Asgard in America

Inhaltsverzeichnis (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

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This work investigates the construction of identity within the discourse of the Germanic neo-pagan movement in the United States of America. The author explores the emergence and growth of Asatru, a modern reconstructionist Heathenry, as a response to the crisis of modernity and the resulting crisis of Western identity. It analyzes the construction of European ethnicity and its role in redefining Euro-American identity in a context of increasing cultural pluralism.

• The emergence of Asatru as a response to the crisis of modernity and the resulting crisis of Western identity
• The construction of European ethnicity as a means of redefining Euro-American identity in a context of increasing cultural pluralism
• The role of Asatru's ethical framework in shaping its followers' sense of community and belonging
• The cultural conflict arising from the pluralistic tendencies in American society
• The implications of Asatru's cultural identity for the contemporary political and cultural landscape of the United States

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The prologue introduces the Kennewick Man controversy, highlighting the tensions between scientific inquiry, cultural heritage, and competing narratives about the past. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the history of Asatru in America, outlining previous perspectives and research gaps. It concludes with an outline of the research methodology employed in the study.

Chapter 2 delves into the broader context of the study, examining the postindustrial crisis of Western modernity, cultural pluralism in America, and the role of religious discourse in shaping identities. This chapter analyzes the controversy surrounding Kennewick Man as a case study for understanding the intersections of cultural power, scientific discourse, and the politics of belonging.

Chapter 3 focuses on the construction of ethnicity and the politics of belonging within Asatru. It explores the themes of longing and not belonging, reclaiming a lost heritage, and the construction of boundaries and order within the Asatru community.

Chapter 4 examines the community, commitment, and ethical practices within Asatru. It analyzes the motivations for participation, the importance of virtuous conduct, and the ways in which the community reinforces its identity and worldview.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The study focuses on the following key concepts: Asatru, Germanic neo-paganism, Heathenry, identity construction, European ethnicity, cultural pluralism, American society, postindustrial modernity, cultural conflict, religious discourse, ethical framework, community, belonging, and the politics of belonging. It examines these concepts through a discourse analysis approach, drawing upon primary sources from within the Asatru community and relevant academic literature.