The core differences between Odinism and Asetro

[Gore]

Many people around where i live have labeled me as an Odinist. I find that funny considering i do not worship Odin more than any other god. I am inexperienced as to what "Odinism" truly is however. Anyone want to help? :

[spoOk]

Many people around where i live have labeled me as an Odinist. I find that funny considering i do not worship Odin more than any other god. I am inexperienced as to what "Odinism" truly is however. Anyone want to help? :

 
do you mean odinism vs 'asatru'? I've never heard of asetro

[SatAset]

do you mean odinism vs 'asatru'? I've never heard of asetro

Asetro is the Danish way to spell the Icelandic/Norwegian Asatru. The Swedish spelling is Asatro.  In other words, same word, different language.

[Dul]

I am inexperienced as to what "Odinism" truly is however.

 
Some people use the term "Odinism" to refer to both, and vice versa. Odinism is more frequently associated with right-wing ideology, although Asatru in general tends to be more conservative than most Neopagan and Reconstructionist groups.

Odinism is often associated with white supremacy movements, although the two aren't necessarily synonymous. Many Odinist and Asatru groups have had to fight to distance themselves from what is probably just a vocal minority of Norse pagans. But again, Norse pagans are generally at least as conservative as your average Protestant denomination.

Odinism also tends to emphasize worship of Odin, rather than offer the option of eclecticism as Asatru sometimes does.

For what it's worth, Asatruar and Wiccans have a strained relationship at this time.

[cigfran]

Some people use the term "Odinism" to refer to both, and vice versa.

Yes. If you google about, you'll find Odinism and Asatru used as synonyms.

As I understand it, Odinism is originally meant to refer to the generic pre-Christian faith of the Scandinavians, while Asatru ('true to the Aesir') is a modern reconstructionist religion.

It appears sometimes to refer to a specific cultic practice, which may be considered a category of Asatru practice.

And yes, it tends to be associated - fairly or not - with a more 'hardcore' attitude.

If someone were to refer to me as an Odinist, I would ask them what they think they mean.

[hlewagastir]

As I understand it, Odinism is originally meant to refer to the generic pre-Christian faith of the Scandinavians,

 

Who say that? The Odinists?

while Asatru ('true to the Aesir') is a modern reconstructionist religion.

The problem here is that not every Asatru apply reconstructionism as an approach to their religion  - actually there are way more Asatruar than there are reconstructionists.

[cigfran]

Who say that? The Odinists?

It appears that way to me based on only cursory examination. Do you have contrary data?

The problem here is that not every Asatru apply reconstructionism as an approach to their religion  - actually there are way more Asatruar than there are reconstructionists.

Of course. I am, after all, one such person. But I believe that Asatru is still generally perceived as a recon-oriented faith.

How would you make the distinction requested by the OP, if at all?

[hlewagastir]

Many people around where i live have labeled me as an Odinist. I find that funny considering i do not worship Odin more than any other god. I am inexperienced as to what "Odinism" truly is however. Anyone want to help? :

Sorry about the double post, but I forgot the OP question in my last post.

The problem when labeling people in Germanic heathenry/paganism (whatever you call it) is that the different groups aren´t well defined, universally speaking - a group of people can have some clear definition of a label but this definition is not necessarily shared by other groups.

So when dealing with labels like "Odinism", "Asatru", "Asetro", "Norse Wicca" and so on. One needs to be aware that there are muddling and overlaps everywhere.
Some who consider themselves Asatru I would consider Norse Wicca, and some who label themselves Odinist I would consider Asatru.

My personal impression of Asatru is... everything really: Some reconstructionists use it to denote an emphasis on Icelandic sources, some occultists use it to denote an interest in "runes" and "seid", and some people use the label for other reasons - IOW; one has to look at the specific context in which it is used.

While Asatru can mean almost anything regarding to Norse gods and/or mythology, in my experience, the term Odinism is a little different.
This is my 0.2 and it might differ from other people´s experience - one reason could be that Odinism is rarely used among Danish Asatru/Asetro compared to, say, the states (not sure about the UK).

My general experience is that Odinism implies bad research, pan-Aryanism, folkish to racistish tendencies (depending on how one define the term "folkish").
These impressions are based on meetings witn some "Odinists" online, and reading some webpages tagged as Odinist.

It appears that way to me based on only cursory examination. Do you have contrary data?

Well... For starters the term "Odinism" is not even close to be "pre-Christian".
Like wikipedia I do not know of an occurence earlier than 1848...

Also, try to read some of the articles on the Odinic-Rite´s homepage.

Of course. I am, after all, one such person. But I believe that Asatru is still generally perceived as a recon-oriented faith.

How would you make the distinction requested by the OP, if at all?

As I said previously... I would look at the specific context and compare it with my own understanding of what the word denotes - it´s probably a bit different here in Denmark ( it seems that everyone with a mild, religious interest in Norse mythology use it).

[cigfran]

My general experience is that Odinism implies bad research, pan-Aryanism, folkish to racistish tendencies (depending on how one define the term "folkish").

Well, yeah. I was being diplomatic.

Well... For starters the term "Odinism" is not even close to be "pre-Christian".
Like wikipedia I do not know of an occurence earlier than 1848...

Well, of course not, no. Like Asatru, it's not a term any indigenous ancient European would have used, it's a name now attached to efforts to reclaim or reconstruct what some believe to be the 'folk faith' of that time.

Also, try to read some of the articles on the Odinic-Rite´s homepage.

I think this quote from the site's sidebar is relevant:

When asked about my religion I used to say something along the lines of “It is the religion that was practised in Europe before Christianity”. But is it? I really don’t think so. For a long time now I have preferred to say that it is “the modern day expression of the religion practised by our ancestors from the earliest times”

Which supports your statements here. It would appear that I've committed a category error.

it´s probably a bit different here in Denmark ( it seems that everyone with a mild, religious interest in Norse mythology use it).

That's very interesting to know.

[FollowerofOdin]

Many people around where i live have labeled me as an Odinist. I find that funny considering i do not worship Odin more than any other god. I am inexperienced as to what "Odinism" truly is however. Anyone want to help? :

 
As I'm very new to this path I don't understand the core differences between the two. Thanks for introducing me to a new word. I like to consider myself a Norse Pagan, but I guess if you wear Thor's Hammer then people might think that either your a white supremacist, a Heathen, or not having any comment.

[Gore]

As I'm very new to this path I don't understand the core differences between the two. Thanks for introducing me to a new word. I like to consider myself a Norse Pagan, but I guess if you wear Thor's Hammer then people might think that either your a white supremacist, a Heathen, or not having any comment.

 
Being that I'm a little more experience as compared to when i made this post, i find that the main differences between the two are political and not spiritual.
I am neither, for i belong to no kindred. I am just a Heathen man, but proud of it.

[Dave]

I am neither, for i belong to no kindred. I am just a Heathen man, but proud of it.

 
I don't know if you listen to Raven Radio's podcast but I believe they have a few episodes dealing with this subject. By your quote I assume you are a solitary heathen? I myself would like to head in this direction. Have you found any guides for creating solitary blots? Thanks.

I thought Odinsim was a cult (old meaning) for the Germannic religions? Of course like everyone I heard of it being adopted by racists which doesn't seem to fit in with a culture that spread across the world and intermarried with the locals.