I've decided this. As far as I know, the difference between Odinism, and Asatru, is that Odinism takes all of these myths seriously (something I doubt vikings even did). Asatru, is more about remembering your people before you, and things like that. Like making shrines, and talking to them. This is important, because it is a way for these people to still be alive. In a way, you are Valhalla. If my bravery inspires people in the future, and they do the same for me, I am still alive because of them. And I consider "Wotanism" really to be a part of Asatru, instead of a seperate religion. Asatru is racist, but not hateful, and neither was David Lane. Odinist I guess are mainly fags who dress up as vikings, and go out of their way to whine about how Asatru, and David Lane gave them a bad name. But almost every Asatru site I've been to talks about the importance of our people existing in the future (thats racism, and even "hate" according to the ADL, and splcenter).

I'm not using it to "justify" anything I do. I dont need religion for that. Any religion that says human instinct, and the laws of nature are evil, I wouldn't follow it anyway, because it's obviously wrong. Asatru isn't like that, so that made it acceptable for me. I already have a shrine, and mainly I have pictures of people from the Order, but also other people in history who I respect for what they did. I'm thinking about getting some runic tattoos also.

EDIT: And since they dont dress up, and go play around, what does Asatru do in meetings? From what I understand, it's about remembering the warriors before you, so like how do you really do this in group?

Cool.

ITT: SLOTHS

http://www.sloths.ca/sloth/kids_saving_sloths1.jpg

Why follow any religion?

I've decided this. As far as I know, the difference between Odinism, and Asatru, is that Odinism takes all of these myths seriously (something I doubt vikings even did). Asatru, is more about remembering your people before you, and things like that. Like making shrines, and talking to them. This is important, because it is a way for these people to still be alive. In a way, you are Valhalla. If my bravery inspires people in the future, and they do the same for me, I am still alive because of them. And I consider "Wotanism" really to be a part of Asatru, instead of a seperate religion. Asatru is racist, but not hateful, and neither was David Lane. Odinist I guess are mainly fags who dress up as vikings, and go out of their way to whine about how Asatru, and David Lane gave them a bad name. But almost every Asatru site I've been to talks about the importance of our people existing in the future (thats racism, and even "hate" according to the ADL, and splcenter).

I'm not using it to "justify" anything I do. I dont need religion for that. Any religion that says human instinct, and the laws of nature are evil, I wouldn't follow it anyway, because it's obviously wrong. Asatru isn't like that, so that made it acceptable for me. I already have a shrine, and mainly I have pictures of people from the Order, but also other people in history who I respect for what they did. I'm thinking about getting some runic tattoos also.

EDIT: And since they dont dress up, and go play around, what does Asatru do in meetings? From what I understand, it's about remembering the warriors before you, so like how do you really do this in group?

Asatru isn't racist. Until I read that view, I wanted to help you, but I don't think you're looking at the religion the right way.

Why follow any religion?

I'm kind of guessing here, but I'll venture that OP means "follow" more in the sense of "accepting as true because it resonates" as opposed to slavishly following in the "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so" sense."

^^right arms merchant. and btw i know you disagree with some of the stuff I say, but I have no problem with indians. The ones who decided to fight have my respect, and the few who didn't deserved whatever they got. And thats the way I see it with anybody. Bravery is respected universally, but someone can only live on through me truly if they died for the same cause I am for. You may or may not agree, but I feel I am in the same position in a way. Only now it's a passifist genocide, and we have to make a choice, like indians did wether it's better to die, or live under enemy occupation.

Aenemia, I'm so sick of people using religion as a novelty, and then trying to tell me I'm wrong. It's like SHARPS. They do the whole thing just so they can say "hey not all skinheads are racist" :rolleyes: STFU! Satanists, and most pagans do this. Most have little knowledge of the religion they claim to be, and try to be an authority on it.

First off, any person who follows Odinism, Wotanism, or Asatru will tell you he is for preserving his race, because the religion is connected to our race. If they say they dont care about race, they are exactly the type of assholes I'm talking about. This is "racist". The ADL labeled the 14 words "we must secure the existance for our people, and a future for white children" not only as racist, but hate speach. So anyone who wants the white race to live, is a hate monger. So Asatru is definately a hateful religion :) And beyond that, I've read the poetic eddas, and they can be defined however you want them to, just like any other religious documents. It's the concepts of the religion I am concerned with.

But AM is right. I dont have to believe in Giants and Fairies (not that thats any less likely than seas opening, or sticks turning into snakes) to follow the religion. I believe (because of what I observe) that bravery, and death in battle is the only way to guarantee a type of afterlife (beyond that I can only speculate). It doesn't have the contradictions of christianity, and doesn't go against the law of nature. The only forces at work in my life are chance, and my own will. And it feels natural first, and it feels right to be connected in a way to the people who came before me. We obviously have a genetic memory (like how animals know to be afraid of certain things even if they've never seen them before), and I believe religion goes along with that. My purpose in life is obvious to me no matter what. The evidence is in nature as far as what "god" wants me to do.

and armsmerchant. I'm sure you would want to keep indians alive. Because I can respect the actions of some of them, but only the same people can really allow them to live on through them. So it's kind of different. But nobody should want their own people to be wiped off of the earth.