Asgard in America

Table of Contents

Prologue: Ancient Bones and Current Contention

1. Introductory: Allies of Asgard in America

Overview: Community History of American Asatru

Review: Previous Perspectives and Pretermissions

Preview: Outline of Procedure

2. Kennewick Man, Cultural Pluralism, and the Postindustrial Crisis of Western Modernity

Bones to Pick over Discursive Power

Reorganization and Repercussions of Modernity

Alterternative Geographies, Competing Modernities, and the Reality of Religion

3. Ancestry, Ethnicity, and the Politics of Belonging

Of Longing and Not Belonging

Of Lost and Reclaimed Belongings

Of Belonging and Borderlines of Order

4. Community, Commitment, and the Practice of Being True

Togetherness and the Motivation to Mastery

Commitment and the Moods of Virtuous Conduct

5. In Conclusion: Rescue Unit Asatru?

Objectives and Core Themes

This thesis examines the construction of identity within the Asatru movement in the United States, specifically focusing on how the reconstruction of a pre-Christian Germanic religion serves as a response to the perceived crisis of Western identity in a modern, pluralistic society. It explores how adherents invent a European ethnicity to anchor their individual and communal identity, thereby asserting a meaningful existence within a postindustrial context.

• The role of the Kennewick Man controversy as a catalyst for Asatru public visibility.
• Discursive construction of ethnic and religious identity among modern Heathens.
• The critique of Western modernity and the quest for spiritual "homecoming."
• The ethics of "living true" and the practice of individual empowerment through ritual.
• The challenge of reconciling ancestral traditions with a pluralistic American cultural landscape.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

Prologue: Ancient Bones and Current Contention: Introduces the Kennewick Man discovery and the subsequent legal and symbolic battle over his remains, highlighting the intersection of science, Native American heritage, and Asatru claims.

1. Introductory: Allies of Asgard in America: Provides an overview of the Asatru community's organizational history, defining the scope of the study and the author's critical, alternative approach to existing scholarly perspectives.

2. Kennewick Man, Cultural Pluralism, and the Postindustrial Crisis of Western Modernity: Analyzes the Kennewick Man affair as a site of discursive struggle, linking the crisis of hegemonic culture to the emergence of Asatru as a form of cultural navigation.

3. Ancestry, Ethnicity, and the Politics of Belonging: Explores how Asatruar construct a "new order" by defining ethnic identity in terms of belonging and difference, using rhetorical devices to reclaim a sense of historical continuity.

4. Community, Commitment, and the Practice of Being True: Examines the ethical framework of Asatru, focusing on how communal rituals and personal commitments empower the individual to "live true" within a secular society.

5. In Conclusion: Rescue Unit Asatru?: Synthesizes the findings, arguing that Asatru functions as a "rescue unit" for Western values while attempting to provide a viable identity structure in the postmodern age.

Keywords

Asatru, Heathenism, Identity Construction, Ethnicity, Cultural Pluralism, Kennewick Man, NAGPRA, Modernity, Discourse Analysis, Ancestry, Belonging, Reconstructionism, Ritual, Ethics, Postindustrial Society.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary focus of this work?

This thesis examines the construction of identity within the Asatru (Germanic neo-pagan) community in the United States, specifically exploring how this religion addresses the crisis of Western identity in a pluralistic society.

What are the central themes discussed?

Key themes include the invention of European ethnicity, the importance of ancestry and belonging, the critique of modern hegemonic culture, and the role of ritual practice in fostering community and individual empowerment.

What is the core research question?

The research investigates how identity is constructed in Asatru discourse, how this identity affects the lives of its practitioners, and how this cultural innovation impacts the broader American cultural landscape.

Which methodology is employed?

The work utilizes a discursive approach, analyzing writings, manifestos, and theological treatises from prominent Asatru authors and organizations to understand how they construct meaning and identity.

What is covered in the main body?

The main body explores the social background of American Asatru, the discursive significance of the Kennewick Man controversy, the political and ethnic construction of belonging, and the ethical practices that define the "Heathen" subject.

Which keywords characterize this work?

Essential keywords include Asatru, Heathenism, ethnic identity, postmodernity, cultural pluralism, and the politics of belonging.

Why did Asatru followers enter the Kennewick Man dispute?

The Asatru Folk Assembly viewed the controversy as a unique opportunity to enter the public discourse and assert a respectable place for their religion, claiming the skeleton as a symbol of pre-Christian European roots in America.

How does Asatru ethics differ from traditional Christian morality?

Asatru ethics are portrayed as "situational" and value-based, emphasizing individual empowerment, self-reliance, and direct relationships with ancestors and gods, rather than obedience to absolute laws, sin, or guilt-based religious structures.

Is Asatru considered a conservative movement?

While the movement often emphasizes traditional values and gender roles, the author argues it is not simply a version of the religious political right, as its schemes for "rescuing" society are rooted in ecological complexity rather than authoritarian moralism.