An ancient belief system revived as a racial creed.
Odinism, as it stands today, is a complex and multifaceted belief system that intertwines ancient Norse paganism with modern white supremacist ideology. Founded in 1973 in England by John Gibbs-Bailey and John Yeowell, the Odinic Rite was initially known as the Committee for the Restoration of the Odinic Rite or Odinist Committee. Yeowell, who had a history with the British Union of Fascists and was a bodyguard to Oswald Mosley, along with Gibbs-Bailey aimed to revive the worship of the Norse god Odin and other pre-Christian European beliefs. By 1980, the organization felt it had garnered enough interest to formally adopt the name The Odinic Rite.
The Odinic Rite identifies Odinism as the natural religion of the peoples of Northern Europe, characterizing itself as a “folkish” group. This term indicates a focus on racial preservation and the promotion of white supremacy under the guise of paganism. It advocates for the preservation of racial and national identity, discouraging mixed-race relationships and drawing controversial parallels between invasive species and immigrants. Despite claiming to be a non-political religious organization, the Odinic Rite’s beliefs align closely with extreme right-wing nationalism.
The organization encourages its members to live according to the “Nine Noble Virtues” and the “Nine Charges”, which include principles such as courage, truth, honour, fidelity, discipline, hospitality, self-reliance, industriousness, and perseverance. These virtues, however, are deeply embedded within the group’s racially motivated ideology.
Odinism’s appropriation by white supremacist groups extends beyond religious practice into a broader cultural and racial agenda. The belief system has been co-opted by hate groups, who misuse Norse symbols and ideologies to further their racist objectives. This has led to a notable presence of Odinist beliefs among white supremacist prison gangs and has been associated with violent acts and extremism.
Despite its ancient roots, the modern iteration of Odinism bears little resemblance to the inclusive and diverse practices of pre-Christian Norse paganism. Instead, it has been transformed into a vessel for promoting white supremacist ideologies, exploiting the allure of ancient mythology to legitimize and spread its message. The distinction between Odinism as a form of Norse paganism and its perversion by racist groups is critical, as not all who are interested in Norse mythology support or even understand its association with white supremacy.
image via Muskogee Phoenix
