Åsatrufellesskapet Bifrost is a Norse neopagan organisation in Norway. It was founded in 1996 and acts as an umbrella organisation for a number of local groups in Norway.
Åsatrufellesskapet Bifrost, originally named Bifrost, has its background in the Oslo-based Norse neopagan group Blindern Åsatrolag (BÅL), founded in 1983 and named after the university district Blindern.[1] BÅL eventually joined forces with the group Draupnir from Våler in Solør to form the umbrella organisation Bifrost, which was officially registered and recognised by the Norwegian government on 28 February 1996.[2] In 1998, a request for a name change to Åsatrufellesskapet Bifrost was initially rejected by the Ministry of Justice. This was attributed to a comment from the scholar Gro Steinsland, who said that modern Norse paganism was "a historical falsification", and would be detrimental to "all serious activities concerning the Viking Age".[3] The parliamentary Ombudsman dismissed the rejection, concluding that Steinsland had failed to give a legitimate reason for the government to not accept a religion.[3]
The original subculture that BÅL emerged from was more generally characterised by an interest in paganism and the occult, and because of this, prominent people from the early days of Åsatrufellesskapet Bifrost had personal connections to movements such as Thelema and LaVeyan Satanism. This heterogeneity resulted in a schism in 1998, when a number of members left and formed Foreningen Forn Sed, later renamed Forn Sed Norge, which is based on "Norwegian folklore".[4] These two umbrella organisations have since held the majority of organised pagans in Norway.[4]
In 2017, Åsatrufellesskapet Bifrost acquired the facility Fagerhøi in Søre Osen [no], Trysil. The building had previously been a school and a cultural centre.[5]
Activities and beliefs
Åsatrufellesskapet Bifrost is an umbrella organisation for local groups that perform sacrificial blóts. The groups are called blotslag, from blót and lag which means "small group" or "party". Individual members are also permitted.[1] As of 2022, Bifrost had 457 members and 12 registered blotslag.[6][7] In 2016, about half of the members were members of a blotslag.[8] The name of the organisation means "The ás-belief fellowship Bifrost". Ás is an Old Norse word for "god" and åsatru is a vernacular Norwegian term for Old Norse religion. Bifrost is the bridge between the realms of men and gods in Norse mythology.[1]
The stated goal is to carry on old customs and traditions and make them meaningful in contemporary life.[1] The members share a religious practice but may vary in their beliefs. Åsatrufellesskapet Bifrost's basic doctrines are summarised in a document titled Eden (lit.'The Oath'); according to the scholars Geir Uldal and Geir Winje, the "underlying ontology in this text seems close to what we know today about pre-Christian Norse religion".[9] An important source of inspiration for Åsatrufellesskapet Bifrost's Norse paganism has been the Icelandic organisation Ásatrúarfélagið.[1]
The leader of Åsatrufellesskapet Bifrost is called høvding (lit.'chieftain').[10] As of 2021, the position was held by Sunniva Saksvik.[11] The organisation publishes the magazine Bifrost Tidende (lit.'The Bifrost Times').[1] Åsatrufellesskapet Bifrost use the facility Fagerhøi for a few larger events per year, but also rent it out and aim to host concerts, exhibitions and offer courses in arts and handicrafts.[5]
Several prominent members of Åsatrufellesskapet Bifrost have academic degrees in subjects like history of religion and folklore studies and combine the religious practice with academic studies.[1] The organisation and its members participate in a broader Old Norse-centred cultural environment that involves the reconstruction of Viking ships, the organisation of Viking markets and the production of music inspired by Old Norse poetry and historical instruments.[12] It works actively to ensure that Norse symbols are associated with old customs rather than "hateful ideologies".[1]
Asprem, Egil (2008). "Heathens up North: Politics, Polemics and Contemporary Norse Paganism in Norway". The Pomegranate. 10 (1). doi:10.1558/pome.v10i1.41. ISSN 1743-1735.
Brandsø, Grethe (31 December 2014). "Troverdig tro". Dagsavisen (in Norwegian). Retrieved 1 November 2019.
Paulsen, Hans Christian (7 October 2021). "Åsatrohøvding vil delta på Stiklestad". Vårt Land (in Norwegian). Retrieved 14 December 2022.
Søberg, Monika (23 August 2017). "Fagerhøi solgt til Bifrost". Lokalavisa Trysil - Engerdal (in Norwegian). Retrieved 1 November 2019.
Stensrud, Mari (2016). Med naturen som religiøs autoritet : hvordan norrøn mytologi brukes til å gi mening til en moderne eksistens i Åsatrufellesskapet Bifrost (Master) (in Norwegian). University of Oslo.
Uldal, Geir; Winje, Geir (2016). "Paganism in Norway". In Bogdan, Henrik; Hammer, Olav (eds.). Western Esotericism in Scandinavia. Boston: Brill. ISBN978-90-04-30241-9.
Further reading
Nygaard, Mathias E. (2022). "How Norwegian Asatru Meets the Charge of Racism: A Rhetorical Analysis". Nordic Journal of Religion and Society. 35 (1): 45–57. doi:10.18261/njrs.35.1.4.
External links
Official website (in Norwegian)
January 06, 2023
Åsatrufellesskapet, bifrost, norse, neopagan, organisation, norway, founded, 1996, acts, umbrella, organisation, number, local, groups, norway, formation28, february, 1996, years, 1996, typereligious, organisationpurposenorse, neopaganismheadquarterslysaker, n. Asatrufellesskapet Bifrost is a Norse neopagan organisation in Norway It was founded in 1996 and acts as an umbrella organisation for a number of local groups in Norway Asatrufellesskapet BifrostFormation28 February 1996 26 years ago 1996 02 28 TypeReligious organisationPurposeNorse neopaganismHeadquartersLysaker NorwayLocationNorwayMembership457 2022 Hovding Chieftain Sunniva SaksvikWebsitewww wbr bifrost wbr no Contents 1 History 2 Activities and beliefs 3 References 3 1 Notes 3 2 Sources 4 Further reading 5 External linksHistory EditAsatrufellesskapet Bifrost originally named Bifrost has its background in the Oslo based Norse neopagan group Blindern Asatrolag BAL founded in 1983 and named after the university district Blindern 1 BAL eventually joined forces with the group Draupnir from Valer in Solor to form the umbrella organisation Bifrost which was officially registered and recognised by the Norwegian government on 28 February 1996 2 In 1998 a request for a name change to Asatrufellesskapet Bifrost was initially rejected by the Ministry of Justice This was attributed to a comment from the scholar Gro Steinsland who said that modern Norse paganism was a historical falsification and would be detrimental to all serious activities concerning the Viking Age 3 The parliamentary Ombudsman dismissed the rejection concluding that Steinsland had failed to give a legitimate reason for the government to not accept a religion 3 The original subculture that BAL emerged from was more generally characterised by an interest in paganism and the occult and because of this prominent people from the early days of Asatrufellesskapet Bifrost had personal connections to movements such as Thelema and LaVeyan Satanism This heterogeneity resulted in a schism in 1998 when a number of members left and formed Foreningen Forn Sed later renamed Forn Sed Norge which is based on Norwegian folklore 4 These two umbrella organisations have since held the majority of organised pagans in Norway 4 In 2017 Asatrufellesskapet Bifrost acquired the facility Fagerhoi in Sore Osen no Trysil The building had previously been a school and a cultural centre 5 Activities and beliefs EditAsatrufellesskapet Bifrost is an umbrella organisation for local groups that perform sacrificial blots The groups are called blotslag from blot and lag which means small group or party Individual members are also permitted 1 As of 2022 Bifrost had 457 members and 12 registered blotslag 6 7 In 2016 about half of the members were members of a blotslag 8 The name of the organisation means The as belief fellowship Bifrost As is an Old Norse word for god and asatru is a vernacular Norwegian term for Old Norse religion Bifrost is the bridge between the realms of men and gods in Norse mythology 1 The stated goal is to carry on old customs and traditions and make them meaningful in contemporary life 1 The members share a religious practice but may vary in their beliefs Asatrufellesskapet Bifrost s basic doctrines are summarised in a document titled Eden lit The Oath according to the scholars Geir Uldal and Geir Winje the underlying ontology in this text seems close to what we know today about pre Christian Norse religion 9 An important source of inspiration for Asatrufellesskapet Bifrost s Norse paganism has been the Icelandic organisation Asatruarfelagid 1 The leader of Asatrufellesskapet Bifrost is called hovding lit chieftain 10 As of 2021 the position was held by Sunniva Saksvik 11 The organisation publishes the magazine Bifrost Tidende lit The Bifrost Times 1 Asatrufellesskapet Bifrost use the facility Fagerhoi for a few larger events per year but also rent it out and aim to host concerts exhibitions and offer courses in arts and handicrafts 5 Several prominent members of Asatrufellesskapet Bifrost have academic degrees in subjects like history of religion and folklore studies and combine the religious practice with academic studies 1 The organisation and its members participate in a broader Old Norse centred cultural environment that involves the reconstruction of Viking ships the organisation of Viking markets and the production of music inspired by Old Norse poetry and historical instruments 12 It works actively to ensure that Norse symbols are associated with old customs rather than hateful ideologies 1 References EditNotes Edit a b c d e f g h Uldal amp Winje 2016 p 369 Asprem 2008 pp 49 50 a b Asprem 2008 pp 58 59 a b Asprem 2008 p 50 a b Soberg 2017 Antall tilskuddstellende medlemmer i tros og livssynssamfunn i 2022 PDF www regjeringen no in Norwegian Retrieved 23 November 2022 Blotslag www bifrost no in Norwegian Retrieved 23 November 2022 Stensrud 2016 p 5 Uldal amp Winje 2016 p 370 Brandso 2014 Paulsen 2021 Uldal amp Winje 2016 p 371 Sources Edit Asprem Egil 2008 Heathens up North Politics Polemics and Contemporary Norse Paganism in Norway The Pomegranate 10 1 doi 10 1558 pome v10i1 41 ISSN 1743 1735 Brandso Grethe 31 December 2014 Troverdig tro Dagsavisen in Norwegian Retrieved 1 November 2019 Paulsen Hans Christian 7 October 2021 Asatrohovding vil delta pa Stiklestad Vart Land in Norwegian Retrieved 14 December 2022 Soberg Monika 23 August 2017 Fagerhoi solgt til Bifrost Lokalavisa Trysil Engerdal in Norwegian Retrieved 1 November 2019 Stensrud Mari 2016 Med naturen som religios autoritet hvordan norron mytologi brukes til a gi mening til en moderne eksistens i Asatrufellesskapet Bifrost Master in Norwegian University of Oslo Uldal Geir Winje Geir 2016 Paganism in Norway In Bogdan Henrik Hammer Olav eds Western Esotericism in Scandinavia Boston Brill ISBN 978 90 04 30241 9 Further reading EditNygaard Mathias E 2022 How Norwegian Asatru Meets the Charge of Racism A Rhetorical Analysis Nordic Journal of Religion and Society 35 1 45 57 doi 10 18261 njrs 35 1 4 External links EditOfficial website in Norwegian Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Asatrufellesskapet Bifrost amp oldid 1129070319, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
