A Marxist Heathen.

[Red-Heathen]

Hello everyone!

I'm a young Marxist coming out of the East Coast of the U.S.
I was raised a Heathen, a practitioner of the Ásatrú faith.
A lot of my experiences as both a working class child and a religious minority contributed to my "Awakening" as a Marxist. And I hope one day to write something about the trials faced by the elders of the Pagan community in the U.S as well as the children like myself who were raised in that setting, with all of the hardship and reward it brings.

I do look forward to seeing all of the opinions and discussions on these forums!

[Q]

Welcome :)

If you have political questions, you can ask them in the Learning forum. That's why it's there after all!

If you have questions about your account, don't hesitate to send me a PM or ask here.

I never heard of Ásatrú before, but apparently this is a continuation of pre-Christian German religion. I never expected that to be a thing.

[Danielle Ni Dhighe]

Welcome! I have two friends who are Marxists from an Asatru background (I'm a former Celtic Reconstructionist myself).

[Red-Heathen]

It is very much a thing Comrade! However, in society as it is today, we're sort of all branded "Pagan" And, while I love the pagan community. This is essentially a bond of necessity. Alone, and in small groups. Pagan people will often be subject to a lot of hate and even persecution. My parents have had ink thrown on them and been spit at for practicing during a scheduled event on public land.
But yes, it's Pre-Christian Germanic and Scandinavian religion. And it's actually seen a very strong revival recently in North America.
Thanks for that Danielle, I've known a lot of Celtic faith practitioners, the person who started our local community was one!

[Hrafn]

As a Scandinavian, I have to say I'm generally very suspicious of "Ásatrú" practioneers, both foreign and domestic, due to the associations to White supremacy. And, probably, because I was raised in an old-school Lutheran environment that frowns upon such things, haha.

[Red-Heathen]

That's something I should make clear I suppose Hrafn!
To be clear. Asatraur are NOT due to their practices, racist.
There's nothing in our doctrine our faith that promotes one race over another, and I don't even know if there's a recognition of it at all.

The group you are referring to call themselves "Folkish" Asatraur, or sometimes "Odinists".
It's VERY important to note that these people by no means represent the actual opinions and practices of the international Asatraur community. These people are actively shunned by the respectable community.

These people are not racist because they are Asatraur, they are Asatraur to try and justify their racism.

Where as I, born and raised in a Neo-pagan and Ásatrú environment, never learned racism from the practice. In fact acceptance was very openly taught.

If we are to assume that this group, who constitute a sect of people NOT accepted by the community at large are to be the basis through which all Asatraur are seen.
Then we are to judge the Christians by American Christian fundamentalists. Jewish people by extreme Zionists etc. etc.

These Folkish practitioners see our faith as a tool for their agenda, not as a series of stories passed down by our ancestors which they are to use to help live a good life. And the community in my area, as well as the international community. Reject these people and their beliefs as a stain on our religion and practice.
It doesn't help that the news only ever shows Neo-Nazi "Odinists" either.

In short. That's not us. The grouping in my local area strongly rejects that and welcome any practitioners in who seek to follow that path.
It's actually rather unfortunate that the two are conflated so often. :/

[Trap Queen Voxxy]

Welcome! Idc about your religion tbh, I wanna know more about your politics and political involvements. Wot u about friend?

[Red-Heathen]

I'm a year south of proper from joining a party in my country.
I would currently say.. I fit closest with Marxism-Leninism. But I am currently in the process of studying more tendencies.

I support Feminism, Anti-Racism, and Anti-Fascism and religious equality movements.

While I think supporting these things is all well and good. I've sadly not been able to take to the streets with my conviction on such things. And am currently confined to study.
So my "Field work" or whatever you might call it, I will be the first to admit, is non existent. I do look forward to being active in the future though. :grin:

[Hrafn]

That's something I should make clear I suppose Hrafn!
To be clear. Asatraur are NOT due to their practices, racist.
There's nothing in our doctrine our faith that promotes one race over another, and I don't even know if there's a recognition of it at all.

The group you are referring to call themselves "Folkish" Asatraur, or sometimes "Odinists".
It's VERY important to note that these people by no means represent the actual opinions and practices of the international Asatraur community. These people are actively shunned by the respectable community.

These people are not racist because they are Asatraur, they are Asatraur to try and justify their racism.

Where as I, born and raised in a Neo-pagan and Ásatrú environment, never learned racism from the practice. In fact acceptance was very openly taught.

If we are to assume that this group, who constitute a sect of people NOT accepted by the community at large are to be the basis through which all Asatraur are seen.
Then we are to judge the Christians by American Christian fundamentalists. Jewish people by extreme Zionists etc. etc.

These Folkish practitioners see our faith as a tool for their agenda, not as a series of stories passed down by our ancestors which they are to use to help live a good life. And the community in my area, as well as the international community. Reject these people and their beliefs as a stain on our religion and practice.
It doesn't help that the news only ever shows Neo-Nazi "Odinists" either.

In short. That's not us. The grouping in my local area strongly rejects that and welcome any practitioners in who seek to follow that path.
It's actually rather unfortunate that the two are conflated so often. :/

I know about all of this - I've read quite a bit about these things, especially the Ásatrú practitioners in Sweden. Still, it's a nasty gut feeling that's hard to shake of, you know? I have a similar tendency to be suspicious of other groups, despite knowing quite well I'm wrong in that suspicion.

I myself carry a wolf cross around the neck, if you're familiar with that symbol, although that's more a reflection of how much I value my own personal heritage, and my interest in history (I study cultural heritage). That in turn sometimes makes people suspicious of me, ironically. I also have a range of Old Norse-based tattoos, which also tends to set off alarms.

[ProletariatPower]

I'm an Atheist myself and I don't believe there are any gods. However, I have an obsession with Norse mythology, ancient religion and history. A few years ago I actually sort of considered myself a "Atheist Heathen", in that I considered the mythology rich and also valuable, I sort of had my own theory that the 'Pagan' Gods across many religions could be considered representative and reflective of nature itself, in a way I considered them personifications of nature indicating the respect that must be given to nature. I wonder what your thoughts would be on this interpretation?
While I don't consider myself a 'Heathen' really today I still find the religion and history of it really interesting, and I despise the racists who have tried to usurp such a rich culture.

Also something of interest that might be notable, is that in a way the religion and mythology around it could perhaps be considered 'proletariat culture', in that in Marxist theory on literature bardic tales are a cultural manifestation of the proletariat which often contrasts with the 'bourgeoisie culture'. I'm not saying that it is exactly a 'Marxist religion', but I don't think it would be considered in any way an 'opium of the masses'.

[Red-Heathen]

I've a Norse tattoo myself! And I had a bit of worry when I got it as well that it might be taken poorly by some. But calm explanation always seems do to away with that.

Proletariat power, that's not a totally uncommon interpretation to make! There are several neo-pagan people who believe something akin to this, it's an interesting conception surely! Though not one I myself subscribe to, i'm a traditional lad in that regard I suppose.

It's always been a bit interesting balancing religion with political practice. I try to use some of the negative experiences I've had as a religious minority in a somewhat fundamentalist part of America to fuel my hatred toward other forms of oppression I see in the world. And I try to take a message from religion that is in favor of revolution. A favorite quote of mine by the god Othin in our stories is " Wherever you know of harm, regard that harm as your own; and give your foes no peace".

[Red-Heathen]

I enjoy cultural heritage studies as well Hrafn! However, I try not to focus on that study too much, I was born in America. In regards to heritage I mostly consider it to be connected with being Asatraur. As to avoid that pitfall of considering a place you've never been to your motherland or something. Since the faith comes from multiple locations in Northern Europe. It sort of removes the land aspect for me and allows me to focus on the practice. I see a lot of Americans who study heritage end up talking about how they're X Y or Z as apposed to saying where they're from. And even I am guilty of that in some regard, though I take pains not to do it now.

And of course, at then end of the day, beyond culture and the like, we're all the same folk. And should support each other in that way. "Proletarians of all countries, unite!"-Karl Marx.

[ashtonh]

As a Scandinavian, I have to say I'm generally very suspicious of "Ásatrú" practioneers, both foreign and domestic, due to the associations to White supremacy. And, probably, because I was raised in an old-school Lutheran environment that frowns upon such things, haha.
Haha comrade I can lend expertise here. The AFA and other folkish groups have racial attitudes with neo-nazis branding themselves asatru as a way to hide behind religion. When I was asatru I was universalist, basically if the gods call you your race is no matter. It saddens me that asatru and kemeticism has been used for racist or euro/afro-centrist views.:(

[The Jay]

Hello there. What theory have you read?

[Red-Heathen]

@The Jay I've read The Manifesto of the Communist Party and Wage Labor and Capital by Marx. As well as some of his smaller writings and a few sections of Capital (Though I've not actually braved that whole enormous book yet). I've read "Essential works of Lenin" Which includes the ending summaries of each chapter in "Capitalism in Russia" as well as "What Is to be Done?" in full, "Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism" and "The State and Revolution" appear in full in that book as well. Separate from those I've also read "The Wretched of the Earth" By Frantz Fanon. I do enjoy diving into Leftist theory and history so the "books to read" section of my favorites list is perpetually growing almost. And I've gone through various articles online ranging from pretty decent theory to weird fringe stuff that I don't check out twice.

[TheAntiReactionary]

Hello! I've been quite interested in Paganism since about 2 years ago, as well. Recently I've found myself most drawn to Sumerian/Mesopotamian/Babylonian paganism, but I'm interested in learning more about Ásatrú as well as having discussions with people who adhere to it.

[Red-Heathen]

Right on. I'm happy to speak about what I know. Though as far as things go i'm a pretty passive practitioner. I was raised with it, learned other things just enough to know I agree with what I was taught, it just works for me.