The Controversial Path Of The Ásatrú Folk Assembly: 5 Shocking Facts About The 'Whites-Only' Heathen Group

The Ásatrú Folk Assembly (AFA) remains one of the most polarizing and scrutinized religious organizations in the modern Heathenry movement, with its explicit "whites-only" membership policy drawing condemnation from civil rights groups and the majority of the wider Pagan community. As of late 2024 and heading into 2025, the AFA continues its mission to establish physical places of worship, or *Hofs*, across the United States, keeping the debate over religious freedom versus white nationalism at the forefront of local politics, particularly in small communities like Murdock, Minnesota.

This organization, which claims to practice the native, pre-Christian religion of Europe, is classified as a neo-Völkisch hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) due to its "folkish" ideology that ties the worship of the Norse gods (*Æsir* and *Vanir*) to "Ethnic European Folk"—a term the AFA clarifies means white people. Understanding the AFA requires a deep dive into its history, its current leadership, and the specific controversies that define its modern existence.

Key Figures and Organizational Profile of the AFA

The history of the AFA is intrinsically linked to its founder, Stephen A. McNallen, and its current leader, Matthew Flavel, who inherited the religious authority of the organization.

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Stephen A. McNallen (Founder)

• Born: October 15, 1948.
• Affiliations: Pioneer advocate of modern Norse Neo-Paganism in North America.
• Early Work: Founded the *Viking Brotherhood* in 1969 while in college, which later evolved into the first iteration of the AFA.
• Re-Establishment: Re-established the AFA in 1994 (sometimes cited as 1995) in California.
• Ideology: Known for co-opting the term "folkish" to mean that Ásatrú is a religion exclusively for people of Northern European descent.
• Current Role: Stepped down as *Alsherjargothi* (High Priest) in 2016, passing the leadership to Matthew Flavel, though he remains a highly influential figure.

Matthew Flavel (Current Alsherjargothi)

• Role: Current *Alsherjargothi* (High Priest/Leader) of the Ásatrú Folk Assembly.
• Leadership Transition: Assumed the duties and responsibilities of the *Alsherjargothi* from Stephen McNallen at Midsummer 2016.
• Focus: Continues to champion the AFA’s core *folkish* doctrine, which advocates for an "Ethnic European" membership.
• Quote: Has spoken publicly about the challenges facing the AFA community, including addressing issues like suicide within the organization.

5 Defining Facts About the AFA's Modern Controversies

The AFA’s activities in recent years have been marked by a strategy of acquiring physical church properties, or *Hofs*, which has led to intense community and legal backlash in multiple states. This strategy is central to their current operations.

1. The "Whites-Only" Membership Requirement is Explicit

The core of the AFA’s controversy lies in its explicitly racial membership policy. While many religious groups have specific ethnic or cultural origins (like Judaism or Shinto), the AFA is categorized as a hate group because it uses its religious doctrine to promote white nationalism and exclusion. The organization states that its members must be of "Ethnic European Folk," a term it clarifies as "white people". This contrasts sharply with "universalist" Heathen groups, such as The Troth, which welcome people of all backgrounds.

2. The Battle for Baldrshof in Murdock, Minnesota

One of the most high-profile conflicts in the AFA’s recent history centers on its acquisition of a former Lutheran church in Murdock, Minnesota, which it renamed *Baldrshof* (Baldr’s Hof).

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• The Purchase: The AFA purchased the property in June 2020.
• The Permit: Due to local zoning, the AFA required a conditional use permit to operate the building as a place of worship. Despite strong, vocal community pushback and warnings from anti-hate organizations, the Murdock City Council approved the permit in December 2020 by a 3-1 vote.
• The Legal Context: The council's decision was heavily influenced by legal concerns regarding the First Amendment, specifically the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), which protects religious organizations from unduly burdensome zoning laws. The permit is renewable annually, ensuring the controversy is a perpetual local issue.

3. A Growing Network of Hofs Across the U.S.

The AFA's strategy involves creating physical centers for its *Kindreds* (local congregations) to gather for ceremonies like *Blot* (sacrificial ritual) and *Sumbel* (ritual toasting). These centers are key to building the organization's physical and spiritual presence. Beyond its headquarters in Brownsville, California, and *Baldrshof* in Minnesota, the AFA has established or attempted to establish other *Hofs*.

• Óðinshof: The first major Hof, located in California.
• Þórshof: Another early Hof location.
• White Springs, Florida: In 2022, the AFA purchased a former church in White Springs, Florida, to serve as a Hof for its Southern U.S. members. This acquisition, like the one in Murdock, has also sparked local opposition and media coverage.
• Other Locations: Reports indicate the AFA has acquired or is operating Hofs in North Carolina and other undisclosed locations.

4. The Anti-Racist Heathen Counter-Movement: Declaration 127

The AFA's *folkish* ideology has led to a significant schism within the broader Heathenry movement, which is also referred to as *Norse Paganism* or *Odinism*. In response to the AFA's escalating rhetoric, a coalition of inclusive Heathen groups and individuals released Declaration 127 in 2016.

Declaration 127 explicitly condemns the AFA and other racist groups, stating that racism, antisemitism, and other forms of discrimination are incompatible with the fundamental values of Heathenry. This declaration is an LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) entity that highlights the clear and widespread rejection of the AFA’s ideology by the majority of the *Goðar* (priests) and members of the universalist Heathen community.

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5. The AFA’s Blending of Extremist Ideology and Physical Training

The AFA has been noted for its connection to a trend sometimes referred to as "Salafitness," which involves the blending of physical training with extremist ideology. This involves promoting a hyper-masculine, warrior-ethos culture, often encouraging members to participate in activities that reinforce a sense of strength, tribal loyalty, and preparedness. This emphasis on physical and martial readiness is seen by critics as a way to recruit and indoctrinate individuals into a white nationalist framework, using the imagery of the *Viking* and ancient Germanic peoples to justify their exclusionary worldview.

Folkish vs. Universalist: Understanding the Heathen Schism

To truly grasp the AFA's place, one must understand the fundamental division within the modern Heathen movement—the schism between *Folkish* and *Universalist* Ásatrú.

Folkish Ásatrú (AFA’s Position)

The AFA and groups like the Asatru Alliance (AA) adhere to the *folkish* position. They believe that the worship of the Norse gods is an indigenous religion tied directly to a specific ancestry—the "Ethnic European Folk". They argue that one must have a Northern European bloodline to truly connect with the *Æsir* (Odin, Thor, Tyr) and *Vanir* (Freyja, Freyr, Njörðr). Critics, including the SPLC, argue that this is simply a religious veneer for white supremacy, using terms like *Germanic Neopaganism* or *Wodanism* to mask a racist ideology.

Universalist/Inclusive Heathenry (The Majority)

The vast majority of modern Heathen organizations, including The Troth and various Icelandic Heathen groups, are *universalist*. They hold that the Norse gods and traditions are open to anyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. They view the AFA as appropriating their traditions and actively working against the fundamental values of hospitality and inclusion found in Norse lore. The ongoing tension between these two camps defines the public face of Ásatrú in the 21st century.