What is Asatru?

I. Introduction and Historical Background

Asatru is a modern revival of ancient Norse pagan beliefs and practices, sometimes referred to as the Old Norse religion or Heathenry. The term “Asatru” is derived from Old Norse and can be translated as “faith in the Æsir,” who were regarded as a prominent clan of gods in Norse mythology. Asatru organizations and practitioners seek to honor the gods and goddesses of pre-Christian Scandinavia, including Odin, Thor, Freya, and others, while drawing on historical sources such as the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda.

Although Asatru as a formal, organized movement began to gain momentum in the 20th century, many of its rituals and worldview reflect an attempt to reconstruct or reinterpret ancient Norse customs and ethos. In addition to revering multiple deities, adherents often place strong emphasis on concepts such as honor, courage, ancestry, and community.

II. Key Beliefs and Practices

1. Polytheism and Reverence for the Norse Pantheon

Asatru teaches devotion to various Norse deities who are generally split between two families: the Æsir and the Vanir. Practitioners believe in forging close connections with these supernatural figures for guidance, blessing, and personal identity.

2. Ancestral Veneration

Many Asatru adherents see ancestors and the spirits of the deceased as playing an active, ongoing role in the lives of the living. Rituals often include acknowledgment of familial heritage, blended with a sense of cultural or tribal identity.

3. Ritual Gatherings

Asatru groups commonly hold “blóts” (sacrificial feasts) and “sumbels” (ceremonial toasting events) to honor deities and ancestors. These gatherings may include shared meals, recitations from Norse texts, and symbolic toasts.

4. Nature and the Cycles of the Year

Many practitioners emphasize closeness to nature and observe seasonal festivals that tie into Norse mythology, such as solstices and equinoxes. These seasonal rites frequently correlate with agricultural or ecological changes in the environment.

5. Morality Shaped by Mythological Virtues

Concepts like bravery, truthfulness, and loyalty are cherished, often drawing from examples and stories in medieval Norse sagas. Rather than basing morality on a single text or codified law, Asatru typically relies on the alleged virtues passed down from ancient Germanic cultures.

III. Biblical Perspective and Theological Concerns

From the standpoint of Scripture, the worship of multiple deities and any engagement with what the Bible refers to as idols stands at odds with biblical teaching:

• Monotheism

Scripture repeatedly affirms that there is only one true God, the Creator of all things. Deuteronomy 6:4 declares, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One!” Similarly, the First Commandment underscores, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3).

• Ultimate Creator and Source of Life

According to the Bible, God alone is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe (Genesis 1:1). This sets the God of Scripture apart from the pantheon in Asatru, which envisions multiple supernatural beings with limited dominion. Scripture portrays God as the only eternal, all-powerful, self-existent Being (Psalm 90:2).

• Source of Salvation

Scripture teaches that salvation and reconciliation to God are found exclusively through Jesus Christ (John 14:6). The Christian proclamation centers on the historical, bodily resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, who is “the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). Unlike the Asatru focus on forging alliances with multiple gods, biblical faith requires turning entirely to the risen Christ for deliverance from sin (1 Thessalonians 1:9).

• Rejection of Idolatry

In the New Testament, the apostles urged believers to break with idolatrous practices. Paul writes, “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator” (Romans 1:25). Scripture consistently condemns any practice that elevates created beings, mythological gods, or spirits to the place of supreme reverence.

IV. Examination of Ancient vs. Modern Expressions

Asatru often attempts to reconstruct Old Norse beliefs using surviving texts like the Eddas and various medieval sagas. However, historical evidence suggests that much of the original ritual context was lost or never comprehensively recorded. Archaeological findings, such as inscriptions on runestones and Viking-age artifacts, hint at religious practices, but the full scope is incomplete.

In contrast, the authenticity of Scripture rests on a massive body of manuscript evidence and consistent transmission. The Dead Sea Scrolls, for instance, include biblical texts that align closely with the later Masoretic and Greek manuscripts, reflecting remarkable preservation. Leading scholars in textual criticism (such as Dr. James White and Dr. Dan Wallace) highlight the weight of consistent manuscript attestation that supports the reliability of the biblical texts, unmatched by most other ancient documents.

V. Historical Reliability and Archaeological Support for Scripture

1. Archaeological Confirmations of Biblical Events

Excavations at sites like Jericho, Hazor, and Megiddo demonstrate alignment with biblical records of events tied to Israel’s history. Findings of personal seals, ancient inscriptions, and references to biblical names in extra-biblical writings reinforce the historicity of key biblical characters and periods.

2. Documented Prophecies and Fulfillments

Biblical prophecy and its fulfillment serve as another line of evidence that the Scriptures are not merely a cultural product but divine revelation. Passages in Isaiah, Micah, and the Psalms prophesy about the Messiah’s birthplace, ministry, and manner of death, with specific fulfillment documented in the Gospels.

3. Manuscript Evidence and Early Christian Writings

The available Greek manuscripts, Latin translations, and quotations from the early church fathers attest to the earliest copies of the New Testament documents. These sources demonstrate remarkable consistency concerning Christ’s deity, crucifixion, resurrection, and teachings—affirming the core elements that Asatru and other pagan religions do not share.

VI. Implications for Truth Claims

From a biblical framework, any worldview that posits multiple deities or denies the uniqueness of Christ’s redemptive work cannot be reconciled with Scripture. As Paul writes, “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).

The Christian understanding of truth is that the resurrection is uniquely attested by eyewitness testimony, historical documentation, and the transforming power observed in the early believers (1 Corinthians 15:3–8). This resurrection event remains central to Christianity’s claim that Jesus is Lord over life and death, transcending any mythological or created being.

VII. Comparisons with a Biblical Worldview

1. View of the Divine

Asatru: Multiple limited deities, each with own traits and areas of control.

Scripture: One omnipotent, omniscient God (Psalm 139:1–6; Revelation 19:6).

2. View of Humanity

Asatru: Emphasis on ancestral honor, community bonds, and personal honor.

Scripture: While heritage and community are valued, every human being’s primary identity is in being made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). The chief purpose is to glorify and enjoy God forever (Revelation 4:11).

3. Means of Salvation / Afterlife

Asatru: Varied beliefs, including concepts of Valhalla and Hel, often depending on bravery in battle or favor with the gods.

Scripture: Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8–9). The afterlife—eternity in God’s presence or separation from Him—is not contingent on personal deeds but on Christ’s atoning sacrifice (Romans 6:23).

4. Reliance on Textual Authority

Asatru: Reconstruction using medieval texts (Eddas), historical sagas, and modern interpretation.

Scripture: The Bible stands on abundant manuscript evidence, historical documentation, prophecy, and a cohesive narrative structure from Genesis to Revelation.

VIII. Conclusion

Asatru, while emerging in modern times from interest in ancient Norse traditions, diverges from Scripture in its polytheistic approach and its view of the divine, humanity, and salvation. By contrast, the Bible unequivocally presents one eternal Creator, revealed in Jesus Christ. Historical, archaeological, and manuscript evidence corroborate the reliability of Scripture, attesting to the life, death, and resurrection of Christ as the singular hope for humankind (Romans 5:8).

For believers and seekers, examining Asatru through the lens of Scripture involves weighing the claims of Norse deities and practices against the holistic witness of the Bible. The message of Scripture remains consistent: “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).