The Nature of Asatru: An Overview of the Ideals and Philosophy of the Indigenous Religion of Northern Europe.

by Mark Puryear

"Ásatrú (AH-sa-troo), also called Odinism, is the native religion of the Teutonic peoples as embodied in the fundamentals of their cultural expressions. Much more than just a belief system, it encompasses every aspect of ancient Northern European society. This book is an attempt to explain the basic philosophic and moral ideals of this ancient way of life, while seeking to eliminate many of the misconceptions surrounding it.

Demonstrated here is the nature of a faith that has existed for centuries, in spite of numerous campaigns to suppress or destroy it by various powers. Once the reader learns the core values found within this creed, it is easy to recognize how it coincides with our notions of civilization and its evolution. It teaches inner strength and courage, as well as kindness and compassion. In introducing the positive, ethical standards Ásatrú has to offer, the aim here is to rekindle the primal spirit within us all.

""The author provides an in-depth introduction for those new to the folkway, yet gives much food for thought to the experienced practitioner. Sure to inspire deeper investigation of the various aspects of Ásatrú. Highly recommended.""

-Hengest Thorsson, The Odinic Rite"

Genres: Paganism, Religion, History

262 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 22, 2006

Reviews

[Heathen Blogger]

I was leery at first when I came across this book. Honestly, many books on Asatru are runoff's of each other with similar (if not the same) information. So I approached The Nature of Asatru with the eyes of a skeptic. However, from Chapter 1, it was immediately noticeable that the information presented was on a deeper, more personal, level that was geared towards actually living an "Asatru life" rather than a skimming of the various Norse deities. Don't get me wrong, I like books that include lore and history - and I'm especially fond of literature that goes into depth that is relevant to the gods. What I do not care for is when books attempt to blend the lore with modern day heathen living, and end up failing at giving valuable insight to either.

This book did not disappoint. If I had to make a negative remark, it would be that it is very opinionated. Not UPG necessarily, but it very much centers on the value and honor of being community rather than individual - which is all well and good but the importance of maintaining ones individuality should also be emphasized when writing a book that is based on a faith that includes Self-Reliance as one of it's sacred virtues.

As a whole, I found The Nature of Asatru highly enjoyable. I also liked the fact that it was written by Mark Puryear who, along with the Norroena Society, wrote The Asatru Edda:Sacred Lore of the North which is a copy of both Eddas WITHOUT Snorri's Christian influence. (Seriously, that book took six years and many, many scholars to compose the Eddas in a way that kept the original tone and meaning of the Proto-Germanic people - not an easy task!).

I'd recommend this book to anyone new to Asatru, or even an intermediate student who is looking to explore the deeper meanings of Asatru values.

[Wyatt Kaldenberg]

This is one of the better "intro" books to Asatru. I liked it very much.

[Gunnar Runa]

Thumbs up on Mark Puryear's 'The Nature of Asatru'
What I thought would be another 'Asatru how to book' turned into more than I anticipated,
Having read a couple of Asatru 101 books, I soon realized the Nature of Asatru was that and much more,
It's a well thought out and heavily researched look at Asatru, From a 'Folkish' perspective,
It challenged concepts I thought I had figured out, Which is good, and reinforced others,
Good Job, Good book and I recommend it

Glad I added it to my Library,

[Ellie Hughes]

Warning: "folkish" and "odinist" are racist dogwhistles.

[Ingrid Kroes]

Very subjective, filled with personal views, some falseness here and there. But it gives a good look into one person his view on the religion and some of the basic believes.

[Booknerd]

Great book for anyone interested in Asatru/Odinism/Germanic Heathenry. Especially for those looking for something non fluffy and from a Folkish perspective. Mr. Puryear has also written The Asatru Edda which is indispensable for any Heathen.

[Esther]

It was filled with too much personal opinions and not what many Asatru believe.