Neopaganism in Scandinavia

Neopaganism in Scandinavia is dominated by revivals of Norse paganism (Ásatrú, Forn Sed, Nordisk Sed, Folketro).

Denmark

In Denmark Forn Siðr formed in 1999, recognized in 2003^[1]

Norway

The Åsatrufellesskapet Bifrost formed in 1996 (Asatru fellowship "Bifrost"; as of 2011, the fellowship has some 300 Faithful) and Foreningen Forn Sed the fellowship has about 50 Faithful formed in 1999. They have been recognized by the Norwegian government as a religious society, allowing them to perform "legally binding civil ceremonies" (i. e. marriages). Forn Sed is a member of World Congress of Ethnic Religions.

Sweden

In Sweden, the Swedish Forn Sed Assembly (Samfundet Forn Sed Sverige) formed in 1994. At presently it is the largest national organization for forn sed. A number of independent local groups (blotlag) also exist. Some of these used to be part of Nätverket Forn Sed when it was operational.

Iceland

Ásatrúarfélagið was recognized as a religious organization by the Icelandic government in 1973. Its first leader was farmer and poet Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson. It is the largest non-Christian religious organization in Iceland and has some 1,700 Faithful, making up approximately 0.6% of the total population.

Folklorism versus reconstructionism

Folketro (Danish, Norwegian) or Folktro (Swedish) is the Scandinavian for "folk religion" or "superstition", referring to Scandinavian folklore in particular. In Scandinavian neopagan discourse, the term is used for a religion that consists of a folklore that is believed to be the descendant of historical Norse paganism. Folktro is considered a living tradition and that does not include the use of reconstructionism in any way, nor the use of historical sources such as the Edda or notation of folklore. The term is in conscious contrast to Asatru, the reconstructionist revival of medieval Norse polytheism. Preferred terms are fornsed "old custom" or nordisk sed "Nordic custom", avoiding the connotation of hard polytheism evoked by reconstructionist approaches centered on the Aesir. Attention is rather given to traditional song, dance, folk music and festivals.

Critics refer to the Folketro movement as Funtrad (for Fundamentalistisk Traditionalisme "fundamentalist traditionalism". Not to be confused is the "radical traditionalism" of the New Right, which invokes national mysticist or occultist notions of a "Pan-Indo-European tradition" rather than the unpretentious focus on regional customs advocated by Folketro. Proponents of Folketro include:

• Samfälligheten för Nordisk Sed, Sweden
• Foreningen Forn Sed, Norway

A similar approach is current in Baltic neopaganism

References

1. ^ Forklaring til Forn Siðr´s ansøgning om godkendelse som trossamfund.

External links

• http://www.mmedia.is/odsmal/
• http://asetrofaellesskabet.dk/
• http://www.fornsidr.dk/
• http://www.bifrost.no/
• http://www.forn-sed.no/
• http://www.asatrosamfundet.se/
• http://www.nordisksed.se/
• http://www.asatru.is/