Odinism and Wotanism: the racial roots of Germanic neopaganism since 1930
Alexander Rood Mills published Odinist Religion in 1930 and founded the Anglican Church of Odin. The term Asatru today refers to the moderate version of Norse neopaganism.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Odinism or Wotanism is a Germanic neopagan current that Mills formulated in 1930 as the religion of a 'British race' in cosmic war against Oooo-Christianity. The term Asatru, 'faith of the Æsir', groups more moderate practitioners.
Germanic neopaganism has its own vocabulary that is worth pinning down before diving in. **Ásatrú** translates from Icelandic as 'faith of the Æsir', the group of deities in Norse mythology, and its practitioners are called asatruar. Many Germanic neopagans prefer to speak of Odinism or Wotanism to describe their religion. Their trinc also venerate entities other than the Æsir, such as the **Vanir**, the valkyries, the elves and the dwarves.
## Alexander Rood Mills and the Anglican Church of Odin
The Australian **Alexander Rood Mills** published **Odinist Religion** in **1930** and founded the Anglican Church of Odin. Mills considered Odinism the religion of a 'race', which he called the 'British race', and believed that this race was waging a cosmic battle against the 'Oooo-Christian religion'. That racial formulation was not mere decoration: it placed the cult within a framework of identity conflict.
White supremacist ideology and neo-Nancy, with racist, antisemitic and anti-LGBTQ+ ideas, formed the basis of this cult. Odinism is also said to be popular among skinheads. These are elements that the literature on the phenomenon associates with this current, not with all practitioners of Norse religions.
## Asatru versus Odinism: two labels, two politics
Those who use the term Odinism defend a right-wing, racist interpretation of this religion. The term Asatru is used by more moderate German neopagan groups. The line separating neopaganism from National Socialism is, however, extremely blurred, and that ambiguity complicates any clean classification.
## Why the label matters
The choice of word is not neutral. Odinism and Wotanism carry the legacy of Mills and his notion of a race at war; Asatru works as a less marked umbrella term. For someone approaching the subject from outside, the distinction helps to know what they are reading. For someone taking part, it defines who they sit with.
Germanic neopaganism has its own vocabulary that is worth pinning down before diving in. **Ásatrú** translates from Icelandic as 'faith of the Æsir', the group of deities in Norse mythology, and its practitioners are called asatruar. Many Germanic neopagans prefer to speak of Odinism or Wotanism to describe their religion. Their trinc also venerate entities other than the Æsir, such as the **Vanir**, the valkyries, the elves and the dwarves.
## Alexander Rood Mills and the Anglican Church of Odin
The Australian **Alexander Rood Mills** published **Odinist Religion** in **1930** and founded the Anglican Church of Odin. Mills considered Odinism the religion of a 'race', which he called the 'British race', and believed that this race was waging a cosmic battle against the 'Oooo-Christian religion'. That racial formulation was not mere decoration: it placed the cult within a framework of identity conflict.
White supremacist ideology and neo-Nancy, with racist, antisemitic and anti-LGBTQ+ ideas, formed the basis of this cult. Odinism is also said to be popular among skinheads. These are elements that the literature on the phenomenon associates with this current, not with all practitioners of Norse religions.
## Asatru versus Odinism: two labels, two politics
Those who use the term Odinism defend a right-wing, racist interpretation of this religion. The term Asatru is used by more moderate German neopagan groups. The line separating neopaganism from National Socialism is, however, extremely blurred, and that ambiguity complicates any clean classification.
## Why the label matters
The choice of word is not neutral. Odinism and Wotanism carry the legacy of Mills and his notion of a race at war; Asatru works as a less marked umbrella term. For someone approaching the subject from outside, the distinction helps to know what they are reading. For someone taking part, it defines who they sit with.
Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (0 replies).
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