Fascism and Paganism

[Remus Bleys]

What is the relationship between paganism and fascism?

I have always gotten the impression that paganism was just a liberal thing, but on further research I have found that many pagans are fascists and vice versa.

Or am I overgeneralizing?


Anyway, back to the point, what is the relationship between paganism and fascism?

[Sinister Intents]

Heinrich Himmler was a pagan I believe and was highly into the occult with oither Nazi scums. Yeah unfortunately a lot of pagans like nazism and fascism, but not always.
My girlfriend and I are pagans, and I'm pretty sure a pagan group used to exist on revleft.I know there are pagans here but idr who.

[Geiseric]

Wotan commands us to kill the pagan eastern europeans! Lets tatoo runes and other bullshit on our arms!

Hitler and other germans were fond of talking about vikings and whatnot during their speeches when they were trying to rally people to invade other countries, however the core of the Nazi party was actually die hard catholics. For some reason in greece they (GD) like to bring up Zeus and Hercules and whatnot. But nobody would of taken Hitler seriously if he was an actual pagan, and tried to get people to revert to human sacrifice and whatnot.

This all stems from anti intellectualism and anti modernism which Fascism relies on. For example famous Nazi pilots who broke records and whatnot were fond of showing their crucifix which they wore around their neck to the photographers. Fascists in Italy liked as well to talk about "restoring the roman empire." But it all comes down to petit bourgeois romanticism, it's all just a distraction. Mussolini, Hitler, and Himmler were all actually die hard catholics and made it clear in speeches until they died.

This site has a lot more to do with the links between catholicism and fascism, I just found it a second ago and I thought it had some interesting information:

http://liberalslikechrist.org/Catholic/NaziLeadership.html

Nazi leaders who were Roman Catholics, in addition to Adolf Hitler, were Josef Goebbels, Heinrich Himmler, Reinhard Heydrich, Heinrich Müllerv and Rudolf Hoess. From that same website, "When Dr, Edoardo Senatro, the correspondent of L'Osservatore Romano in Berlin, asked Pius XII whether he would not protest the extermination of the Jews, the Pope is reported to have answered, "Dear friend, do not forget that millions of Catholics serve in the German armies. Shall I bring them into conflicts of conscience?"

[Trap Queen Voxxy]

I would say you're over-generalizing. Sure, some pagans may be fascists and so on but I've found the majority are just ordinary folks, mostly follow the politics of their own country, some are liberal, some Social Democrats, some Libertarians, etc. It's just like anything else. The connection to fascism I think stems from the fact that even with stupidity of the fascists, they eventually realized they couldn't rightfully hold the positions they do and follow a religion founded by a Jew, an Arab, or the Indian gurus of the dharmic traditions and in this I'm including Buddha. So, they turned to the ancient traditions native to wherever there were at in an attempt to purify their "European soul" and rid it of all possible foreign influence; spiritually and politically. That's my guess from what I've seen.

[Audeamus]

What is the relationship between paganism and fascism?

I have always gotten the impression that paganism was just a liberal thing, but on further research I have found that many pagans are fascists and vice versa.

Or am I overgeneralizing?


Anyway, back to the point, what is the relationship between paganism and fascism?

Yes this is an generalization. Some neo-pagan, especially Wiccan and new age pagan, groups have indeed been associated with varying degrees of leftism and feminism, but paganism has been popular on the far-right as well since the Romantic pagan revivalism of the 19th century. In the case of fascists their paganism usually stems from a desire to be closer to the religion of their "blood" rather than an imported religion of Jewish origin. Not that this is a universal among fascists, there are plenty who are also devoutly Christian.




Hitler and other germans were fond of talking about vikings and whatnot during their speeches when they were trying to rally people to invade other countries, however the core of the Nazi party was actually die hard catholics....Nazi leaders who were Roman Catholics, in addition to Adolf Hitler, were Josef Goebbels, Heinrich Himmler, Reinhard Heydrich, Heinrich Müllerv and Rudolf Hoess.

Some were certainly devout Catholics, Goebbels especially remained so to the end of his life, but certainly not all were. Himmler was in fact primarily responsible for the institution of pagan mysticism in the SS. Other prominent pagans in the Nazi leadership included Rudolf Hess, Alfred Rosenberg, and Richard Walther Darré. As for Hitler himself, he said so much about religion in public and in private, that he is hard to pin down. He certainly declared himself to be a Christian and a Catholic, but in private he disdained Christianity as "flabby" while praising Islam and Shinto.


For some reason in greece they (GD) like to bring up Zeus and Hercules and whatnot.

This stems from their nationalism, the myths of ancient Hellenic religion being part of the larger Hellenic culture and whatnot.


But nobody would of taken Hitler seriously if he was an actual pagan, and tried to get people to revert to human sacrifice and whatnot.

Human sacrifice in European paganism is largely a myth propagated by the Romans. And it is certainly not a part of really any neo-pagan religion.


Mussolini, Hitler, and Himmler were all actually die hard catholics and made it clear in speeches until they died.


Mussolini was hardly a die hard Catholic. In fact at the beginning of his political life (as a socialist remember!) he was virulently anti-clerical. He moderated this kind of rhetoric once he gained power in order to appease the majority Catholic Italian people, but continued to make anti-clerical comments well into the 1930s and the early 1940s.

[#FF0000]

I've been seeing a lot of people repping paganism around here, actually. It seems like it's becoming a sort of a-political thing, which is cool, I guess. I've seen more than a couple explicitly anti-nazi norse-pagan shirts -- one of which was a mock-up of a popular anti-fascist image of a boot slamming into a sieg-heiling nazi. Except on this shirt, the boot was replaced by mjolnir.

[Flying Purple People Eater]

Aren't most modern day pagans in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia just ultra-nationalist nutjobs who 'reject Jesus the jew'? There's certainly a big overlap between skinheads and 'ethnic mythology'.

Anyway, nutty beliefs all round, but good to see that not all of them are racial supremacists.

[Geiseric]

They both were nonetheless supported vehemently by the king (of Spain and Italy) and the pope, and both persecuted non catholics in their respective countries. Mussolini as well as any far right italian politician would of found it impossible to be anti cactolic in Italy, he would of had to of been stupid to try to pull that off. Of course he (mussolini) was a two faced politician and tried to hold the papacy in check but both of them found the other as a necessity.

[Geiseric]

Aren't most modern day pagans in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia just ultra-nationalist nutjobs who 'reject Jesus the jew'? There's certainly a big overlap between skinheads and 'ethnic mythology'.

Anyway, nutty beliefs all round, but good to see that not all of them are racial supremacists.

Most of them are idiots since like another poster said, all we know about paganism is the result of hearsay the catholic church wrote down since they were the only people who knew how to read and write during the dark ages.

[Remus Bleys]

"Liberals like christ" that sauce doesn't seem very appropriate for this site. Liberals?:glare:

[Trap Queen Voxxy]

Aren't most modern day pagans in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia just ultra-nationalist nutjobs who 'reject Jesus the jew'? There's certainly a big overlap between skinheads and 'ethnic mythology'.

Anyway, nutty beliefs all round, but good to see that not all of them are racial supremacists.

I think that really only represents a minority of the pagan demographic, internationally. From what I've seen here in the states and online, most pagans are what is known as eclectic pagans which borrow beliefs and traditions from Greek, Egyptian, Roman, Norse, and especially Celtic mythology. Not to mention influences of hermeticism and occultism like the Golden Dawn (not associated with the Greek political group), Crowley and LaVey. Along with various elements of wicca and new age theology like Gerald Gardner and so on. So it's like a mixture of things dependent upon the individual preferences and beliefs of the neo-pagan. Some do however try to reconstruct various religions from ancient times in an academic sort of way like only following the laws, customs, rituals and so on of mythology and the gods associated with that particular mythology but I think the bulk of the pagan community is eclectic. Then again, I'm not pagan and this is based on my own personal research and observations.


Most of them are idiots since like another poster said, [B]all we know about paganism is the result of hearsay the catholic church wrote down since they were the only people who knew how to read and write during the dark ages.

I think it's funny you call pagans idiots while in the same breath making yourself look like an idiot by claiming the bolded text.

[Zostrianos]

Aren't most modern day pagans in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia just ultra-nationalist nutjobs who 'reject Jesus the jew'? There's certainly a big overlap between skinheads and 'ethnic mythology'.
Anyway, nutty beliefs all round, but good to see that not all of them are racial supremacists.

Most of the far-right Pagans nowadays are indeed Norse (Asatru, Odinism, etc.) and Slavic (if I'm not mistaken, there were schisms in some European Norse movements because of it). The usage of Pagan imagery among the far right historically was often little more than an appeal to the 'glorious past', coupled with the aforementioned association of Christianity with Judaism. Overall though, the religion that draws the most Nazis and Fascists was and is still organized Christianity. One of the most brutal fascist movements, the Croatian Ustashe (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usta%C5%A1e), were Catholic fundamentalists who forcibly converted Serbs at gunpoint. In the US, most Neonazis are affiliated with Protestant fundamentalist Churches, and in eastern Europe and Russia, most religious Neonazis are Orthodox, though an increasing minority are indeed adhering to Slavic Paganism. I think there are a few Pagans in the Greek Golden Dawn, but most are orthodox.

Even among the Nazis, though there were a few SS who dabbled in occultism, the Paganism of the Nazis was generally symbolic. The proof of this is in Nazi religious policies themselves: their religious goal was not to revive Germanic Paganism, but to create a racist fundamentalist Christian movement they called Positive Christianity
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positive_Christianity)
Putting aside Norse and Slavic movements, most other Pagans are generally liberal or left leaning. The philosophical Pagan movements of the Roman Empire, especially in Egypt, were extremely tolerant, open to all, and often embraced elements of Judaism and Christianity.

[Geiseric]

"Liberals like christ" that sauce doesn't seem very appropriate for this site. Liberals?:glare:

It doesn't matter, nothing they wrote is wrong.

[Geiseric]

I think that really only represents a minority of the pagan demographic, internationally. From what I've seen here in the states and online, most pagans are what is known as eclectic pagans which borrow beliefs and traditions from Greek, Egyptian, Roman, Norse, and especially Celtic mythology. Not to mention influences of hermeticism and occultism like the Golden Dawn (not associated with the Greek political group), Crowley and LaVey. Along with various elements of wicca and new age theology like Gerald Gardner and so on. So it's like a mixture of things dependent upon the individual preferences and beliefs of the neo-pagan. Some do however try to reconstruct various religions from ancient times in an academic sort of way like only following the laws, customs, rituals and so on of [blank] mythology and the gods associated with that particular mythology but I think the bulk of the pagan community is eclectic. Then again, I'm not pagan and this is based on my own personal research and observations.



I think it's funny you call pagans idiots while in the same breath making yourself look like an idiot by claiming the bolded text.

Do you have any primary sources about ancient paganism? Please show me.

[Trap Queen Voxxy]

Do you have any primary sources about ancient paganism? Please show me.

Of which mythology? Paganism is really a giant umbrella term, from the looks of it.

[Zostrianos]

Sallustius' On the Gods and the World is a great intro to Neoplatonic theology:
http://hermetic.com/texts/on_the_gods-1.html

[synthesis]

My conception of it is that they claim to reject Christianity for the same reason they claim to reject capitalism - because they are what Marx termed "reactionary socialists." Part of their appeal was advocating a return to a previous mode of production and Christianity, as a global religion, sometimes got lumped in as an ideology of the capitalist ruling class. (This was obviously more a facet of ideology than anything that actually affected the state's decisions.)

The important thing, as has been hinted at above, is that the fascists who did advocate paganism to any extent were not just any pagans; certainly not the stereotypical goddess-enchantment-earth-ritual new age types that is conjured by the word's use in modern society. They advocated (again, only to a certain extent) a return to their culture's pre-Christian religion.

The "pagans" among German fascists, especially Himmler, nominally wanted a return to the religion of Germanic mythology; Italian fascists were infatuated with Roman society; Geiseric already mentioned the link between Golden Dawn and the Greek gods; Japanese fascists were obviously fanatically pro-Shinto; the Kuomintang advocated Confucianism; the Perkonkrusts endorsed Dievturiba, an amalgamation of various Latvian mythologies; the Nasjonal Samling in Denmark promoted elements of Norse mythology; the Icelandic Nationalist Party put out a periodical called Mjolnir, named after Thor's hammer; the Russkaya Partiya rejected Christianity as a "Jewish religion" and advocated Slavic paganism instead; and the Lithuanian Iron Wolves named themselves after a reference to the pagan king Gediminas, who fought Christianization in the 14th century.

Also see Canaanism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaanism), which rejected Judaism in favor of Canaanite mythology (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaanite_mythology) and was heavily influenced by European fascism; c.f. Yonatan Ratosh (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yonatan_Ratosh) and Brit HaBirionim (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brit_HaBirionim). More recently, groups like "Woden's Folk" in England and "Praskozorje" in Bosnia champion forms of localized neo-paganism as a source of ideological justification for fascistic nationalism.

It seems that most fascist movements could be divided into two broad religious categories: Catholic "clerical fascism" and the relatively secular non-clerical fascism that carried aspects of paganism among some elements of its base. Obviously, many movements had both among their ranks, wherein they were highly intertwined.

Ideologically - not in policy - I think this distinction is important: the clerical fascists claimed that they were motivated by the threat posed to Christianity and their nation by modernity, asserted to be capitalism and communism, both alleged to be secular. The pagan fascists, on the other hand, saw Christianity itself as part of that modernity, and viewed it as the religion underlying the modernity that threatened their "blood and soil," so they advocated the local form of paganism as a counter to the globalized, universal religion of Christianity.

Any nationalist can argue for a revival of their "folk religion" - a fascist argues for that revival as part of a theoretical return to a previous mode of production. This is, again, just an analysis of some facets of their ideology; what they do in practice is equally determined by historical materialism.

As a side note, I can't seem to find any correlations for this tendency among the historical fascist parties in the Muslim world (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_relations_with_the_Arab_world#Arab_incorporat ion_and_emulation_of_fascism). Interestingly, the only really relevant piece of evidence I found was actually the exact opposite of above: the Nadi al-Muthanna in Iraq actually named itself after a 7th-century Iraqi Muslim general who defeated the Persian Sassanids, who practiced Zoroastrianism.

[argeiphontes]

My personal gnosis would be that the Golden Dawn blasphemes against the God Who Comes, Dionysos, who's a foreigner in Greece and who brings people together in harmony. Not to mention that fascism is Titanic. I'm sure Hades has a special place in Tartarus for them.

;)

As for sources, many ancient Greek texts have survived. Hesiod's Theogeny and Works and Days are as good a starting point as any. Also, let's not forget that Christianity was instituted by decree, and spread by decree. Poland was Christianized in 966 when their prince, Mieszko I, became Christian, for political reasons I assume. Parts of Lithuania remained pagan until the 14th century. Many texts were preserved by Muslim scholars from what I hear, who didn't have the same fondness for book burning, I guess.



But you, Perses, lay up these things within your heart and listen now to right, ceasing altogether to think of violence. For the son of Kronos has ordained this law for men, that fishes and beasts and winged fowls should devour one another, for Justice is not with them; but to mankind he gave Justice which proves far the best.


Well, that sounds kooky enough, I'll stop now. :)

[Zostrianos]

A few more classical Pagan sources:

Corpus Hermeticum, Asclepius:
http://www.ageofaquarius.cc/hermetica.php

The Virgin of the World (Hermetic discourses of Isis to Horus):
http://www.sacred-texts.com/eso/vow/vow06.htm

On the Ogdoad and the Ennead (Hermetic Discourse on the 8th and the 9th):
http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/discorse.html

The Neoplatonic Chaldean oracles:
http://hermetic.com/texts/chaldean.html

Iamblichus' On the Mysteries:
http://www.esotericarchives.com/oracle/iambl_th.htm

The complete Pythagoras:
http://www.holybooks.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Complete-Pythagoras.pdf

The Egyptian Book of the Dead:
http://www.sacred-texts.com/egy/ebod/

The Orphic Hymns:
http://www.geocities.ws/orphic_hymns/

[argeiphontes]

A few more classical Pagan sources:

....

The complete Pythagoras:
http://www.holybooks.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Complete-Pythagoras.pdf

....



The Pythagoreans were interesting. They were vegetarians and heavily into Apollon.

I'll have to read the Corpus Hermeticum one day. I've read about it in Antoine Faivre's The Eternal Hermes: From Greek God to Alchemical Magus.

[Sinister Cultural Marxist]

Ultranationalism tends to be spiritually opportunistic. There's really not much reason to assert one metaphysical entity over another for a fascist, but there IS a reason to assert a particular tradition, set of practices and myths. This is why Golden Dawn affiliates with the Greek Orthodox church while also playing this silly game of retro-pagan imitation. It is also why many non-Pagan Nazis sought support from various neopagan movements in Germany while also appealing to traditional Christian hierarchies.

What fascists want is a sense of homeland, people, nation, continuity, tradition etc. That can come easily from paganism.

Most neopagans and religious traditionalists, just like most Christians, Shinto, Muslims, Hindus etc are NOT fascist. But fascists are willing to use ANY of these mythologies to justify their claim of defining the national identity.

[synthesis]

I would say that the subject of religion here actually provides an interesting window into how class shapes ideology. When in the process of building, fascist movements often had a relatively visible pagan element and the accompanying "reactionary socialist" rhetoric, which reflects the roots of fascism in the petit-bourgeoisie, the class which would have the most to gain by regressing to the relations of the previous mode of production.

When the fascist leaders assumed power, the pagan element and the "reactionary socialist" rhetoric were pushed to the background or completely jettisoned in favor of an allegiance with the ruling religious body (usually the Catholic or various Orthodox churches) and heavy industry.

[Zostrianos]

I'll have to read the Corpus Hermeticum one day. I've read about it in Antoine Faivre's The Eternal Hermes: From Greek God to Alchemical Magus.

It's one of the most inspiring and beautiful texts I've ever read, I highly recommend it.

[Geiseric]

Of which mythology? Paganism is really a giant umbrella term, from the looks of it.

I mean ancient german mythology which I think the OP is talking about.

[Comrade Jacob]

Paganism is far too much of a broad topic, there are no set beliefs in Paganism unlike fascism. Some pagans view it as a religion (there are many types), a life-style, sub-culture or a spirituality it isn't a political philosophy. It really isn't related, Norse has been over-run with Nazis, not because it has Nazi-like beliefs but because it originated in Scandinavia and the Nazis viewed the Scandinavians as "Aryan".
Because of Paganism's wide range of definitions (and not having a particular set one) Hindus and Buddhist and people who follow the Chinese folk religions can be considered Pagan, just to show the wideness of the topic.

[Remus Bleys]

I mean ancient german mythology which I think the OP is talking about.Actually I made this post when thinking about Russia and Greece.
But that's neither here nor there.

Did the Vichy have any paganism? Or were they just catholic?

[TaylorS]

I dabbled in Neo-Paganism when I was a stupid teenager and decided to look into Norse Neo-Paganism because I am of Norwegian ancestry. It my horror I discovered that Norse Neo-Pagans are often Neo-Nazis.

[Goblin]

As a lot of people have pointed out, paganism is an "ethnically european religion", whereas christianity stems from judaism. Christianity also follows the teachings of a jewish communist.

Those fascists who do follow christianity are usually roman catholics or russian orthodox. Those faiths, especially Catholicism, have had a huge influence on european society and culture.

Norwegian black metal musician, fascist, and self proclaimed "Odinist, Varg Vikernes, has written some articles on paganism which are pretty interesting:

http://www.burzum.org/eng/library/paganism01.shtml

http://www.burzum.org/eng/library/paganism02.shtml

http://www.burzum.org/eng/library/paganism03.shtml

http://www.burzum.org/eng/library/paganism04.shtml

Varg in his "pagan attire":
http://www.burzum.org/img/gallery11/big/photo209.jpghttp://www.burzum.org/img/gallery10/big/photo02.jpg

Varg and his wife made documentary called "ForeBears", which explores ancient european "bear cult rituals". Sadly, the full version of the documentary is not available online, but there is a 10 minute version on Youtube:

37wW5rR8624

[Remus Bleys]

As a lot of people have pointed out, paganism is an "ethnically european religion", whereas christianity stems from judaism. Christianity also follows the teachings of a jewish communist.

Those pagans who do follow christianity are usually roman catholics or russian orthodox. Those faiths, especially Catholicism, have had a huge influence on european society and culture

Wait, christian paganism? Explain please.

[Goblin]

Wait, christian paganism? Explain please.

Shit! I fucked up! That was supposed to say "fascists" not "pagans" Sorry about that!

[Sinister Cultural Marxist]

Actually I made this post when thinking about Russia and Greece.
But that's neither here nor there.

Did the Vichy have any paganism? Or were they just catholic?

The Latin world didn't have as much of a history of neopaganism and was more conservatively catholic, so fascists there (like Franco for instance) had no reason to appeal to neopagan symbols and ideals.

Also I don't think that the Vichy government really had the same kind of hardcore indigenous fascist movement behind it so much as it had the German army behind it.

[Remus Bleys]

The Latin world didn't have as much of a history of neopaganism and was more conservatively catholic, so fascists there (like Franco for instance) had no reason to appeal to neopagan symbols and ideals.

Also I don't think that the Vichy government really had the same kind of hardcore indigenous fascist movement behind it so much as it had the German army behind it.

Well, wasnt Phalangism (is that what its called?) Orignially anti-catholic?

[Geiseric]

Well, wasnt Phalangism (is that what its called?) Orignially anti-catholic?

I highly doubt that, the most ardent supporters of Franco were the catholic church.

[Os Cangaceiros]

Well, wasnt Phalangism (is that what its called?) Orignially anti-catholic?

AFAIK there wasn't much in the way of explicitly anti-clerical sentiment among the Spanish Nationalists, although there definitely was a range of pro-Catholic sentiment, with the more hardline Carlists on the one side, and on the other side more "left-wing" or national syndicalist elements of the Spanish falange like Jose Primo de Rivera and Ramiro Ledesma Ramos, who were more ambivalent towards Catholicism.

[Flying Purple People Eater]

Phalangists were most definitely not anti-catholic. The majority of their supporters came from the former royalists and peasant land owners that dotted Western Spain. The industrialised and secular section in Valencia, Madrid and Catalonia particularly was the bastion of the left.

Catholicism was a big part of Spanish Fascism, hence why you'll see Spanish socialists shooting and burning statues of Jesus. Franco even built, with slave labour via socialist prisoners, one of the largest catholic churches in the world (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valle_de_los_Ca%C3%ADdos) to use as a chapel, 'honour' the nazi pigs who fought for his reactionary regime, and have himself buried there when he died.

Paganism, while there, was on the absolute fringe of the far-right at the time (much like homosexual rights groups within the fascist parties became after Rohm lost influence). If you were a pagan in Francoist Spain, chances are you'd be killed.

[synthesis]

[Spanish] Paganism, while there, was on the absolute fringe of the far-right at the time

Do you have any more information on this? I tried looking for it when I was writing that little list of pagan elements in historical fascism on the first page of this thread but came up short, so I'd be really interested to read more about it.

[Chris]

At least in Norway, the majority of asatru/norse mythologists/old custom followers (whatever term one wants to use), are not fascist. From my experience, I'd say no more than a third of us are (and probably far, far less), and fascist/non-fascist pagans tend to organise in wildly different organisations (anti-fascists in Bifrost, non-fascists in Foreningen Forn Sed and fascists in Vigrid). Of those, Bifrost is by far the largest with members ranging from communists to social-democrats to liberals to nationalists to apoliticals. The situation is similar in Sweden and Denmark, and entirely different in Iceland (where the ~1% pagan population nearly lacks fascist adherents).

The problem is more that the fascist lot is a lot more vocal than non-fascist pagans, especially as most non-fascist pagan groupings here have internal rules against proselytisation.

[Remus Bleys]

Phalangists were most definitely not anti-catholic. The majority of their supporters came from the former royalists and peasant land owners that dotted Western Spain. The industrialised and secular section in Valencia, Madrid and Catalonia particularly was the bastion of the left.

Catholicism was a big part of Spanish Fascism, hence why you'll see Spanish socialists shooting and burning statues of Jesus. Franco even built, with slave labour via socialist prisoners, one of the largest catholic churches in the world (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valle_de_los_Ca%C3%ADdos) to use as a chapel, 'honour' the nazi pigs who fought for his reactionary regime, and have himself buried there when he died.

Paganism, while there, was on the absolute fringe of the far-right at the time (much like homosexual rights groups within the fascist parties became after Rohm lost influence). If you were a pagan in Francoist Spain, chances are you'd be killed.

I'm talking about prefranco falange.

[Jimmie Higgins]

From what I understand in the u.s. European neopeganism roughly falls into reactionary an progressive camps: the left being the more hippie-dippie nature-oriented with little to no ethnic considerations and a relatively large gay following (hmm, why would spiritual Lgbt people in the us be attracted to a non-christian non-mainstream religion... Oh yeah); the reactionary side is more concerned with worshiping "your own" gods and would not tolerate a Latino guy worshipping Norse gods... If they aren't fascists, they might just say "worship prechristian American gods, but not ours).

Compounding the issues of just some ethnic-requirements is that there are organized racist groups who see European paganism as a vehicle. Because prisons generally have restrictions on overt racist lit, religious Christian and Pagan lit with fascist and racist messages are a way actual hate groups can organize more freely. I think this then feeds into existing reactionary and ethnic separatist ideas. The national-anarchists, for example were trying to recruit right-wing European pegans for example. My partner's friend went to a pegan retreat and people there were using apocalyptic Scandinavian myths and saying that Latino immigration was a sign of it and compared them to some siege of sub-humans in apocalyptic mythology from Scandinavia.

[Venas Abiertas]

Let's remember that the original religions and spiritualities of Africa, the Americas, and Australia have also been considered to be "pagan" by some and those peoples certainly have no connection or tendencies toward fascism.

In the Andes region there has been a recent return to pre-Christian beliefs and practices, whether to replace Christianity or syncretize with it, and most of those who participate in that return support leftist leaders like Chávez or Evo Morales.

[Geiseric]

Let's remember that the original religions and spiritualities of Africa, the Americas, and Australia have also been considered to be "pagan" by some and those peoples certainly have no connection or tendencies toward fascism.

In the Andes region there has been a recent return to pre-Christian beliefs and practices, whether to replace Christianity or syncretize with it, and most of those who participate in that return support leftist leaders like Chávez or Evo Morales.

I know in Cuba about 60 percent of people participate in their own mixture of catholicism and west african religion, which happened after Castro basically kicked out the church (good riddance). I saw a video of the pope bowing down and kissing Fidel's hand even, it was pretty funny.

[heylelshalem]

the nazis were obsessed with reclaiming their true "Aryan heritage"and used pagan symbology and the occult a lot to put out their ideas. the swastika is a very universal pagan symbol that they took as well. A lot of nazi's now days are pagan or christian identity. But not a lot of pagans now days are nazis..in fact a lot of pagan groups involved in the germanic paganism of asatru or odinism will be very blunt about how they dislike the facists stealing their heritage.

I myself like to follow pagan traditions and celebrate the sabbats, religious studys are very rewarding even if you dont take then literally.