In the modern world, political ideologies have become hollow, self-destructive forces, dragging civilization toward collapse. The left and right—once movements with meaningful philosophies—have devolved into caricatures of themselves, each obsessed with power, control, and ideological purity rather than the well-being of society. While they war over who can force their version of reality onto the world, they ignore the fundamental truth: civilization itself is sick, not because it lacks progress, but because it has abandoned its roots.

The answer does not lie in reforming these broken systems. It does not lie in choosing between two sides that have both led humanity to cultural, spiritual, and environmental decay. The answer lies in looking backward—not to modern reinventions of the past, but to the ancient, primal worldview that once guided strong, free, and deeply connected societies. And among these, the worldview of the Vikings stands as a beacon for the way forward.

The Left and Right: Two Wings of the Same Dying Bird

The political left, once a movement for personal freedom and the protection of the individual against tyranny, has transformed into an engine of ideological oppression. It demands conformity under the guise of tolerance, enforces dogma with the zeal of a religious inquisition, and seeks to dismantle all organic structures—family, community, and identity—in the pursuit of an abstract, soulless equality. It is disconnected from the natural world, hostile to tradition, and views the past not as a source of wisdom but as an enemy to be erased.

The political right, which once stood for strength, stability, and the preservation of cultural identity, has become equally hollow. It clings to the rotting corpse of industrial capitalism, worships profit at the expense of the earth, and seeks to uphold rigid, artificial systems rather than organic, time-tested traditions. Its version of tradition is often a modern, sanitized construction, one that lacks the raw, dynamic force of the ancient world. Instead of embracing the warrior spirit of its ancestors, it bows to corporate interests, lifeless bureaucracy, and shallow nationalism.

Both sides are blind to the true problem: civilization itself has severed its ties to the natural rhythms of life. Modern politics is a distraction, a meaningless struggle over the scraps of a dying world order. The solution is not to pick a side. The solution is to reject the entire paradigm and return to the wisdom of those who lived in harmony with the primal forces of existence.

The Way Forward is the Way Back

The ancient world was not perfect, but it was real. It was rooted in the raw, unfiltered truths of nature, survival, and the human spirit. Among the many cultures that once thrived, the Vikings embodied a worldview that holds the key to a future beyond the failures of modernity.

The Vikings were not ideological. They did not believe in universal doctrines forced upon all people. Instead, they lived by the natural order, recognizing strength, honor, and kinship as the foundations of a thriving society. Their world was not bound by rigid, artificial laws but by orlog—the deep, unwritten law of cause and effect that governs all things.

This is what we have lost. The modern world, whether left or right, is built on artificial constructs. The Vikings understood that power, respect, and balance must be earned, not dictated from above. They did not seek to control nature but to work alongside it. Their spirituality was not a dogma but an ever-evolving relationship with the gods, ancestors, and spirits of the land.

What Does a Viking Worldview Look Like Today?

A return to Viking cultural perspectives does not mean dressing in furs and swinging axes—though there is nothing wrong with embracing the physical expressions of heritage. It means reviving the fundamental principles that guided their way of life:

• Honor and Personal Strength: Modern society punishes strength and rewards weakness. The Vikings saw strength—both physical and mental—as a virtue. A person was not entitled to respect; they earned it through deeds. The future must abandon the culture of victimhood and return to a world where individuals are responsible for their own fate.
• Kinship and Tribal Loyalty: The Vikings did not put blind faith in massive, faceless institutions. Their loyalty was to their family, their kindred, their people. Globalism has severed these bonds, making people feel rootless and disconnected. The only way to rebuild real community is to return to kin-based, localized societies.
• Freedom Through Self-Reliance: Modern civilization has made people weak by making them dependent. The Vikings did not wait for a government to provide for them; they took what they needed through skill, trade, or battle. A return to their worldview means rejecting reliance on collapsing state systems and embracing self-sufficiency—whether through homesteading, warrior training, or reclaiming lost crafts and skills.
• Spirituality Rooted in the Natural World: Unlike the modern world, which treats religion as either an authoritarian control system or an empty aesthetic, the Vikings had a lived spirituality. The gods were real forces, intertwined with fate, nature, and personal destiny. They understood that life was a battle, and the gods did not coddle the weak. If modern society is to heal, it must abandon the nihilistic materialism of today and rekindle a spirituality that is fierce, primal, and deeply interwoven with nature.
• A Warrior’s View of Life: The Vikings did not fear struggle; they embraced it. Life was a battlefield, and every moment was a test of courage. Today, people are taught to fear hardship and seek comfort above all else. This has made society fragile, weak, and easily controlled. The way forward is to embrace wyrd—the unfolding of one’s destiny through bold action, fearless living, and an unbreakable will.

Neo-Paganism is Not the Answer

One must be careful, however, not to mistake the modern reconstructionist movement—so-called “Neo-Paganism”—for the true revival of Viking culture. Much of what calls itself Pagan today is infected with the very same weaknesses of modernity. It often carries the ideological baggage of the left, diluting the raw power of ancient traditions into a sanitized, consumer-friendly spirituality. It replaces the warrior’s path with passive rituals, reducing the gods to mere symbols rather than living forces of nature.

The true way forward is not through a modern reinterpretation but through an ancestral reawakening—a return to the mindset, values, and raw spiritual power of the ancient world.

The Reckoning is Coming

The modern world is unraveling. The systems people have relied on for generations are breaking down. The political left and right are leading only to more division, weakness, and collapse. But this is not a cause for despair. It is an opportunity—a Ragnarök of the old world, clearing the way for something greater.

Those who embrace the ancient ways will survive and thrive. Those who cling to the failing ideologies of modernity will be swept away. The path is clear: abandon the illusions of left and right, reject the artificial world of modern civilization, and return to the primal truths that once made humans strong.

The Viking worldview is not the past—it is the future. The only question is whether one has the courage to embrace it.

In recent decades, many individuals and groups have attempted to project modern political ideologies onto historical belief systems, including Norse Paganism. However, anyone seeking to be a true traditionalist Norse Pagan—meaning someone who accurately follows Viking-era Norse culture and beliefs—must recognize that both 19th-century right-wing nationalism and 20th/21st-century left-wing progressivism are incompatible with a genuine Viking worldview. Both ideologies impose modern values and social constructs onto an ancient system that existed long before these concepts were invented.

A traditional Norse Pagan approach demands historical accuracy and an understanding of Viking Age culture as it truly was—not as we wish it to be through the lens of modern politics. This article explores why both modern left-wing and right-wing ideas fail to reflect the values and realities of Viking society and how a true traditionalist Norse Pagan must reject both.

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1. The Viking World Was Not 19th-Century Nationalism

A Multi-Ethnic, Expansionist Culture

One of the biggest misconceptions about Viking Age Scandinavia, especially among 19th and early 20th-century right-wing nationalist movements, is the idea that Vikings were an insular, racially homogenous people who adhered to a rigid sense of nationalism. This is historically inaccurate.

The Vikings were explorers, traders, raiders, and settlers who engaged with diverse cultures across Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and even Central Asia. Evidence from burial sites, DNA analysis, and trade records clearly shows that Vikings had interactions with, and even integrated, people from various ethnic backgrounds. They married, traded, and fought alongside non-Scandinavians, including Slavs, Celts, Anglo-Saxons, Finns, and even Arabs and Persians.

Viking society was not isolationist nor based on racial purity—it was pragmatic and opportunistic. It is well-documented that Vikings had multi-ethnic trading settlements such as Hedeby, Birka, and Jorvik, where people of different backgrounds lived together. Their mythology and worldview were centered on personal honor, deeds, and strength rather than ethnic identity.

Thus, 19th-century nationalist attempts to depict Vikings as a purely “Nordic master race” are based on falsehoods, as their culture was defined by strength, exploration, and adaptability rather than racial exclusivity.

Warrior Ethos Over Nationalism

The Vikings did not fight for modern nationalist concepts like “the state” or “the nation.” Instead, they fought for personal glory, wealth, honor, and loyalty to their kindred and jarl (chieftain). Viking warbands were often mercenaries who fought for whoever could pay them best, whether they were fellow Norsemen or foreign kings. Loyalty was given to kin, leaders, and drottnar (lords), but not to abstract national identities.

The drengr (warrior ideal) emphasized individual heroism, personal strength, and honor, not blind allegiance to a nation. A warrior’s reputation was more important than race or land. This directly contradicts the nationalist ideas of later centuries that demanded loyalty to the state above all else.

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2. The Viking World Was Not 20th/21st-Century Left-Wing Progressivism

Gender Roles Were Defined and Complementary

Modern leftist ideologies often attempt to claim the Vikings were early feminists or gender egalitarians. While Viking women had significantly more rights than many of their medieval counterparts, they were not equal to men in all aspects of society. Viking society was deeply hierarchical and structured around gender roles, even though it acknowledged the power and influence of women.

Women could own property, divorce, and run households, and some, such as the legendary shieldmaidens, participated in battle (though this was the exception, not the rule). However, Viking women were still expected to manage the home, raise children, and maintain the lineage, while men took on roles as warriors, hunters, and rulers.

The left-wing push for absolute gender fluidity and the erasure of biological distinctions between men and women is not reflective of traditional Viking society. While Viking culture respected female agency, it did not embrace modern feminist ideals of social or occupational interchangeability.

Social Hierarchy Was Strongly Enforced

Contrary to leftist ideals of enforced equality, Viking society was highly stratified and hierarchical. It was divided into distinct social classes:

1. Jarls (Nobles & Rulers) – Wealthy landowners and war leaders who controlled trade, politics, and military endeavors.
2. Karls (Freemen) – Farmers, craftsmen, warriors, and traders who had rights and property but were subordinate to jarls.
3. Thralls (Slaves) – The lowest class, consisting of captured enemies, debtors, or those born into slavery.

This rigid structure meant that equality was not a Viking ideal. Thralls were an essential part of the Viking economy and daily life, and while some could earn freedom, they remained at the bottom of the social ladder. The Vikings did not advocate for the abolition of slavery or social justice reform—such concepts did not exist in their worldview.

A truly traditional Viking society valued strength, honor, and personal ability over modern concepts of social justice and enforced egalitarianism.

There Was No Universal Tolerance for All Beliefs

Another misconception is that Viking society was fully open and tolerant of all religious or ideological beliefs. While they were indeed adaptable and curious about foreign gods (as seen in their interactions with Christianity, Islam, and Slavic paganism), this did not mean they accepted all beliefs as equal.

Vikings viewed the world through the lens of strength and honor, and those who failed to uphold these values were often scorned or mocked. Cowardice was despised, and weakness was not protected. Unlike modern leftist cultures, which promote safe spaces and protection from offense, the Viking world was one where personal resilience was expected, and a weak individual would not be coddled or supported indefinitely.

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Conclusion: The Viking Path is Its Own Path

Being a traditionalist Norse Pagan means embracing the values, culture, and beliefs of the Viking Age as they truly were—not as modern ideologies try to reinterpret them. Both 19th-century nationalist myths and modern leftist progressivism impose anachronistic views on a society that had its own unique structure and values.

A True Traditionalist Norse Pagan Recognizes That:

1. Vikings were not racial purists – They traded, fought, and intermarried with many cultures.
2. Vikings were not nationalists – They fought for personal honor, kin, and wealth, not for modern nation-states.
3. Vikings had structured gender roles – Women had rights but were not equal in all societal aspects.
4. Vikings were hierarchical – Society was stratified, and equality was not a core ideal.
5. Vikings valued strength over sensitivity – Weakness was looked down upon, and personal honor was paramount.

Ultimately, a true traditionalist Norse Pagan must reject both right-wing nationalist distortions and left-wing progressive reinterpretations. To follow the Viking way is to embrace honor, personal strength, kinship, and a deep connection to the gods and nature—not to conform to modern political trends. The Viking path is neither left nor right; it is its own path, rooted in the traditions and realities of the past.

The resurgence of Norse Paganism in the modern world has taken many forms, ranging from academic reconstructions based on archaeological and historical evidence to more eclectic spiritual practices that blend ancient traditions with modern beliefs. Among these, certain “reconstructionist” Heathenry groups claim to practice an authentic revival of Viking Age Norse Paganism. However, many of these groups are not reconstructing historical Norse religion accurately but instead perpetuating outdated and romanticized 19th-century misconceptions about the Vikings. These misconceptions, rooted in nationalist and Christian-influenced perspectives, distort the real values of Viking-age Norse Paganism, particularly in areas such as community values, tolerance, and hospitality.

This essay will expose how many so-called “reconstructionist” Heathenry groups are following a distorted version of Norse Paganism based on 19th-century pseudo-history rather than genuine historical evidence. It will also highlight how true Viking values—especially the sacred duty of hospitality—stand in direct opposition to the intolerance and exclusionary practices common in many of these groups.

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I. The Inaccuracies of 19th-Century Heathenry: A False Reconstruction

The 19th century was a time of intense European nationalism, and during this period, myths about the Vikings were created to serve political and cultural agendas rather than historical accuracy. Many of these myths continue to persist in certain Heathenry groups today. Here are a few key ways in which their version of Norse Paganism is an invention of the 19th century rather than a reconstruction of actual Viking beliefs and practices:

1. The False Notion of Viking Racial Purity

One of the most harmful myths perpetuated by certain Heathenry groups is the idea that Norse Paganism was racially exclusive and that the Vikings were concerned with “racial purity.” This notion originates from 19th-century European racial theories, which sought to establish a distinct and superior “Nordic race.” However, actual Viking history tells a very different story. The Vikings were highly cosmopolitan traders, explorers, and settlers, interacting with and intermarrying with people from across Europe, the Middle East, and even Central Asia. Archaeological evidence, including DNA analysis, shows that Viking society was multi-ethnic and open to outsiders who adopted their ways.

The historical record shows that people from non-Scandinavian backgrounds could become part of Viking society through trade, travel, and adoption of cultural practices. The concept of an exclusionary, racially homogeneous Heathenry is therefore a modern fabrication, not a reflection of Viking-era Norse Paganism.

2. The Christianized Warrior Ethos

Many modern Heathen groups emphasize a rigid, warrior-focused ideology based on strength, dominance, and conquest, often portraying the Vikings as hyper-masculine warriors who lived only for battle and plunder. This is a severe oversimplification influenced by 19th-century romanticism and nationalistic militarism. While combat was certainly part of Viking life, the historical Norse had a far more complex culture that valued wisdom, poetry, craftsmanship, and diplomacy just as much as strength in battle.

In reality, Viking Age Norse Paganism was not solely about violence and aggression. The sagas and Eddic poetry celebrate not only warriors but also poets (skalds), explorers, merchants, and leaders who ruled through wisdom and negotiation. The 19th-century obsession with Vikings as bloodthirsty warriors ignores the reality that their society thrived through cooperation, law-making, and alliances.

3. The Romanticized “All-Father Worship”

Another common misconception is the overemphasis on Odin as the supreme deity of Viking Norse Paganism. Many modern Heathen groups treat Odin as an all-powerful father god in a way that mirrors the Christian concept of an omnipotent deity. However, historical Viking beliefs were far more diverse, and Odin was not universally the primary god among all Norse communities. Many Vikings primarily worshipped Thor, Freyr, or other gods, depending on their occupation and local traditions.

Additionally, historical sources show that the Vikings had a fluid and situational approach to their gods, invoking different deities for different purposes. The modern Heathen tendency to create strict theological structures around Odin, often with a hierarchical and dogmatic approach, mirrors monotheistic religious structures rather than the flexible, polytheistic worldview of the Norse.

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II. Hospitality: A Core Norse Value That Many Modern Heathens Ignore

One of the most fundamental values of Viking Norse Paganism was hospitality (gestirskapr)—the sacred duty to provide shelter, food, and protection to guests, even strangers. This practice was not just an expectation but a core part of Norse law and honor. Hospitality ensured survival in the harsh Scandinavian environment, where turning away a traveler could mean condemning them to death.

Despite this, many modern “reconstructionist” Heathen groups practice exclusion, intolerance, and hostility toward outsiders—behaviors that run completely counter to the core Viking principle of hospitality. Here’s how they contradict Viking values:

1. The Duty to Welcome Strangers

Historical accounts such as the Hávamál emphasize the importance of treating guests with respect. The Hávamál (Sayings of the High One) explicitly lays out rules of hospitality, stating that a guest should be greeted warmly, offered a seat by the fire, and given food and drink before being questioned.

However, many modern Heathen groups reject this value by practicing hostility toward those they deem unworthy, such as non-Europeans, LGBTQ+ people, or those who don’t conform to their narrow interpretations of Norse tradition. In doing so, they reject one of the most sacred responsibilities of Viking culture.

2. The Contrast Between Historical Tolerance and Modern Exclusion

Historical Viking society was far more tolerant and adaptable than many modern Heathens claim. The Vikings interacted peacefully with many cultures, forming trade networks that spanned from the Middle East to North America. They adopted customs, words, and even gods from other cultures.

In contrast, many so-called “reconstructionist” Heathen groups engage in gatekeeping, rigidly defining who is “allowed” to practice Norse Paganism based on outdated racial or cultural criteria. This exclusionary attitude is a direct contradiction of the actual Viking spirit, which was flexible, pragmatic, and open to those who embraced the ways of the North.

3. The Hypocrisy of Pseudo-Christian Morality in Heathenry

Ironically, many modern Heathen groups that claim to reject Christianity actually enforce moral structures and exclusivity that mirror Christian fundamentalism. They promote rigid doctrines about how Norse Paganism should be practiced, often imposing strict, authoritarian rules about ritual, worship, and social hierarchy—ideas that are alien to the decentralized and personal nature of historical Norse religion.

By rejecting hospitality and adopting an exclusionary, pseudo-Christian moral code, these groups betray the very Viking values they claim to uphold.

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Conclusion: True Reconstructionism vs. Ideological Distortion

A true reconstruction of Norse Paganism requires engaging with historical evidence rather than perpetuating 19th-century fantasies. The Vikings were not racial purists, were not obsessed solely with war, and did not practice an exclusionary, dogmatic form of religion. They were adaptable, pragmatic, and upheld hospitality as a sacred duty.

Many so-called “reconstructionist” Heathenry groups today are not reconstructing Viking Norse Paganism at all—they are reviving outdated nationalist myths that were invented centuries after the Viking Age. Their intolerance, exclusion, and hostility toward outsiders are in direct opposition to core Viking values such as hospitality, community, and respect for different ways of life.

If modern Heathens wish to truly honor their ancestors, they must embrace the real values of the Norse people—honor, wisdom, adaptability, and above all, hospitality. Rejecting the narrow, intolerant views of 19th-century pseudo-history and instead embracing the historical reality of Norse Paganism is the only way to practice Heathenry in a way that is truly faithful to the Viking spirit.