Folkish or universalistic

Within the worldwide Asatru-community, there are admittedly many differences. One of the most noticeable is the dichotomy between the followers of the folkish viewpoint, and that of the Universalists.

Folkish

The concept folkish itself originally means 'popular or commonly', later it was used in the sense of 'nationality' and by the National-Socialists (Nazis), the emphasis lay and lies in its use on 'people and 'race'.

In Asatru, the present day folkish followers believe that the spirituality of each person is assessed at least in part in the genes. From that they conclude that the suitable, correct religion of a person is that, which agrees with the genetic inclination. Therefore they believe that a person, who is decended from the historic Germanics, would be better able to understand the deeper spirituality of the Germanic religions, than one who has no Germanic ancestors. At the same time the folkish also believe that one should select only the religion, that agrees with that genetic inclination. Here the concept 'homeland religion' is often used. Proving the desirable genetic inclination is however difficult, if not impossible. Since it cannot be proven which part of the genes is of germanic origin, the way of the genealogy is often used. But because provable genealogy does not go back so far, it remains in vague comments such as: "my forefathers lived in .....", and then any zone is named where at that time Germanics lived. From that, one concludes that one has Germanic ancestors. When in fact, almost everyone of "European descent" probably has a mix of ancestors - from the Germanics, Celts, Slaves, Greeks, Romans - one now has the agony of deciding which religion is suitable. It is not verifiable, from which ancestors one inherits the most significant genetic make-up, therefore a 'folkish Asatruar', cannot know which of the ancient religions would be fit the best to him. Since the medieval, there was an additional mixing of Europeans with people from Africa, China, Japan, Indonesia, etc. and therefore quite some people from these countries, could rightly claim to have European ancestors. Proving this folkish viewpoint is not really possible, at most, it's more or less 'probable' that one has Germanic ancestors.

The Universalist Asatruar reproaches the Folkish, that they divide people, based on scientifically unprovable genetic criteria, and from that, would presume to prescribe in which Gods one should believe. It is common among the folkish people, especially outside of Europe, to reference one's 'european' descent , as a basis for a Germanic descent. Therefore, one also ignores the real possibilities, that they have forefathers from Poland, Hungary, etc. Zones or Areas outside the range of dominated germanic settlement.

To allege, all Folkish followers of Asatru are racists would not be correct, however, there are many followers who see concepts as 'Germanic descent' and 'European descent' as synonyms for concepts like 'white race', and then one is already in a racist area. It should be clear, that there is, in this regard, inside the folkish Asatru, a large grey zone. All in all, the folkish are in their argumentation, unclear, spongy, do not know clear boundaries, and all based on basic assumptions, that are very doubtful.

Universalistic

Universalistic Asatruar mean that everyone in principle can be Asatruar, and that there are thereby no qualitative differences between those, who can state with some rightful probability, that they have Germanic ancestors, and those, for which such a probability is minimal. Differences in natural inclination of spirituality are rejected as unprovable, the whole idea is regarded as wishful thinking. The term 'race' plays no role. Those who really recognizes the Gods of the Germanic Pantheon, staying in "contact" with the Gods, feel connected to and worship them, and assimilate ethnic aspects, (in Asatru accepted cultural structures like the world view, the ethics, shown up f.i. in the ' Noble Virtues, and the thinking in terms of family and/or kinship, etc.), may call themselves Asatruar. Whether one is Chinese, African, Polynesian or of any other origin, plays no role at all. The practice inside the Asatru community to investigate, whether one has possibly Germanic ancestors, may be of importance for folkish Asatruar, for Asatru, being a modern religion, it isn't at all.

The accusation from the folkish Asatruar, this universalistic view is a betrayal of the ancestors and the tradition is not tenable and is an classic example of narrow-minded thinking

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