all, of mighty Odin who wanders with Loki across all the worlds and talks to all who He meets, who says in the Hávamál:

Scorn or mocking ne’er shalt thou make 
Of a guest or a journey-goer.
[…]
None so good is found that faults he has not
Nor so wicked that naught he is worth.

Heathenry is not a racist religion as long as we do not surrender it to the racists and the neo-Nazis.

As long as we as Heathens, as Norse pagans, as Asatruar, keep standing up for our values, for justice, for solidarity, for equality, for acceptance, for the sacred meaning of hospitality. As long as we keep using our words and our actions to show the ways our faith and our Gods move us to make the world a better place, to show we have no sympathy or tolerance for bigotry in our community. As long as we hold the line. 

I love this religion, I love my Gods. There is no way we can let the racists take that from us. 

Asatru is not racist.

However, it is commonly coopted by white supremacists, many of whom are also homophobes. There are Asatru groups who will not allow anyone not of northern European descent (folkism or vulkism, the belief that you are only “allowed” to follow religions you have the appropriate bloodlines for), and Asatru groups that will not allow LGBT members.

And then there is Heathens Against Hate, and I would say the majority of Asatru are not racist. And those that are tend to be obvious enough about it that they are easy enough to avoid.

Research groups you choose to associate with carefully, don’t hang out with the racists, and remember that they are wrong.

Saying only people of “Aryan” (which is inaccurate anyway) descent can follow the Aesir and Vanir is telling the gods who they can call into their service.

That’s, uh, not how it works.

If you don’t want to be seen as racist, just avoid the assholes who are and hang out with the good people ;).