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Comparison of Asatron and Christianity

By Kristian Dam-Jensen, N3C

Neo Germanic Paganism is also called modern Asatron, and is a religion quite recently accepted inthe Scandinavian countries. It is the religion of the ancient Scandinavians, and Scandinavian

folklore originates from it. The original Asatron does not exist anymore because nobody knows

what it really is, as a result of the Christian missionaries whom overtook Scandinavia in terms of

religion. And since Asatron is not a missionary religion, it never regained its strength,but in the

1970s groups around the world in Scandinavia, Germany and USA started to gain inte rest in Norse

gods, and its old traditions. They felt intrigued by the history, and fantasy books like Lord of the

Rings which borrowed heavily ideas from the Norse gods, such as elves and trolls.

After researching the religions, I found that the Christian rite of communion has a very similar

equal in Asatron called Blt.

They both focus on having a meal with their respective god or gods, and to be together with your

community.

In asatron the Blt is led by a gothi (male) and gydje (female), whom someone with experience in

the religion. They guide the group to a successful Blt by following a few guidelines that the group

of Asatron you belong to have proposed. An example of such is the Danish asatron community

Ford Sidr who requires the following points t o be fulfilled, to call it a blot;

1. A gothi or gydje is present2. A drinking horn or other container that you can drink from, together with a drinkable

fluid, usually mead or beer

3. Quotes from The Old Edda, which is collection of old Norse poems from the 13th century,and thus the most important existing source of Norse lore

4. A sacrifice of some sort5. And a shared meal, where people bring their food and eat together

The sacrifice mentioned goes to your selected gods, such as sacrificing for Odin, Thor and Fre ya,

and statues or pictures of these may be placed at the ceremony. And during the blt, the leading

figure may rejoice the gods.

But a lot of negativity is directed by Christian community towards the Asatron with regards to the

sacrifice of animals such as horses, cows, pigs andsheeps, but people dont understand that such

rites are actually quite normal amongst the other religions, though heavily suppressed in the

western world owing to animal rights activists. But that doesnt make it more acceptable within

the modern Asatron, and so most groups either do this in a very civilized manner, in agreement

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with all laws in the country the group is situated, and some groups like the Swedish group

Samfundet Forn Sed have completely abandoned this ritual.

The interpretation of Asatron is very open owing to the lack of knowledge of the original ways. But

many people see the blt ritual, as a way of getting closer to your family and community, and a

way of celebrating life with the gods by your side, as a way of expressing gratitude for the

prosperity they bring.

But again, that depends on how you place yourself in the religion, and thus how you see your

gods and your community. An example would be where one might separate the worlds in a

physical world explained by latest scientific discoveries, and a spiritual world, where you connect

at some level with the gods you feel that you can relate to, and this way of seeing your religion

seems very intelligent and does not intervene with your everyday life, but rather enlightens it,

additionally I reason that this is a healthy way of living with a religion, because instead of feeling

so gloomy and sacred about your religion, it gives the religion a lighter touch, with a cheerful

feeling. The other person might believe that Gods are simply some sort of psychiatrist whom may

assist you in your life, a bit more traditional way of looking at the religion, but just as valid.

I think it is this lack of knowledge of the true Norse mythology which evidently provides a very

liberal and open religion that is fully adaptable to the modern society of the 21st

century. And in

some cases it is a way of believing in something that you feel a cultural bond to.

I lastly want to point out that throughout Norse mythology, both then and today, woman have

always been a part of it as seen by female goddesses and deities like Freya, Frigg, Sif, Gerth and

many more.