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We have said many times that Nordic religion is not dogmatic; it is, of course understood that we all agree on a few core issues such as the protection and promotion of our cultural and biological heritage and the sacredness of our religious beliefs; but there is no orthodoxy; on most other issues feelings and opinions may vary.
We do not believe in a priest class; no Norseman ever had a hotline to Asgard and each Norseman may conceive the Gods in his own way. Who at this point dares to say which is the correct way, let alone the only way to conceive of the Gods? Is there in fact a 'correct' kind of Nordic religion? Those of us who are trying to formulate modern Nordic religion are surely doing our best and following our instincts as well as we can. We don't have that much solid information to go on. Some of what has been retained of the old wisdom has been collected by christian monks who did not always understand the non-christian thought patterns, not to mention those who deliberately distorted the beliefs of our forefathers, the stories, the traditions and ceremonies. We have some ideas about it all but there were many differences depending on place and time; Celtic mythology and folklore are certainly different from the Teutonic and Scandinavian; traditions change from century to century and so forth.
Iceland, which is looked to as a model by many Norsemen, has a special position among Western countries in that it (voluntarily ??) adopted christianity in the year 1000 and it now is the only country in Europe which has accepted Nordic religion (Asatru) on par with christianity. This means that for a long period of time the two religions existed side by side and it is unthinkable that not something from one would have rubbed off on the other. Icelandic beliefs therefore logically must have an uniquely hybrid quality. We don't believe that this is an advantage; too much influence from one to the other cannot have good points; it may also distort some views; the best we can do is to sift and discard when christian influences are found.
Likewise, let's look in our own backyard. We don't believe we have all the answers; we believe we have some of them. But we're not so arrogant that we think in a few short years we have been able to distill what we know from the past into a full grown religion. We have much valuable information, but it must be digested, researched and discussed. It must be left to ferment like the sacred mead.
In the meantime, let us not discount other attempts to reach the same goals; let's not dictate to anybody which route is the better, or the right one or the only one. Some of our people are more politically inclined; others turn in social, ecological or philosophical directions. The only thing we have said so far is that we don't believe anybody can be both a Believer in Nordic religion and a Christian at the same time. We have had instances where a person wanted to become a member of our Fellowship while he was still working within a christian organization. We don't believe you can be a christian and a non-christian at the same time; that is a contradiction in terms. One must choose one religion or the other without therefore judging the efforts of either.
We are dead serious about forming a viable religion that in time may replace christianity in the minds and hearts of our folk, but we do not acknowledge that we yet have the necessary wisdom and knowledge to do so. We hope, and may the Gods be with us in this endeavor, that Norsemen across the lands will join together and each contribute to this spiritual adventure. Let us not, ever, have any orthodoxy; let us never hear anybody denigrate the efforts of any kinsman, even if there may be variations. Undoubtedly we will stumble, take wrong turns, get into blind alleys. Christianity did according to their main stream theology. Buddhism has several variations. Nordic religion may also eventually divide up into various sections, each with its own special flavor; but let us never make the same mistake christianity did,- to war on our own folk. If we should have any commandment within Nordic religion, this would be it never fight within the Folk!
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