Would you assume someone was racist for wearing a mjölnir necklace?

[RedThread]

by mjölnir I mean a thor's hammer necklace like the vikings used to wear to celebrate the god Thor. Nothing too fancy or elaborate. I'm a huge fan of norse mythology and viking history and I think it's a cool symbol. Unfortunately some neo-nazi and skinhead groups wear it and get tattoos of it for Germanic pride and all that. Would you assume someone was racist for have a necklace with it? I mean the KKK tried to use the cross for a hate symbol at one time. Most people don't attribute the symbol with hate. The swastika wasn't originally a symbol of antisemitism until Hitler got his hands on it.

I only ask because a friend of mine assumed that people would construe it to mean something hateful or think I'm from some white power group or something. I would never want people to think that but that's only because people have twisted it to mean that.

Second question: Do you think that modern day Norse pagans would be offended that I'm using the symbol of one of their gods as a fashion statement? lol

[Bluemax]

Well, the one person I knew who wore one was very racist. I met many of his Asatru buddies, and there were a disproportionate number of them who spouted all kinds of racist ideologies. Now, I know that a number of Asatru people hate this, but there is something about the Norse religion that seems to attract white racists. If I saw someone wearing Mjolnir, I would try to suppress my bias, but suffice it to say I would be a little suspicious based on my past encounters.

Now, frankly most people wouldn't recognize Mjolnir if it konked 'em on the head. I'd say the average joe on the street would just think it's an interesting pendant. By the way, my racist friend (who got downgraded to acquaintance) died and his widow, not a racist, wears his Mjolnir necklace all the time. Most people she encounters have no idea what it is unless they ask. When she tells him, the average response is, "Cool!" Thank heavens for Marvel comics, I guess...

[RedThread]

LOL yeah.. There are some racists that are attracted to "native European religions" as a sense of European pride and all that nonsense. Definitely not all Asatruar people are racist though. Anyway it isn't a religious symbol at all to me just a cool historical symbol that coincides with a time in history I enjoy learning about.

[Janson]

sorry this doesn't have much to do with the question but I think you will like this new game being developed that apparently has a tonne of norse mythology. It's an interview with one of the developers

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=BPrRtXBlNU8

sorry, just had to drop that. To answer your question though...well, considering that I had no idea what you were talking about until you went into details, I couldn't possibly accuse one who wore it of being a racist

[RedThread]

I'll definitely check that video out thanks for the link. Since nobody has any idea what I'm talking bout I'm thinking that I can go ahead and do it lol

It's just because norse pagans had a form of ancestor worship and there are sects of modern day norse pagans that only allow people of Scandinavian or Germanic ancestry to join them. Historically it's incorrect because the vikings conquered all the way down to the Middle East at times and took wives of many different ethnic backgrounds..

[Janson]

yeah trust me, the average guy (hell the average anthropologist) probably doesn't know all that ^_^

[cipher42]

No, I don't think most people actually know about its use as a symbol by racist groups, so the majority of people probably wouldn't care. And especially with how popular the Marvel Thor fandom has recently become, even people who did know of the association probably wouldn't think that's why you were wearing it. Its popular and well known enough just in association with Marvel or just regular Norse mythology that it's much more likely that someone wearing it just likes the fandom or the mythology than that they are wearing it as a racist symbol. As for pagans, again, due to the way Norse mythology has recently gained popularity, they're probably used to people using their symbols. Besides, the other religions have been stealing from them for centuries anyways, so they're probably pretty used to it by now. XD

[RedThread]

This is true.. Thanks for answering.

[Settingemstraight]

This. Most people ain't smart enough to catch a reference as obscure as that. (Not even that obscure but still)

[zschroeder6212]

As a self identified Norse Neopagan, I can say that it is a little bit irritating to see people walking around with Mjölnir pendants who do not believe in the gods. I wear my Mjölnir pendants in order to identify myself as Northman, and to respect my god Thor, not just to look cool. Mjölnir was commonly used in the viking age as a way to identify other pagans at a time when christianity was infiltrating their culture. This would still be a useful symbol for the same reason, if people had not started using a sacred symbol for a piece of jewellery.

[Anonymous]

It probably depends on how in-tune with white supremacist groups the viewer is. It's definitely not as automatic as a swastika or other Nazi symbols. I'd never heard of it being used that way. I have heard of the iron cross and celtic cross used that way and I still don't assume that everyone with is a white supremacist unless they have other signs, since those two are ambiguous.

[RedThread]

Right I've heard of that too. The reason some neo nazi and white supremacist groups use it as a symbol is because the norse pagans worshipped their ancestors along with the gods. They see ancestor worship as meaning European pride and all that crap. It's technically incorrect because there were vikings that countered all the way down to the middle east and took wives of different ethnic groups. Anyway I wouldn't be using it as a racist symbol just as something historic that I think is cool.

[RedThread]

conquered not countered*

[Opinion Owner]

If you had a lot of similar articles, I may wonder if you're pagan, however. But my brother is into that, so like I said, it's all relative to what people have seen.

[RedThread]

Nah it's just the necklace. Thanks for answering :)

[bubbiexo]

Highly unlikely. Then again I'm kind of oblivious to that kind of stuff... No idea it was used that way. I would probably just say you had a cool necklace. As for Norse pagans, I don't see anyone getting offended. :P

You could just wear a shirt that says, "Not a neo-nazi. Just love Thor."

[RedThread]

LOL that would be a funny shirt to go along with it.. It would certainly prevent controversy.. lol

[Anonymous]

I have an upside down cross tattooed on my left shoulder blade, so I think you could do a lot worse lol.

But anyway, people can get upset for what they want. But until they learn exactly what the symbol is meant as, as well as why YOU are wearing it, then some ignorant fool getting upset over it isn't worth your time to worry about.

Do your thing.

[Opinion Owner]

Oh and just to add, if someone gives you a hard time for being a "pagan" or whatnot, kindly but intelligently inform them that Christmas was adopted to take over old pagan holidays that occurred on the same day during the Roman Empire. It was only when Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire was it adopted on that day, out of convenience. Hell, even the traditions and customs are pagan and have nothing to do with Christianity.

Christ wasn't even born in December lol

[RedThread]

Right this makes sense.. Thanks for answering.

[RedThread]

Oh I wouldn't be offended for someone assuming I'm a pagan or worshipped norse gods or anything ;)

[Opinion Owner]

Alternatively, let me introduce a new perspective for you to consider...

Do you know how cool it is to be referred to as a "heretic"? That shit is THOROUGHLY awesome. It feels all dark, antiquated, and just plain badass. I've only experienced it once in my life (some crazy Bible thumper on my college campus), and I want it more!

So yeah, just a thought for something you might want to shoot for in the future ;)

[RedThread]

ha well I'm not interested in ruffling any feathers. If someone was rude to me for no reason I would stick up for myself regardless of whatever beliefs they hold.

[Opinion Owner]

No, my brother. You've gotta get mad. You've gotta get ANGRY! Bring down the burly hammer of Thor onto the weaklings! Urgh!

[RedThread]

It's interesting that you mentioned the upside down cross thing. Some thor's hammer necklaces do look like upside down crosses link during the Christianization of Europe. They've discovered some in Iceland that look almost identical to upside christian crosses but with some norse symbols. Almost like they were in the process of culture conversion.

[Opinion Owner]

Yeah, I've read various things about inverted crosses in Norse or Scandinavian culture. Some uses of an inverted cross being a symbol of the Christian god, as well as Thor's hammer when inverted. I've also read that it was a way that they embraced culturalization while still recognizing their own past, as you mentioned.

[RedThread]

That and there were laws that punished people for carrying around idols to other gods during that period. I guess any way to be rebellious kind of shone through.

[Opinion Owner]

They're just badass to begin with, so I guess it fits :)

[Queenofdasrot1414]

No I would not =. In fact, I would think it is pretty cool and ask you about it. I adorer old religions and folklore.

Oh I know. The swastika meant peace in Indian culture.

No lol. They might smile or stare but not offended.

Cheers mate!

[RedThread]

Thanks!

[Queenofdasrot1414]

No problem mate! Cheers!

[523206720]

I wouldn't think they were racist but a lot of atheists talk about thor to devalue the credibility of religion so I might assume they are atheist.

[RedThread]

Why would believing in one god devalue another one?

[joystickhappy]

With how popular the movie Thor is now, I doubt anyone would give it a second thought.

[RedThread]

Right but the symbol for those necklaces aren't like the hammer in the movie or anything. I doubt people would make the connection.

[joystickhappy]

I agree I don't think most people would even know what it actually is/means. If you want to wear it I say go for it.

[Anonymous]

I would just think that his religious beliefs are ásatrú link

[RedThread]

Well I wouldn't mind that. That's better than thinking I'm a white supremacist lol

[Dandeus]

Most people wouldn't be able to identify it as mjölnir, or even know what mjölnir is. They'd just think it was a little hammer.

[RedThread]

haha that's true.. I was reading too much into it... Thanks for answering.

[Anonymous]

nope, I didn't know it was used by nazis but id immediately think you were a runescape fan lol because they have them as ingame weapons

[RedThread]

LOL I didn't even think about runescape ;)

Cool I'm glad that nobody has any idea that some supremacist groups twist the meaning of it to suit their ideology.

[havok101]

no man, your cool. wear it with pride. I seldom have someone say something to me, if the do they usually trll me how much they like it.

[Anonymous]

In wouldn't assume that

[RedThread]

Sweeeet. Thanks for answering.

[EvilPimp]

No. Satanist probably, but racist no.

[RedThread]

lol why satanist?

[RedThread]

I mean wouldn't being a wiccan or a pagan come before satanist? It isn't even Christianity it's the Norse gods that it's symbolizing.

[EvilPimp]

I said "probably" as for people that may see you with the necklace on and didn't have knowledge of what it was . It looks like a upside down cross which is supposed to be the symbol for satanism so some people will probably mistake it for that.

[RedThread]

OHHH okay I understand where you're coming from now. Thanks :)

[EvilPimp]

No prob Bob!

[COCOCHANEL]

i think it's fine. scandinavian history is cool.

[RedThread]

Cool. I agree.