Ásatrúarfélagið
Icelandic heathenry organization / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Ásatrúarfélagið?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
Ásatrúarfélagið (Icelandic: [ˈauːsatʰruːarˌfjɛːlaijɪð], Ásatrú Fellowship), also known simply as Ásatrú, is an Icelandic religious organisation of heathenry (in Iceland also called Ásatrú, "ás faith"). It was founded on the first day of summer in 1972, and granted recognition as a registered religious organization in 1973, allowing it to conduct legally binding ceremonies and collect a share of the church tax. The Allsherjargoði is the chief religious official.
Formation | 1972 |
---|---|
Type | Heathenry, Icelandic folk religion |
Location | |
Membership | 5770 |
Official language | Icelandic |
Founder | Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson |
Key people | Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson Jóhanna G. Harðardóttir |
Website | www |
The organization was led by farmer and poet Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson from 1972 until his death in 1993. During most of this period membership did not exceed 100 people and after the initial enthusiasm faded, there was little activity. The time of the next high priest, Jörmundur Ingi Hansen (1994–2002), saw considerable growth and activity, including the design of an Ásatrú burial ground. These trends have continued under the present high priest, musician Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson (2003–present), and as of 1 January 2018, the organization has 5770 registered members, about one third of whom are women.[1] Since 2002, the number of registered members has grown annually from 8% (2006–2007) to 21% (2011–2012).[2]
Ásatrúarfélagið does not have a fixed religious dogma or theology, but the high priests have tended towards a pantheistic worldview. The central ritual is the communal blót feast, but the priests (goðar) also conduct name-giving ceremonies, coming of age rituals, weddings, and funerals. The organization has on some occasions taken a stance on political issues, including abortion rights, gay marriage, the separation of church and state, and environmental issues. The organisation is a founding member of the European Congress of Ethnic Religions.