On Friday the 12th, Church and World. com (Presbyweb)was linked to a story in Christian Today about the British National Party which recently won two seats in the European Parliament. The BNP is a racist political party with some similarities to other totalitarian groups. They of course insist they are not racist. Hans Cornelder of Church and World also linked to their web site.Picture by Stephen Larson
While exploring the site I noted that their main ideology is not unlike that of some pagan groups I have written about who insist that all ethnic groups should be respected but all should keep to their own communities. I was interested enough in the similarities that I put both of their names together into Google. I came up with additional information on the racist pagan movement.
I decided to post a series; the first part will be an article I have already written, titled, “The NeoPagan Movement and Racism.” I will post this article first for two reasons. The most important reason is because it will be a guide for understanding the racism of the BNP. The second reason is because I discovered a movie is being made, by 2010, using the main book that I used for my research for the article.
The book is Lords of Chaos: The Bloody Rise of the Satanic Metal Underground, written by Michael Moynihan and Didrik Soderlind. One of the main persons in the book is “Varg Vikernes.” He served "a prison term in Norway for murder and church burnings. Before his imprisonment he was part of the Black Metal and Satanic Music scene in Norway.” The book was horrific; I can only guess that the movie will be also. So here is the first part of “The NeoPagan Movement and Racism” before I begin writing about the BNP.
The NeoPagan Movement and Racism
In the aftermath of the fall of the Berlin wall I remember listening to an interview with Henry Kissinger. The interviewer asked Mr. Kissinger if he feared a re-united Germany and a renewed Nazi movement? He replied that history does not perfectly repeat itself, but he did fear the rise of a new Romantic Movement. I believe that fear is well founded when focused on the dark side of Romanticism. Kissinger doubtless recognized the racist sentiments that can emerge out of the Romantic worldview. This article will explore the relationship between racism and some Neo-Pagan groups who are a part of a new Romantic Movement. I will point out the blatant racism of some groups and will explore the potential racism in other groups that disavow racism. I will also explore the hatred these groups hold for Jews and Christians, and I will give a biblical perspective and response to such hatred.
Understanding Romantic Movements
Romantic movements generally include a wide assortment of thinkers since such movements are in many ways a reaction against empiricism and materialism. Several of the more articulate Christian apologists of the last century could be considered Romantics. C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien as well as most of the Inklings were Romantics in much of their view of life and in their writings. They were, however, Romantics with a Christian worldview and there are three distinctions to be made.
Understanding Romantic Movements
Romantic movements generally include a wide assortment of thinkers since such movements are in many ways a reaction against empiricism and materialism. Several of the more articulate Christian apologists of the last century could be considered Romantics. C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien as well as most of the Inklings were Romantics in much of their view of life and in their writings. They were, however, Romantics with a Christian worldview and there are three distinctions to be made.
First, Romantics, who see the sublime, mystery and meaning in the natural world, often equate God with nature and for that reason are pantheists (God is all) or panentheists (God is in all). In contrast, Romantics who are Christians understand that God is the creator of everything and not a part of the world.
Second, some Romantics equate God or their own particular ethnic essence with folk tradition, cultural myths and homeland. Both Lewis and Tolkien valued folk tradition, cultural myths and the love of homeland, but they did not place such weighty significance on them. Third, some Romantics make no distinction between good and evil since both are a part of nature. In fact, some even glorify evil.
Christian Romantics understand evil as both personal and part of the fall of humanity. They, perhaps more than anyone, understand the dark dimensions of evil and they do not glorify wickedness. They see evil and good as progressive, moving in extreme opposite directions. Lewis makes such a distinction in his essay “The Weight of Glory.” He admonishes the reader “to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare.”
A New Romantic Movement
Several cultural pointers provide evidence that a new Romantic Movement is in progress. A growing interest in medieval and mythical subjects in books and movies is one indicator. A growing movement of smaller ethnic-centered groups in place of a more homogenized society is another indicator. The Green Movement, with a greater concern and priority for nature rather than industry or science, is also a part of a Romantic worldview. Certainly, the New Age movement and a growing pagan community are the products of a romantic attitude toward life, community and the universe in general.
A New Romantic Movement
Several cultural pointers provide evidence that a new Romantic Movement is in progress. A growing interest in medieval and mythical subjects in books and movies is one indicator. A growing movement of smaller ethnic-centered groups in place of a more homogenized society is another indicator. The Green Movement, with a greater concern and priority for nature rather than industry or science, is also a part of a Romantic worldview. Certainly, the New Age movement and a growing pagan community are the products of a romantic attitude toward life, community and the universe in general.
As stated, many of those who could be considered a part of the New Romantic Movement are members of the neopagan community. A small percentage of the neopagan movement is racist. Most of the racist groups belong to Odinist communities. They may also be called Ásatrú. (However, not all Odinists or Ásatrú adherents are racist.)
All of the groups I will consider in this article are made up of white European descendents; they purposely exclude all other ethnic groups. Their religious focus is on the gods and goddesses of old European tribes. (These include, Odin, who is also called Woden, Thor, Frigga, the wife of Odin and Freya.) Many Odinists see the gods and goddesses of their religion as archetypes or expressions of the racial subconscious. But there are many ways of understanding the multitude of gods and goddesses worshiped by the Ásatrú and Odinist groups. The gods and goddesses may also be viewed as real entities.
The factor that either makes them racists, or gives them the potential for racism, is their insistence on religion as a genetic development as well as an intrinsic part of the human essence. Stephen McNallen, who leads the Asatru Folk Assembly, calls this idea “Metagenetics” and writes:
"One of the most controversial tenets of Asatru is our insistence that ancestry matters-that there are spiritual and metaphysical implications to heredity, and that we are thus a religion not for all humanity, but rather one that calls only its own.1"
Toward the end of his article McNallen states, “We are intimately tied up with the fate of our whole people, for Asatru is an expression of the soul of our race.”2 In a later article McNallen refines some of his thoughts. He writes:
"Our religion is a function of who we are, not just what we believe. Since the human being is holistic entity, our spirituality cannot be considered something apart from our physical ancestry. In terms of both genetics and metagenetics, our ancestors are encoded into our very beings. From values and temperament- which have been shown to correlate statistically with heredity-to the deeper issues of spirit, our forefathers and foremothers continue to influence us.3 "
Likewise, an article found at “Heathen front,” explaining what AHF (Allgermanische Heidnische Front) is, states that ethnic religions “are the most suitable ones.” The writer explains they are “manifestations of the inner self of every people, and expression of their collective subconscious.”4"
The factor that either makes them racists, or gives them the potential for racism, is their insistence on religion as a genetic development as well as an intrinsic part of the human essence. Stephen McNallen, who leads the Asatru Folk Assembly, calls this idea “Metagenetics” and writes:
"One of the most controversial tenets of Asatru is our insistence that ancestry matters-that there are spiritual and metaphysical implications to heredity, and that we are thus a religion not for all humanity, but rather one that calls only its own.1"
Toward the end of his article McNallen states, “We are intimately tied up with the fate of our whole people, for Asatru is an expression of the soul of our race.”2 In a later article McNallen refines some of his thoughts. He writes:
"Our religion is a function of who we are, not just what we believe. Since the human being is holistic entity, our spirituality cannot be considered something apart from our physical ancestry. In terms of both genetics and metagenetics, our ancestors are encoded into our very beings. From values and temperament- which have been shown to correlate statistically with heredity-to the deeper issues of spirit, our forefathers and foremothers continue to influence us.3 "
Likewise, an article found at “Heathen front,” explaining what AHF (Allgermanische Heidnische Front) is, states that ethnic religions “are the most suitable ones.” The writer explains they are “manifestations of the inner self of every people, and expression of their collective subconscious.”4"
The author of the “creed” pages for Heathen Front's website also writes, “We believe that every religion is a projection of the völkish archetype, morals and ethics.”5 This means that all religion comes from tribal or racial experience as opposed to universal human experience. It certainly denies that an absolute and personal Creator God reveals Himself to all of humanity.
The need to protect a racial religion from outside cultural and ethnic influences by refusing membership to other races is not only problematic, but seems racist. One would have to protect the racial group from contamination by other races in order to keep the religion pure since religion is seen as the essence of the race.
1 Stephen McNallen, “Metagenetics”, An Odinist Anthology, (1983), http://www.runestone.org/metag.html.
2 Ibid., 4.
3 Stephen McNallen, “Metagenetics- an Update- Genetics & Beyond: the Ultimate Connection,” The Runestone, (Summer 1999) http://www.runestone.org/metag2.html.
4 What is AHF? Introduction, On File
5 What is AHF? Our Creed, On File
2 Ibid., 4.
3 Stephen McNallen, “Metagenetics- an Update- Genetics & Beyond: the Ultimate Connection,” The Runestone, (Summer 1999) http://www.runestone.org/metag2.html.
4 What is AHF? Introduction, On File
5 What is AHF? Our Creed, On File
2 comments:
Viola
Are there similar religious connections to the racist right parties in France, Italy and Germany?
Bob Campbell
Sharon Hill, PA
No, the similarities are mainly going to be seen in the insistence on the party or the religion being for only white folkish groups. I am still exploring and I believe I will find some similarities in reading material for instance this man's books, Alain de Benoist, are of interest to both pagans and the new facists.
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