What is Asatru? Series Episode 3

[Vinterulf]

Because in reality the translation is closer to "Thou shalt not murder." and the whole basis of Judeo-Christian thought is rooted in basicall,y what god says is okay is "good", what God says is bad is "evil". Thus why the Hebrews commiting genocide on the philistines and other tribes was okay...because god said it was okay. (Very simplified and nutshelled.)

[dakodamon]

i asked once in a sevent hday adventist church why if the bible says thou shall not kill and all of that stuff and preaches peace then why did the crusades happen????

[SirThorgil]

Awesome job

[smileyvigilante333]

what about in italy or france was asatru present there?

[Vinterulf]

@smileyvigilante333 Germanic tribes basically traveled all over Europe. The Lombards specifically went into parts of northern Italy. The areas of present day France had both Germanic tribes as well as Celts or Gauls to a degree where some archeologists aren't aren't too sure on some sites if they were Germanic or Gaul if no god references or very specific cultural differences were found.

[smileyvigilante333]

@Vinterulf  thank you for the info freind. ^_^

[Mercyllus]

Thank You so much for this video. I've been confused watching words be traded between AFA and The Troth. Hearing a honest definiton of what Folk is will help me move forward feeling comfortable with the community.

[Thorskegga]

Interesting - yes I would agree that the emphasis of Heathen theology is on the here and now.

Many of the afterlives - Hel for instance seem to be a resting period with no threats or challenges to restore strength to individuals before they are reborn again.

Wassail

[VtLute]

Nice Mjolnir man

[SeleigheSidhe]

This is really good work! I would love to see either a transcript of these videos or subtitles in future videos to help me follow along.

[aubergine2c]

Thank you for making these videos and telling others about Asatru. I am still new to the religion and these videos are a great help. Keep them coming!

[MrSolitaryOne]

Thanks for the vids. Appreciated.

[SpykeVampyre]

Another awesome video. I loved how you made the complex terminology very clear and easily understood.

[NordenVala]

Oh my wyrd!Thank You! Why was this not explained to me 5 yrs when I first began to learn?

4 yrs ago, I was told I didn't have Weltanshauung. I didn't ken what they meant. Had someone told me, I would not have been running around the hall trying to find the door for 4 yrs:} Danke

I am beginning to attain that now, not sure if I said that right.

[vengencemonger]

What is the Asatru view on race?

[Vinterulf]

In my experience many prefer marathon races. But with the return of Lance Armstrong Bicycle racing has gained a foothold. Myself, I say screw it all, I'd rather do a good forest/mountain trail race myself! Swimming has also gotten more attention because of the Olympics and down south, NASCAR is also popular, but from a lore study point-of-view we see that short distance footracing was more popular to the ancestors.  See the tale of Thor and Utgard Loki.

[vengencemonger]

LOL. Clever sarcasim. But, you know what I was asking about. What is the Asatru view on race? Is it the political correct, marxist, pseudoscientific, christian view that race doesnt exist? Asatru seems like a good alternative for white people rediscovering their roots and escaping the mind poison of judeo christianity. But, if it denies the significance of race and asserts the equaltiy of men, then it is just another universalist mind trap.

[Vinterulf]

There is no "official" view. But if you're looking for some 14/88 army, you're better off somewhere else. That's warped politics, not religion. Asatru is a modern reconstruction of the original Northern European cultural religion. It is does not line up with marxist philosophies nor with fascist ones for that matter. (cont.)

[Vinterulf]

2(cont) It doesn't line up any better with mono-culturalism than it does with xenophobiic superiority conplexes. Quite frankly, it's a non-issue to me as the vast majority of folks that are even interested are there because they have some N European ancestory anyway, even if it isn't apparent first looking at them, physically. It is a cultural-spiritual-religious expression of our folk. Not a platform for "racialist" ideas that are just as pseudoscientific crap as the mono-culturalists's are.

[vengencemonger]

Thanks. Not looking for a 14/88 army. Just wanted to know if there was an official view on racial issues and you answered. Thank you.

[BlixEternal]

@Vinterulf lol!

[standingonair777]

I loved that the Burzum album was on there. Great videos

I'm learning alot

[Vinterulf]

Just to me clear as far as Burzum: I disagree entirely on Varg's takes on a vast majority of things. His racialism being just one of them. I actually wasd unaware of his political leanings until after I had bought the album. Mainly, I just thought the picture was cool.

[standingonair777]

It is indeed a cool picture. I'm trying to learn much about Asatru, and I'm still having a bit of trouble. I can't seem to find any books at the book stores around where I live. My mom thinks that it is a Cult, and I know that it is not, and I do not know how to properly explain it to her. Any help would really be appreciated. Thank you

[Basroil22]

These videos are great, better then most pagan articles/videos out there right now.

[11evele]

i would like to witness and/or partake in an event/ritual. do you hold events, or know of any other groups similar to yours that hold events, closer to worcester, ma?

[handfetisch]

Don't mistake my comments to be against the bulk of what you are saying. I agree with most of what you said in the video, but I think the distinction I point out is very important.

[handfetisch]

I have read many religious studies books. I know the terms you are using and my reply isn't based on ignorance. Again, you are confusing historical tendencies with essential nature of different types of religions. When you consider the reasons why people evangelize, the origin of these /tendencies/ becomes clear. Considering how social movements have transformed since the 20th century, it becomes just as clear why those tendencies may well vanish.

[handfetisch]

There's no inherent link between universalism and next-life orientation nor between folk-centered and this-world orientation. Religions can, and do, mix and match nearly any trait you can name. Don't mistake general tendencies with any sort of essential nature.

Secondly, for universalist religions, a "secular" orientation is a type of world-accepting viewpoint. European Christians who don't believe in Hell, secular Jews, and many lay and philosophical Buddhists included.

[Vinterulf]

Actually "Handfetsch", there is a dinstinct link. I'd suggest reading many of the fine religious studies books that are out there. Probably an easy one to find that will at least touch upon all these subjects would be "The Germanization of Early Medieval Christianity" by James C. Russell ISBN#0-19-510466-8 I'm speaking from a strict religous terminology studies.

[odinismforus]

Looking forward to the next episode!

[Feather13]

Very well explained by a very well informed individual! Thanks for this! I am using this series as teaching tools in my Paganism room on Fubar/Cherrytap/Lost Cherry.

[inkywitch]

Great videos, I just wanted to let you know.. you tend to talk REALLY fast, and for someone who is new at learning about Asatru it's incredibly hard to keep up with you through those parts.. just something to think about.

[nahkauf]

LOL...pimmel lecken? ja? wusst' ich's doch...

[paytizzle]

Great job Mike. This is indeed informative. I've been practicing Asatru for over a year now, and this taught me a lot. Kudos, and I can't wait to see the rest of the series.

[Voltaire7]

Wow this was insanely informative and gave me a much better insight to the spirituality of my ancestors. Thanks so much for putting the time and work into this!

[caemgen51]

very educational and well done! What's the Ásatrú view on original/native languages of the Northern European people? Yes, English is a decendent of Saxon languages but has gone through many changes. Do Ásatrú followers think in terms of learning sacred languages?

[Vinterulf]

I know quite a few who have gone through the pains for learning Old Norse specifically (Like myself). There are some groups (like mine, for example) who actually do use Old Norse in ritual. Although I must admit that it is a smaller percentage who do. Does thatanswer your question?

[caemgen51]

Yes it does, thanks. As for one who follows a Celtic/Gaelic traditionalist path, I'm interested in the parallels of development of these two similar yet very different revivalist movements. Ideally, speaking a Celtic language fits well into the Celtic cultural worldview we are trying to follow, though not everyone is into learning one.

[Vinterulf]

You'll find an excellent comparitive work by H.R. Ellis Davidson called, "Myths and Symbols of Pagan Europe" ISBN #0-8156-2441-7. It compares both Early Scandinavian and Celtic Religions.

[caemgen51]

Thought this was interesting:

Scottish Gaelic preserves a few personal names borrowed from Norse that contain "Thor":

Tormod < Thormund = Thor's Protection

Torcull < Thorketil = Thor's Cauldron

[Superhaze]

Ketil can also mean helmet or sacrificial cauldron. Either way its all good... :P

[lager1776]

Great job in explaining the concepts of pagan religions! Great video!

[thorsh8]

I would like to see some blots performed

[Yoggroth]

Thanks for this and the other videos. As someone who is just discovering Asatru, your willingness to share your knowledge and experience is invaluable.