Finding Sites Online that Defame Heathenism and Paganism

You may be surprised and appalled at the results, especially if you combine regular Asatru search words (like Odin, Heathen, or folk) with some of the other words (like Satan, hate, or Nazi).

I want to make it very clear that OF COURSE NOT ALL the search results you will get with these keywords will be racist, Satanic, or hate-mongering Web sites!

You will certainly get some mainstream Asatru / Heathen / Pagan sites using many of these search words--including, no doubt, my own Web sites!

All you have to do to tell the orientation of a Web site is to READ IT CAREFULLY. The majority of hate-mongers and racial supremacists do not try to hide what they are about, they'll make it pretty plain. However, sometimes a racist message might be masked with Thor's hammers, or the use of other well known Heathen symbols, and statements about reclaiming your lost heritage. Even more sneaky, some racists try to win acceptance from the community (something they greatly desire) by simply making a statement that they 'are not racists'. In some cases, however, with a bit of research you easily can discover their links to radical racist groups. You have to do some investigation, in come cases, to be sure with whom you are dealing.

Check a site's links and reading list, and read what they actually say (or promote) before you believe any disclaimer. One tactic used by some to divert attention from racist content is to point fingers at others for 'being ashamed of being white', or labelling those who are not racists with terms they have made derisive, like 'universalist' or 'politically correct'. Another tactic some groups used-- and it was used by the Nazis before them, is to define 'Nature' along such lines as to make racial supremacy and a specific religion for a specific folk seem 'natural'. Of course, they are also quick to tell you what is 'unnatural'. Usually it comes down to defining who and what you are, and who and what you 'should be', and even how you should live, based on genetics. The horrific events of the twentieth century should be enough warning of where that 'philosophy' can lead. But to some...it isn't. That's why we have to remain vigilant!

It is a sad fact that some hate groups do misuse our holy symbols, so don't judge by surface appearance; really read each site and determine what it advocates. Be aware (and this should be obvious) that pride in one's heritage does not equal the promotion of race-hatred. Neither does practising an ethnic European religion mean one hates those who practice other religions. Unfortunately some hate groups try to twist "heritage" and "ethnic religion" to the promotion of their agenda of hate, (even to such extremes as 'overthrowing the government!'), which is very damaging to the reputation of Heathenism. Most Heathen Websites, now aware of this growing problem, put disclaimers somewhere on their pages to ensure no one mistakes them for the relatively few, if very vocal, radical fringe groups or individuals who misuse and misrepresent our Gods' names, our holy symbols, and our religion. However, disclaimers are only one clue as to a site's or group's orientation. You have to look deeper. Read their content and check out their associations.

It is especially unfortunate many young people first hear of Asatru being linked to racism through popular band lyrics (hardly the height of Heathen scholarship!), so that when they search for information on real-life Heathenism, they expect to find racist content. Some of these misinformed people make their own amateur Websites to promote their favourite bands and in the process present Asatru and Paganism (most insultingly) as religions of hate and racism, and as forms of Satanism. This, I believe, makes it ever more important for spiritual and scholarly Heathen sites which do have more accurate information on our religion to make it clear up front what our beliefs are--and are not. That is the purpose for which HAH, Pagans Against Fascism, Pagans Against Nazis, and the many other unique disclaimers on individual Heathen Web sites were created. It's all about education.

If you want to educate yourself -- in the interest of "knowing your enemy"-- do some research on white supremacist organisations, neo-Nazis, Satanism, and anti-Heathen radical fundamentalist Christian propaganda. It's also a good idea to research the hate-speech and techniques of defamation, oppression and violence used by Anti-Semites. Yes, this is a distasteful study, but in this way you will learn the common strategies and jingo used by superiorist hate groups to 'legitimise' themselves and in the process learn how to spot sites that promote hate or misrepresent other ideologies for political purposes. Also, if you study the ancient Heathen source texts and beliefs you easily will see how different these hate-groups' beliefs are to true Heathen ones.

I also am sometimes accused of bashing the whole Metal scene, which is not true. Read the HAH statement: I specifically say 'but of course not all' black metal groups promote hate and misrepresent Heathenism. The facts are, that some members of some black metal bands have gone so far as to encourage race-hatred, murder and the burning ancient stave churches (really incredibly tragic, as the stave-churches contain ancient Heathen art, giving us some of our only ideas what a Heathen Hof must have been like, not to mention it is a crime against culture and religious freedom)! Clearly some--but not all--in the Black Metal scene are extreme racists, anti-Christian to the extent that they commit atrocities against Christians and their churches, or are anti-Semites who attack Jews and spread terror by desecrating Jewish cemeteries, synagogues and meeting places, or who simply are just criminals and nut-cases!

I even have received E-mails in which I am told I'm 'a Christian'. This one really boggles my mind...

Some have accused me of bashing the whole Satanist scene too. The HAH statement is only a rejection of those who teach that Heathen ways, Gods, and beliefs are 'Satanic'. That they are is a an untruth. Heathenism has nothing whatsoever to do with Satanism or any belief which defines itself through a rejection of Christianity. Heathenism is not 'ceremonial magick' either. To have 'lodges' teaching it as such is a misrepresentation of traditional Heathen beliefs. If people want to do that, they have that freedom. But to try to pass off their 'lodges' as traditionally Heathen is a misrepresentation.

I have been accused by neo-Nazis and white supremacists in the past of being a "Communist". Where some of these people get the idea that opposing Nazism, totalitarianism and race-hatred is "Communist" I can't imagine. I have some friends who are WWII vets who would find the idea that they are Commies because they fought Nazis rather ludicrous, if not darkly amusing. When I get hate mail from racists who threaten me with violence because I promote tolerance, or when I receive nasty little notes what accuse me of 'hating the white race', of being 'a universalist intent on promoting the faceless global monoculture' (pfft! my websites are a celebration of Germanic/Norse culture and religion--only without supremacist rantings, and without promoting hate of other cultures and religions); when they accuse me of promoting the 'pollution of the race', or other such drivel...I shake my head at their ignorance. When Nazis and white supremacists send me hate mail, I figure I must be doing something right. <G>

(Another darkly amusing thing about some of the white supremacist loud-mouths: I have found my copyrighted Heathen artwork stolen and used on more than one racist site. So, you see, the racists may call me all sorts of names, sent me ranting emails, and even threaten my life, but when it comes to inspired Heathen work--which they lack and are incapable of producing themselves--they have no qualms about stealing my art--the fruits of my legitimate, Heathen connection to the Old Gods--to use its power to promote *their* shameful message).

So, no, I'm no Communist, I'm not promoting monoculture, and I certainly am not a Christian. I've consciously been Heathen for over 25 years. I invite you to take a look at my Websites, which are pure celebrations of Germanic Heathenry. Have a look at my Links to find links to other Asatru / Heathen personal pages and Organisations, and other Ethnic Pagan sites, and please visit the HAH banner campaign members sites.