Neo-Nazis and other white supremacists are turning to Norse mythology as the only pure religion for white people.
Modern-day Odinists, who worship ancient Norse gods like Thor and Odin, believe the “mongrelized” teachings of the Jesus — a Jew — are too passive and weak, reported Reveal.
“Turning the other cheek and it’s all going to be OK, that isn’t the answer a lot of people who are turning to Odinism are looking for,” said Daniel Burnside, a white supremacist and Odinist from Potter County, Pennsylvania. “They’re looking for the idea of, do you want to be the nail, or do you want to be the hammer?”
Odinists typically wear pendants of Thor’s hammer, and the pagan religion’s focus on revenge and action appeals to anxious racists who believe they’re fighting against white genocide.
“We have to be prepared to fight,” said Brandon Lashbrook, an Odinist and neo-Nazi from Centralia, Illinois. “We need to study martial arts, weight train. We need to be prepared and unified, and ready to defend ourselves, and continue to tell society the truth, and help more souls find their […]
Sadly the author knows little about Pagan religion, here or elsewhere.
There are some Odinists who are as described. But there are many who are not, but who find spiritual meaning in Norse spirituality. This wikipedia article seems pretty reasonable: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heathenry_(new_religious_movement)
Also, an organization focusing on religious tolerance has some good information.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/asatru.htm
Gus —
Excellent point and thanks for making it. I should have done so. There are many Odinists, I have known several in my life, and they are honorable decent people who should in no way be confused with White Supremacist thugs who have adopted Norse spirituality with little or no understanding of what it is really about.