Wotanism
Encyclopedia
Wotanism is the name of an American Heathen religion or socio-political current based on Germanic paganism
and the doctrines of David Lane
. Wotan
is the German name for the Germanic god known in Norse as Odin
. Lane's Wotanism is related to European
Odinism
, which is another type of Heathenism.
Based on the essay entitled Wotan by Carl Jung
, the term Wotanism in modern times heavily emphasizes white supremacy and National Socialism
(NS). Lane chose the term "Wotanism" because WOTAN can be used as an acronym for Will Of The Aryan Nation. Unlike other Heathens, most Wotanists emphasize dualism
and view the Gods as Jungian archetype
. Wotanists consider the Havamal
to be their holiest text.
Wotanist groups include WotansVolk and the Temple of Wotan. WotansVolk and the Temple of Wotan were both founded under the direct influence of David Lane
, by his wife Katja Lane (Katuscha Maddox) and Ron McVan, a former high ranking member of the World Church of the Creator. The Temple of Wotan organization was inspired by the book Temple of Wotan.
Some Wotanists practice polygamy
. Late in his life, Lane authored a short story entitled KD Rebel, a fictional account of a colony of Wotanists who live up in the mountains and kidnap young white girls and women from urban areas and force them into polygamy to further the Aryan race.
and the groups supported more than 5000 prisoners. Research by Mattias Gardell
indicated "a pagan revival among the white prison population, including the conversion of whole prison gangs to the ancestral religion.".
"Partly due to the reputation of David Lane and its association with the legendary Brüders Schweigen
, Wotansvolk name-recognition is high among the Aryan prison population."
The Temple of Wotan dissolved and reformed into the National Prison Kindred Alliance, (NPKA) which has no relation with Wotanism.
Wotansvolk and the NPKA are not the only groups active in prisoner outreach; however, in 2001 "Wotansvolk seem[ed] more successful in its outreach efforts than other Asatrú/Odinist programs." The feminist women's group Sigrdrifa focuses on White cultural identity and has chapters in the United States and Canada. Sigrdrifa runs a special "Odinism in Prison" project. The Odinic Rite
and the Asatru Alliance also have extensive prisoner outreach programs, albeit not based on race or politics.
In an interview about the role of race-based gang
s and other extremists in America's prisons, the historian Mark Pitcavage
came to the conclusion that, "[n]on-racist versions of Asatrú and Odinism are pretty much acceptable religions in the prisons." But materials from racist variants of these religions may be prohibited by corrections departments.
Wotanism has been described as the "most violent strain" of Odinism in prisons, and its materials have been prohibited as a result.
Germanic paganism
Germanic paganism refers to the theology and religious practices of the Germanic peoples of north-western Europe from the Iron Age until their Christianization during the Medieval period...
and the doctrines of David Lane
David Lane
-People:* David Lane , American social conservative Christian political activist* David Lane , director of the film Thunderbirds are GO and various episodes of Gerry Anderson TV series* David Lane , American lawyer...
. Wotan
Wodanaz
or is the reconstructed Proto-Germanic name of a god of Germanic paganism, known as in Norse mythology, in Old English, or in Old High German and in Lombardic...
is the German name for the Germanic god known in Norse as Odin
Odin
Odin is a major god in Norse mythology and the ruler of Asgard. Homologous with the Anglo-Saxon "Wōden" and the Old High German "Wotan", the name is descended from Proto-Germanic "*Wodanaz" or "*Wōđanaz"....
. Lane's Wotanism is related to European
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
Odinism
Odinism
Odinism is a type of Germanic Neopaganism.Odinism may also refer to:*Norse paganism** the cult of Odin- See also :*Odinist Fellowship*Odinic Rite*The Odin Brotherhood*Wotanism, a Völkisch / White Nationalist movement*Wodenism...
, which is another type of Heathenism.
Based on the essay entitled Wotan by Carl Jung
Carl Jung
Carl Gustav Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist and the founder of Analytical Psychology. Jung is considered the first modern psychiatrist to view the human psyche as "by nature religious" and make it the focus of exploration. Jung is one of the best known researchers in the field of dream analysis and...
, the term Wotanism in modern times heavily emphasizes white supremacy and National Socialism
Neo-Nazism
Neo-Nazism consists of post-World War II social or political movements seeking to revive Nazism or some variant thereof.The term neo-Nazism can also refer to the ideology of these movements....
(NS). Lane chose the term "Wotanism" because WOTAN can be used as an acronym for Will Of The Aryan Nation. Unlike other Heathens, most Wotanists emphasize dualism
Dualism
Dualism denotes a state of two parts. The term 'dualism' was originally coined to denote co-eternal binary opposition, a meaning that is preserved in metaphysical and philosophical duality discourse but has been diluted in general or common usages. Dualism can refer to moral dualism, Dualism (from...
and view the Gods as Jungian archetype
Archetype
An archetype is a universally understood symbol or term or pattern of behavior, a prototype upon which others are copied, patterned, or emulated...
. Wotanists consider the Havamal
Hávamál
Hávamál is presented as a single poem in the Poetic Edda, a collection of Old Norse poems from the Viking age. The poem, itself a combination of different poems, is largely gnomic, presenting advice for living, proper conduct and wisdom....
to be their holiest text.
Wotanist groups include WotansVolk and the Temple of Wotan. WotansVolk and the Temple of Wotan were both founded under the direct influence of David Lane
David Lane
-People:* David Lane , American social conservative Christian political activist* David Lane , director of the film Thunderbirds are GO and various episodes of Gerry Anderson TV series* David Lane , American lawyer...
, by his wife Katja Lane (Katuscha Maddox) and Ron McVan, a former high ranking member of the World Church of the Creator. The Temple of Wotan organization was inspired by the book Temple of Wotan.
Some Wotanists practice polygamy
Polygamy
Polygamy is a marriage which includes more than two partners...
. Late in his life, Lane authored a short story entitled KD Rebel, a fictional account of a colony of Wotanists who live up in the mountains and kidnap young white girls and women from urban areas and force them into polygamy to further the Aryan race.
Prison-outreach program
WotansVolk and the Temple of Wotan were known for having prisoner outreach ministries. In 2001 there were prison kindreds linked with Wotansvolk in all federal states of the USAU.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
and the groups supported more than 5000 prisoners. Research by Mattias Gardell
Mattias Gardell
Hans Bertil Mattias Gardell is a Swedish scholar of comparative religion. He is the current holder of the Nathan Söderblom Chair of Comparative Religion at Uppsala University, Sweden....
indicated "a pagan revival among the white prison population, including the conversion of whole prison gangs to the ancestral religion.".
"Partly due to the reputation of David Lane and its association with the legendary Brüders Schweigen
The Order (group)
The Order, also known as the Brüder Schweigen or Silent Brotherhood, was an organization active in the United States between 1983 and 1984...
, Wotansvolk name-recognition is high among the Aryan prison population."
The Temple of Wotan dissolved and reformed into the National Prison Kindred Alliance, (NPKA) which has no relation with Wotanism.
Wotansvolk and the NPKA are not the only groups active in prisoner outreach; however, in 2001 "Wotansvolk seem[ed] more successful in its outreach efforts than other Asatrú/Odinist programs." The feminist women's group Sigrdrifa focuses on White cultural identity and has chapters in the United States and Canada. Sigrdrifa runs a special "Odinism in Prison" project. The Odinic Rite
Odinic Rite
The Odinic Rite is a religious organization, practicing a form of Northern Indo European religion termed Odinism after the chief god of Norse mythology, Odin...
and the Asatru Alliance also have extensive prisoner outreach programs, albeit not based on race or politics.
In an interview about the role of race-based gang
Gang
A gang is a group of people who, through the organization, formation, and establishment of an assemblage, share a common identity. In current usage it typically denotes a criminal organization or else a criminal affiliation. In early usage, the word gang referred to a group of workmen...
s and other extremists in America's prisons, the historian Mark Pitcavage
Mark Pitcavage
Mark Pitcavage is a historian and critic of far right wing groups and a player of the boardgame Advanced Squad Leader . He works with the Anti-Defamation League and was the creator of the now archived Militia Watchdog website...
came to the conclusion that, "[n]on-racist versions of Asatrú and Odinism are pretty much acceptable religions in the prisons." But materials from racist variants of these religions may be prohibited by corrections departments.
Wotanism has been described as the "most violent strain" of Odinism in prisons, and its materials have been prohibited as a result.
Distinctions from other Heathenrys
From the beginning, Wotanism has been distinctly different from, and even antagonistic to wider Heathenry. Adherents of Asatru and Odinism have rejected what they perceive as an attempt to appropriate their religion for political and racial ends. Lane explains:External links
- Temple of Wotan, online edition.