Åsatrufellesskapet Bifrost

Åsatrufellesskapet Bifrost is an umbrella organisation for local heathen (Germanic neopagan) 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 the autumn of 2016, Bifrost had 368 members and nine registered blotslag. About half of the members were members of a blotslag.[2]

The stated goal of the organisation 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. Bifrost's basic doctrines are summarised in a document titled Eden ("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".[3] Several prominent members have academic degrees in subjects like history of religion and folklore studies and combine the religious practice with academic studies. The organisation publishes the magazine Bifrost Tidende ("The Bifrost Times").[1] It also works actively to ensure that Norse symbols are associated with old customs rather than "hateful ideologies".[1]

Since 2017, Bifrost own the facility Fagerhøi i Søre Osen, Trysil. The building had previously been a school and a cultural centre. Bifrost use the facility 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.[4]

The leader of the organisation is called høvding ("chieftain"). As of 2014, the position was held by Eirik Sverreson Indregård.[5]

The name means "The ás faith fellowship Bifrost". Bifrost is the bridge between the world of men and the world of gods in Norse mythology.[1]

Bifrost has its background in the Oslo 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 an umbrella organisation. Bifrost was officially registered and recognised by the government on 28 February 1996.[6] 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 åsatru was "a historical falsification", and would be detrimental to "all serious activities concerning the Viking Age".[7] The parliamentary Ombudsman however concluded that this was not a legitimate reason for the government to not accept a religion.[7]

An important source of inspiration for Bifrost has been Ásatrúarfélagið in Iceland.[1] The original subculture that BÅL appeared in was however more generally characterised by an interest in paganism and the occult. Because of this, prominent people from the early days of 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, which is based on "Norwegian folklore".[8] These two umbrella organisations have since held the majority of organised heathens in Norway.[8]

• Official website (in Norwegian)