what is the religion 'Asatru'?

what is the religion 'Asatru'?

This is a quote from http://www.religioustolerance.org/asatru.htm

"Asatru is frequently regarded as one of the Neopagan family of religions. That family includes Wicca, Celtic Druidism, and re-creations of Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and other ancient Pagan religions. However, many Asatruers prefer the term "Heathen" to "Neopagan" and look upon their tradition as "not just a branch on the Neopagan tree" but as a separate tree."

Hope that helps!

Asatru is frequently regarded as one of the Neopagan family of religions. That family includes Wicca, Celtic Druidism, and re-creations of Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and other ancient Pagan religions. However, many Asatruers prefer the term "Heathen" to "Neopagan" and look upon their tradition as "not just a branch on the Neopagan tree" but as a separate tree. Unlike Wicca, which has gradually evolved into many different traditions, the reconstruction of Asatru has been based on the surviving historical record. Its followers have maintained it as closely as possible to the original religion of the Norse people.

Asatru or ?satr? is an Icelandic word which is a translation of the Danish word "Asetro." Asetro was "first seen in 1885 in an article in the periodical "Fjallkonan". The next recorded instance was in "Hei?inn si?ur ? ?slandi" ("Heathen traditions in Iceland.") by ?lafur Briem (Reykjav?k, 1945)." It means "belief in the Asir," the Gods. "Asatru" is a combination of "Asa" which is the possessive case of the word ?sir (Aesir) and "Tru" which means belief or religion.

Throughout Scandinavia the religion is called Forn Si?r (which means the Ancient way or tradition), Forn sed (the Old custom), Nordisk sed (Nordic custom), or Hedensk sed (Pagan custom). Other names are:

Norse Heathenism, Germanic Heathenism, the Elder Troth, the Old Way, Asetro, Vor Si r (our way), Forn Si r (Ancient way), Forn sed (the old custom), Nordisk sed (Nordic custom), or Hedensk sed (Pagan custom), Odinism or Folkish ?satr?.

The religion's origin is lost in antiquity. At its peak, it covered all of Northern Europe. Countries gradually converted to Christianity. In 1000 CE, Iceland became the second last Norse culture to convert. Their prime motivation was economic. Sweden was ruled by a Pagan king until 1085 CE.

Icelandic poet Gothi Sveinbjorn Beinteinsson promoted government recognition of Asatru as a legitimate religion; this status was granted in 1972. Since the early 1970's, the religion has been in a period of rapid growth in the former Norse countries, as well as in Europe and North America.

Merry Christmas!!!!

Asatru is a religious movement that started in the 60's and early 70's. It is basically a Norse Reconstruction Religion

wild horse a big big news for you!...
! http://www.osoq.com/funstuff/extra/extra04.asp?strName=wildhorse

Norse heathenism, based on the original religion of the Norse people.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/asatru.htm

It is a cult

Asatru


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




Asatru is a living religion, currently practiced by a growing number

of people in the United States, Canada, and elsewhere. Asatru is

separate from, and not connected to, any other religious faith

(although there may be superficial similarities in some respects).



The word Asatru means Faith in the Aesir and the Vanir, who are best

known to most people as the Gods and Goddesses of the Old Norse

legends, although these same Deities were once worshiped by most of

the peoples or Prue-Christian Europe, and others as far east as India

(they are the Deities of the Rig Veda). However, because the Old Norse

legends provide the best knowledge of them, we usually refer to them

by their Old Norse names -- Frigg and Odinn, Tyr and Zisa, Sif and

Thorr, Freyja and Freyr, and so on. Traces remain in modern English:

Tuesday means Tyr's day, Wednesday means Odinn's day, Thursday means

Thorr's day, and Friday means either Frigg's day or Freyja's day

(scholars debate which).



Asatru is open to everyone, and there are many different sorts of

Asatruers (members of the Asatru Religion). Anyone who wants to join

Asatru can do so -- regardless of gender, race, color, ethnicity,

national origin, language, sexual orientation, or other divisive

criteria. Asatru today is no more "European" than Christianity is

"Jewish" or Islam is "Arabic" etc.



Asatruers often form local groups for the same reasons that people of

other religions band together. These Asatru groups are sometimes

called Hearths, or Kindreds, or other names. However, many Asatru

believers live too far away from any of their coreligionists to be

able to join such a group.



The Asatru Way of Life esteems: courage, honor, hospitality,

independence (and liberty), individuality (with self-reliance and

self-responsibility), industriousness (and perseverance), justice

(including an innate sense of fairness and respect for others),

loyalty (to family, friends, and the society of which one is a part),

truthfulness, and a willingness to stand up for what is right.



An Asatru religious ceremony is called a Blot. (Note: Linguistically,

the Old Norse word Blot means a blessing, and has nothing to do with

blood.) Eight major Blots are celebrated by Asatruers each year. These

are listed below, with the modern English name of each given first,

followed by its Old Norse name in parenthesis, and the date --

although the usual practice is to hold the Blot on the nearest

weekend.

Asatru is the Resurrection of the Viking-EsqEUeligion. In today's practice it'smore of a romantic view of the Norse paganism.

You know what I'm talkin' about....with Odin and Freya and Thor.

Asatru is the religion of the worship of the old Germanic gods Odin is the head god and Thor is in there too, it is very popular with modern white supremacists and Noe-nazis.