A pagan religion that some experts say can be interpreted as encouraging violence is gaining popularity among prison inmates, one of whom is scheduled to be executed this week for killing a fellow prisoner at the foot of an altar.
Michael Lenz is scheduled to die Thursday for the death of Brent Parker, who was stabbed dozens of times at Augusta Correctional Center during a gathering of inmates devoted to Asatru, whose followers worship Norse gods. At his trial, Lenz testified that Parker had not been taking the religion seriously and had to die to protect the honor of the gods.
Other followers call the religion misunderstood and say most adherent inmates do not use it to further violent agendas.
Asatru has been gaining popularity among inmates, say religious leaders and prison experts who believe its roots in Viking mythology attract prisoners seeking power, protection and unity.
The gang culture in prison also contributes, said theologian Britt Minshall, a former police officer and Baltimore pastor who ministers to inmates. Some white inmates who felt threatened by black prison gangs formed their own gangs and sought out a belief system they felt would provide additional security, he said.
"It's a way of grouping together for safety," he said. "And you have to have a god in the middle of that to really keep you safe."
Asatru is often referred to as Odinism, although some followers believe the two are separate religions. It is a polytheistic, pre-Christian faith native to Scandinavia whose adherents worship gods including Thor and Odin.
It emphasizes a connection with one's ancestors and values honor, loyalty, generosity and truth.
An estimated 10,000 to 20,000 people in the United States consider themselves Asatruars or Odinists, said Stephen McNallen, director of the Asatru Folk Assembly, a leading Asatru group.
No national statistics are kept on how many inmates follow Asatru. But experts say its popularity enjoyed a boost from the Supreme Court, which last year sided with an Asatru inmate by upholding a federal law requiring state prisons to accommodate prisoners' religious affiliations.
Asatru is often associated with white supremacy, although most Asatru leaders bristle at suggestions of such a relationship.
A 1999 FBI report on domestic terrorism described Odinism as a "white supremacist ideology that lends itself to violence."
"What makes Odinists dangerous is the fact that many believe in the necessity of becoming martyrs for their cause," the report said.
Such comments are typical of those who don't understand Asatru, said Jane Ruck, who runs the National Prison Kindred Alliance and ministers to Asatru inmates. White supremacists make up only a small portion of Asatruars, and most inmates who follow the religion do not use it to push hate-filled, violent agendas, she said.
"There might be some white supremacists who consider themselves Asatruars, but they're not (Asatruars) because they're not following our beliefs," Ruck said. "We don't hate anybody; we just want to take pride in our heritage."
Lenz and another inmate, fellow Asatruar Jeffrey Remington, stabbed Parker a combined 68 times with makeshift knives. Remington was also sentenced to death but committed suicide in 2004.
According to Art Jipson, who studies white racial extremism and directs the University of Dayton's criminal justice studies program, Lenz's belief that fatal force was warranted is not surprising.
"If he believes the fight was necessary, whether or not it was legal is the least of his concerns," Jipson said. "If he's a truly devout practicing Odinist or Asatruist, he's doing what he must do. And it would be a shame it would be a black mark on his soul, his spirit ... for him to be cowardly and not to fight."
That kind of warrior mentality can exacerbate the tense environment behind bars, said Mark Potok, a leader at the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, Ala., which monitors hate groups.
"It's a theology that celebrates raw physical power and domination, and that is why I think it is so popular among prison inmates," Potok said. "The kind of inmate who might be attracted to this is a white man who is looking for justification for extreme violence, who is looking for an ideology which explains why he should be the boss."
[Edit:
7/24-Comment from Craig: Lentz is a homicidal killer, a prisoner and an outlaw. The Gods do not recognize such people. They are "Nithing". I have never had anything to do with "prison ministries" because of the outlawry of people in prison. Our society has declared them outlaw and that is why they are in prison in the first place. I think that Asatru should as a group condem unlawful acts of all sorts. And abide by the desisions of judges when it comes to these outlaws. They have been banished from our people for a reason. Those that go hanging out with them are misguided. After a prisoners banishment has ended they should be welcomed back into society. But not before hand. I know that prison is not at all like the banishment of the past. And that prisoners should have some contact with the outside world so not to become compleatly consumed by "prison life". I have sat and talked man to man with Mark Potok from the SPLC about this several years ago. He and others realize that not all asatru are like these outlaws. He knows that many of us are normal healthy law abideing citizens. They know that many of us just want to practice our beliefs and be pretty much left alone. But that story doesn't sell toothpaste and chevrolets! Personally I think that the actions of such criminals as Lenz should be loudly, publicly, and unilateraly condemed by the greater Asatru community. But they won't do it. It might mean actually standing up for something that makes a difference. Most would like to play at being the big shot of their little fifedom of their own imagination. Michael lenz should be exicuted and buried with out a marker. All records of his existance should be sealed and his name should never be spoken again, for his nithingness.
7/26-Comment from Bodi: Ok....done. Here is the email that I just sent off to Ms. Gelineau:
Dear Ms. Gelineau,
I would like to correspond with you about the article that you wrote on Asatru in American prisons, in connection with this Lenz person that has once again dragged our collective good name through the mud of the media. I would like to reiterate some of the positive things said in the article:
"It emphasizes a connection with one's ancestors and values honor, loyalty, generosity and truth."
**This is absolutely true, and this is how we present ourselves to the general public. How can one possibly come to the conclusion that one should do drugs, murder people, and wind up in prison from that?
"There might be some white supremacists who consider themselves Asatruars, but they're not (Asatruars) because they're not following our beliefs," Ruck said. "We don't hate anybody; we just want to take pride in our heritage."
**This is also an accurate statement, but I'd like to delve a little deeper on the subject. These sick individuals who co-opt our faith in order to further their own socio-political agendas, be they in prison or not, ARE NOT MEMBERS OF OUR FAITH, no matter what they claim or profess. Members of white supremacist groups seek to place the blame for their own shortcomings and what they perceive to be the shortcomings of all European Americans on other peoples, be they black, hispanic, jewish, etc., but the fact of the matter for us is this: We do not have to hate others to love ourselves, our heritage, and our Faith. In fact, it is an imperative within the greater Asatru community that hate has no place in our Faith. None at all. We simply seek to live our lives in peace and continue to rebuild the rich, vibrant faith that our European ancestors bequeathed to us.
**And now for the misinformation and outright lies:
"If he believes the fight was necessary, whether or not it was legal is the least of his concerns," Jipson said. "If he's a truly devout practicing Odinist or Asatruist, he's doing what he must do. And it would be a shame it would be a black mark on his soul, his spirit ... for him to be cowardly and not to fight."
**If I might be candid for a moment...I question Mr. Jipson's research and basis for this entire statement. No where in the teachings of our Faith will you find any reference or mandate stating that when one is faced with a decision to fight or not, that failure to fight will cause a black mark on one's spirit or soul. This is absurd and would be laughable, had Mr. Jipson's misguided and unfounded statements not been posted on the internet for the entire world to be misled by them. Unless Mr. Jipson is himself a devout practicing Odinist/Asaturar(correct conjugation, not Asatruist), or personally knows a broad cross section of the Asatru community, I respectfully suggest that he refrain from making such statements in public, and that you, the Associated Press, or any other news agency do better research on the matter.
"A 1999 FBI report on domestic terrorism described Odinism as a "white supremacist ideology that lends itself to violence."
"What makes Odinists dangerous is the fact that many believe in the necessity of becoming martyrs for their cause," the report said."
** Again, where are the facts and solid research to back these statements? Asatru itself has had no ties, nor will it have, to white supremacist ideology, and our faith does not lend itself to violence. Would I personally be willing to die for my faith? Yes, I would. However, I do not believe it to be a necessity that I must put forth as a main tenet of our faith, because it is not one of them.
In the interest of not making this a fifteen page email, I will sum this up by saying that you have been fed gross amounts of misinformation about Asatru and it's adherants, and I respectfully ask that you take the initiative to seek the truth and post it for the world to see. I would like to assist you in that endeavour, and look forward to your reply.
-Bodi Mayo-
Savannah, Georgia]
