Problems with Heathenry

[Louisvillian]

Celtic, Baltic and Finnish traditions, in contrast, are associated with groups that  were marginalized within Europe, and to the extent that they have been associated with nationalism, it is more of the defensive, "stop fucking with us" nationalism rather than the imperialistic "we will crush everyone who isn't us" type of nationalism.

Quite. Whereas German nationalism came to be driven by Prussian militarism and its colonial ambitions, but at the same time started with the defensiveness that came with Germany being a European battleground for ten centuries, in particularly in being Napoleon's personal chessboard.
As Darkhawk's post goes into more detail about, that nationalism fueled various proto-neo-pagan movements like Guido von Lists' Ariosophy and Wotanism. It's an awkward thing where, yeah, Germanic neopaganism is identifiably rooted in the esoteric side of 19th-century ethnic nationalism. But it has been moving past that, which is good. I'm just skeptical that it can shed itself entirely of the specter of volkisch racism. Not that such a thing should stop anyone from gravitating, in good faith and with an open and tolerant mind, towards Heathenry.

[XeroXipher]

Something that really struck me in the little reading I did for Asatru is that a lot of people seemed to hold the idea that the Norse gods do not care for the individual. It is the actions of the tribe that seem to concern them. I don't know if this is true or not, as I can't speak to the interests of the gods themselves, but I would assume that if it is true, there is little room for personal experiences/relationships with the gods. If that supposition is true, then how can the hearth and the community change when the building blocks of those (the individual) does not experience the transformative nature of interacting personally with deity? I assume that people are not coming to Norse Paganism with tolerance and love for everyone and being turned into racists. I assume that already racist individuals are finding a path they can twist to their own view point. If Asatru does not offer the spiritual avenue by which to change the individual, I can't see the hearth and community changing.

I do know I am gravedigging in this thread, but all or most threads are outdated.
I am new to Norse Pagan or Heathen Religion, but I honestly have to say that in my opinion:

The belief that the Old Gods don't care for their people may be a misunderstanding, I don't believe they'll save you from every disaster, but when you listen to the Gods you feel Real Love...

I personally talk to Odin for Wisdom and Freyja and I hear them through Nature and the Spirit of the Wind, and I honestly feel True Love.

I believe they can only do so much, but that they are Good Gods.

[Jenett]

I do know I am gravedigging in this thread, but all or most threads are outdated.

You're welcome to comment on old threads, but we do have some guidelines about when it might be more helpful (or when it might be better to start a new thread.)