Ásatrúar

A practitioner of Ásatrú; also referred to as Odinists. (The word is its own plural: one Ásatrúar, a bunch of Ásatrúar.) Though they are properly considered Neopagans, most Ásatrúar prefer to label themselves as Ásatrúar, Odinists, “heathens” or “Norse heathens” rather than identify with the larger Neopagan community.

Ásatrúar are looked at a little strangely by the rest of Paganism – where most of Paganism is essentially leftist, libertine, and do-your-own-thing, Ásatrú tends toward a more conservative, family-and-hearth-oriented social structure and a set of firm values to live by (the Nine Noble Virtues of Courage, Truth, Honor, Fidelity, Discipline, Hospitality, Industriousness, Self-Reliance, and Perseverance). As a result, most other Pagans consider the Ásatrúar to be a little archaic in their attitudes – which is a bit odd, for members of religions that are reconstructed from so long ago! The Ásatrúar may just be the most paleo of all.

Ásatrúar usually wear the Thor’s Hammer as a symbol of their belief.

It should be noted that Ásatrú does not include any component of racism, and Ásatrúar are somewhat tired of being mistaken for racists. Yes, certain white-supremacist organizations have adopted various Odinist symbols, but the fact that Ásatrú (and its Paleopagan source material) are being looted by racist groups doesn’t mean there’s any transfer of ideology in the other direction.