The views of Nordic Pagans regarding the NNV, in whatever form it takes, differ.
Some Nordic Pagans are opposed to the propagation of anything that seems to them to be a doctrine or creed, since Asatru or Heathenry has always been a nondogmatic, nonauthoritarian, decentralized religion.
Others view the NNV as a useful instrument for raising awareness and encouraging ethical debate among Nordic Pagans.
Mike Smith, a Massachusetts Asatru leader, commented on the Nine Noble Virtues in an essay:
- Yes, around 6 or 7 years ago, I was one of those people who would proudly recite them [the NNV] over and again like a mantra...
- But, in the long run, I believe they cause more damage than good. My justifications are straightforward. One is that no two people can understand the same term in the same way...
- ... I've heard over 300 different definitions and explanations of each and every "virtue"...
- The NNV are essentially a "cheat sheet" or a very bad "Cliff's Notes" that are VERY loosely based on the Havamal.
- If reading "Cliff's Notes" or renting the movie didn't get you a "A+" on a literary exam in high school or college, why should you do the same for something as essential as your religion?
Smith's account of his journey from initial enthusiasm for the Nine Noble Virtues to critical awareness of their inadequacy encapsulates a journey from a relatively simple and uneducated version of Asatru to a more sophisticated and scholarly one, based on a growing knowledge of Old Norse texts and Nordic cultural heritage.
- Many devout Asatruars and Heathens go through a similar maturation process.
- Though educated Nordic Pagans like Smith may dismiss the NNV as simple or foolish, the interviews done for this study revealed that Asatruar and Heathens have a great concern for ethics.
- Above all, individuals questioned indicated a strong desire to live a life of honor, integrity, and honesty, as well as to work hard to improve one's situation in life, both financially and otherwise, to contribute to the development of one's community, and to protect and care for one's home and family.
- Though such ethical issues are not uncommon, what sets Nordic Pagans apart is that their framework for debating, thinking on, and acting on these ethical concerns is based on their knowledge of ancient Nordic culture and lifestyle as drawn from the Eddas, Sagas, and other sources.
If some contemporary American Christians ask,
"What would Jesus do?" in ethical situations.
Their Nordic Pagan equivalents ask,
"What would the Vikings do?" or
"What would the Sagas' heroes do?"
As far as can be reconstructed, Nordic Pagan principles are deeply rooted in Nordic cultural heritage; this is also true of ritual processes, organizational structures, and attitudes toward the Norse gods.
- Nordic Pagans utilize historical building blocks to construct new religious structures for use in contemporary culture in all of these areas.
- Many issues are still being debated, but what unites the often fractious community is a shared belief in the spiritual and moral value of Nordic heritage, which Nordic Pagan individuals and communities continue to reexamine and reinterpret from a variety of perspectives, depending on information available, their knowledge of history and languages, and their personal motivations.
For others, the old way of life is most significant, while others value deity worship and the moral purity associated with the Vikings and other Nordic peoples of the past.
All agree, however, that there is something spiritually valuable in the Nordic past, which they are eager to resurrect for the present and then continue into the future.
You may also want to read more about Asatru, Norse Paganism and Nordic Pagans here.
You may also want to read more about Paganism here.
Be sure to check out my writings on Religion here.
Online Resources
American Asatru Associations
- Asatru Alliance. At http://www.asatru.org.
- Asatru Folk Assembly. At http://www.runestone.org/flash/home.html.
- Athelingulf Fellowship. At http://www.geocities.com/athelingulf.
- Brotherhood of the Sacred Hunt (BOSH). At http://sacredhunt.org/vortru1.htm.
- The Troth. At http://www.thetroth.org.
Icelandic Asatru Association
Ásatrúarfelagi≥ (Asatru Fellowship of Iceland). At http://www.asatru.is.
Icelandic Photography
- Gisli Pall Gudjonsson. Home page of Icelandic photographer. At http://www.this.is/palli.
Statistical Information
- Hagstofa Islands (Office of Statistics, Government of Iceland). 2004. “Ísland ítölum 2002–2003” (Iceland in Numbers). Reykjavík, Hagstofa Islands. At http://www.hagstofa.is.
Asatru Publications Available Online
- “The Asatru Folk Assembly: Building Tribes and Waking the Spiritual Path of OurAncestors.” Available at http://www.runestone.org/
- Idunna. Journal of the Troth. Available at http://www.thetroth.org/publications.
- Marklander. Asatru/Heathenry journal with diverse contributions, edited and published by Lavrans Reimer-Møller. Available at http://lavrans.tripod.com/ndex.html.
- McNallen, Stephen. 1986. The Rituals of Ásatrú: Volumes One, Two and Three. Payson, AZ: World Tree Publications. Available at http://www.asatru.org/wrldtree.htm.
- Runestone. Journal of the Asatru Folk Assembly. Available at http://www.runestone.org/flash/home.html.
- Smith, Michael J. 2003a. Ways of the Ásatrú: Beliefs of the Modern Northern Heathens. Athelingulf Fellowship. Available at http://www.geocities.com/athelingulf.
- Hugin and Munin Recalls: The Shorter Works of Mike Smith. Vol. 1, Theology and Personal Insights. Athelingulf Fellowship. Available at http://www.geocities.com/athelingulf.
- Vor Trú. Journal of the Asatru Alliance. Available at http://eagle.webpipe.net/vortru.htm.
