/asatru/ - Asatru / Heathenry / Paganism

>>10659

At best, Thorsson is someone to only carefully rummage through if you are already experienced in Heathenry. If you are a rookie, stay away from his material until you have a lot of knowledge under your belt to be able to effectively separate the wheat from the chaff. For every good academic quality article he writes or obscure book he translates, there's a book of his that is essentially a Satanic, Wiccan, New Age, Ceremonial Magick mishmash that will just confuse you and lead you down the wrong way.

I don't understand what you mean by the AFA favoring him. During the original split in which the Asatru Free Assembly broke down and split off into the Asatru Folk Assembly (Folkish) and The Troth (Universalist), Edred Thorsson was one of the main founders of The Troth.

The Troth, in particular, is pretty much the Patient Zero in the rise of Universalist Heathenry. Thus, with few exceptions (like some work that is put out by Kveldulf Gundarsson) it's literature, like "A Book of Troth" should either be combed through with a skeptic's eye, or outright avoided if you're a greenhorn in Heathenry.

I have not read Asatru: A Native European Spirituality yet, but as it is by Stephan McNallen, it ought to be good.

The fact that most of the negative reviews boil down to: "Racist!" "Loki Denier!" is a good sign:

http://www.amazon.com/Asatru-European-Spirituality-Stephen-McNallen/product-reviews/0972029257/ref=cm_cr_dp_qt_hist_one?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=one_star&showViewpoints=0

>>10660

The newest version of the Book of Troth has a positive forward by Stephen McNallen, though.

Also, Collin Cleary has tons of connections to Thorsson and thinks of him quite highly. Which is interesting because I've reads Cleary and thought his ideas were great. What I liked most about Cleary is how he explains that he was reluctant to meet other Asatru in person because they felt like larpers. Very relatable.

So, you'd recommend "A Native European Spirituality" first. Thanks for the advice!

>>10661

Odd, I see what you mean as I now see it in the AFA bookstore as well.

Perhaps he's turned over a new leaf… but I'd still approach him with caution, especially his back catalog.

I'm going to continue to feel leery towards him for a long time until I see more evidence of him becoming more of a credible Folkish figure, and even then I'll still be on guard for any entryist bullshit.

>>10663

So in an interview with Red Ice Radio, he seems to have moved on to Zoroastrianism. Or at least that's been his focus lately.

I read an older edition of his "Book of Troth" today and I have to say that most of it is good. Where it falls apart for me is in the descriptions of how to "live pagan" today.

>Imagine a ball of light hovering two feet above your head. Grab it and pull it to your forehead saying "Tiw", then to your solar plexus saying "Thunar"

Stuff like that feels way too… esoteric? New age?

>>10713

Exactly. He is the perfect encyclopedic definition quality example of a mixed bag.

He put out a collection of genuine Icelandic charms and spells….but in the explanatory parts tried to tie the gods and goddesses to being "happy" to be classified with Satan by the Christians.

>>10714

>but in the explanatory parts tried to tie the gods and goddesses to being "happy" to be classified with Satan by the Christians.

There was certainly a lot of Christian hate in Book of Troth. Honestly, I don't get the vitriol. I think we can recognize that other religions may well be valid. I don't need to say things like "I denounce the White-Christ and all the evil he has done" or whatever. That's just stupid to me.