Icelandic Heathen Hof - Icelandic pagans received hate mail?

As reported here: http://icelandmag.visir.is

Icelandic Pagan Association high priest moved by the outpouring international support


Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson, the high priest of The Ásatrúarfélag, the Icelandic Pagan Association, tells Iceland Magazine he is pleasantly surprised with the flood of support the Association has received after our story on the hate-mail the association has received ran on Tuesday.

"The response we have received is overwhelmingly positive. I would say 99.5% positive. There are a few nutballs and crazies who have responded negatively. But the overwhelming majority has expressed their support."

The loudmouths drown out the voices of reason and tolerance
On Tuesday Iceland Magazine published a story about The Ásatrúarfélagið receiving hate mail from reactionary and socially conservative foreign pagans. Some of these foreign pagans have indicated they will show up at the temple of Ásatrúarfélagið to "re-dedicate" it to "correct" what they believe is excessive tolerance and respect for human rights by the Icelandic pagan congregation.

Hilmar Örn tells us that he has grown used to such messages:

"You always take most note of the loudmouths and yappers. But we know we have many friends around the world. But we usually hear less from them, they keep to themselves. So, it has been really pleasant to see the overwhelming support we have received since the article ran on Tuesday."


I despise the idea of bigots attempting to pervert heathenry to their own, twisted and bitter world view. Especially when that impacts on other, decent heathens.

Therefore, I ask if you can to pledge your support here:



A declaration of support, "Ásatrúarfélagið – we are at your side!"



After all, no heathen should allow such evil to exist without speaking out against it!

Tacitus' Germania and the concept of the heathen hof/Viking temple

"The Germans do not think it in keeping with the divine majesty to confine gods within walls or to portray them in the likeness of any human countenance. Their holy places are woods and groves, and they apply the names of deities to that hidden presence which is seen only by the eye of reverence."
~Tacitus, Germania.


Now I know that Tacitus had his own agenda when writing Germania. Satire was probably at the forefront of his mind, rather than the accurate and sensitive portrayal of the religion of the Teutons. However, why is this passage so completely ignored by modern pagans?

None of the historical evidence we have is completely devoid of prejudice, even Snorri undoubtedly put his own slant on the mythologies he recorded. So why is Tacitus' passage here ignored? The average heathen household, in my experience, is rife with heathen iconography. Hofs are raised and/or dedicated to give the religion a physical presence that is, judging by the above quote, not only unnecessary, but wildly inappropriate.

Food for thought.