Excerpt from Paganism and Fascism by Andy Norfolk
Ostara/Beltane 2008 issue
It seems that rumours of a far right take-over of Paganism have been greatly exaggerated. It is not happening and for some very good reasons.
Fascism, according to Mussolini, who ought to have known, is a right wing collectivist ideology opposed to socialism, democracy and individualism. Under this ideology people have no value except as part of the "State". Fascism is a reaction to a paranoid view that society is in decline and that outsiders are humiliating its people. The Encarta encyclopaedia says that fascism has idealistic gaols of seeking to improve a country by heightening a sense of national or ethnic identity, but that it rejects the idea of freedom and individual rights. The rise of fascism always results in the centralisation of control under a dictator, close state-control of society and the economy and violent suppression of dissent. The persecution that seems to be an integral part of fascism has resulted in millions of deaths and fascism is associated with right-wing fanaticism, racism, totalitarianism and violence.
So - does any of that sound like it fits into Paganism? No? Thought not! Pagans are renowned for being individualistic to extremes, to be anti-authority and hence difficult to organise. Pagans, from my close observations of over 30+ years, are a peaceful lot, though occasionally given to bitchy comments about each other. It would seem then that Pagans are going to be a pretty lousy prospect for conversion to some right wing cause - and yet people do occasionally try…
Fascism doesn't fit with most Pagans, but perhaps some are more susceptible to its influences than others. Any spiritual or religious beliefs system that holds equality as a principle and welcomes anyone to join isn't likely to fall prey to fascist tendencies. If you feel that your beliefs spring from the land where you live you are equally unlikely to be affected. However, if you have a set of beliefs that you think come from a particular people then beware, because they could be twisted to become racist.
This is perhaps why it is the Northern tradition and Heathenry that have had, and still have, some problems with white supremacist groups. Even in the Northern tradition the few attempts by the extreme right wing to infiltrate have generally been unsuccessful. In the UK, Odinshof and the Ring of Troth are well-respected large Odinist organisations that are definitely not fascist. However, there are also such tiny groups as Woden's Folk that are clearly at the extreme end of the right wing. Their web site is full of classic indicators of fascist ideology. They recently gate-crashed the protest about the stunt at the Long Man of Wilmington which is why you may know the name.
There are also some rarer attempts to subvert Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism and/or Druidry using race-based arguments. A recent attempt to claim the discovery and translation of a lost Irish text, Lebor Feasa Runda, was quickly spotted as a fraud and the person behind it was linked back to a well known neo-nazi web site. The story about the book did start with its supposedly being brought to Britain by Rudolph Hesse! However, Pagans with an interest in Celtic ways respect the value of individuals and accept that proof of Celtic ancestry, whatever that may be, isn't an essential qualification for following this path.
Fascism, according to Mussolini, who ought to have known, is a right wing collectivist ideology opposed to socialism, democracy and individualism. Under this ideology people have no value except as part of the "State". Fascism is a reaction to a paranoid view that society is in decline and that outsiders are humiliating its people. The Encarta encyclopaedia says that fascism has idealistic gaols of seeking to improve a country by heightening a sense of national or ethnic identity, but that it rejects the idea of freedom and individual rights. The rise of fascism always results in the centralisation of control under a dictator, close state-control of society and the economy and violent suppression of dissent. The persecution that seems to be an integral part of fascism has resulted in millions of deaths and fascism is associated with right-wing fanaticism, racism, totalitarianism and violence.
So - does any of that sound like it fits into Paganism? No? Thought not! Pagans are renowned for being individualistic to extremes, to be anti-authority and hence difficult to organise. Pagans, from my close observations of over 30+ years, are a peaceful lot, though occasionally given to bitchy comments about each other. It would seem then that Pagans are going to be a pretty lousy prospect for conversion to some right wing cause - and yet people do occasionally try…
Fascism doesn't fit with most Pagans, but perhaps some are more susceptible to its influences than others. Any spiritual or religious beliefs system that holds equality as a principle and welcomes anyone to join isn't likely to fall prey to fascist tendencies. If you feel that your beliefs spring from the land where you live you are equally unlikely to be affected. However, if you have a set of beliefs that you think come from a particular people then beware, because they could be twisted to become racist.
This is perhaps why it is the Northern tradition and Heathenry that have had, and still have, some problems with white supremacist groups. Even in the Northern tradition the few attempts by the extreme right wing to infiltrate have generally been unsuccessful. In the UK, Odinshof and the Ring of Troth are well-respected large Odinist organisations that are definitely not fascist. However, there are also such tiny groups as Woden's Folk that are clearly at the extreme end of the right wing. Their web site is full of classic indicators of fascist ideology. They recently gate-crashed the protest about the stunt at the Long Man of Wilmington which is why you may know the name.
There are also some rarer attempts to subvert Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism and/or Druidry using race-based arguments. A recent attempt to claim the discovery and translation of a lost Irish text, Lebor Feasa Runda, was quickly spotted as a fraud and the person behind it was linked back to a well known neo-nazi web site. The story about the book did start with its supposedly being brought to Britain by Rudolph Hesse! However, Pagans with an interest in Celtic ways respect the value of individuals and accept that proof of Celtic ancestry, whatever that may be, isn't an essential qualification for following this path.