Editing Wotansvolk (section)

=== Wotanism ===
Ron McVan developed Wotansvolk [[ariosophy]] in two books titled ''Creed of Iron'' (1997) and ''Temple of Wotan'' (2000), with the project to get the lost "folk consciousness" to re-emerge, and reconnect white people to their "roots [in] the Aryan race". Wotanism is presented by McVan as "the inner voice of the Aryan soul, which links the infinite past with the infinite future". To McVan, Wotan—a Germanic name for [[Odin]]—symbolizes "the essential soul and spirit of the Aryan folk made manifest" as an iron-willed warrior god.<ref name=":3" /> The name "Wotan" was also chosen instead of "Odin" because it was also used as an acronym for "will of the Aryan nations". According to James R. Lewis and Jesper A. Petersen, "there is no ontological distinction separating Aryan man and Aryan gods. They are conceived of as kin, differing in power rather than nature". McVan cultivated the "mystery of the blood", the belief that unmixed Aryan blood carries a genetic memory of the racial lineage with all its gods, demigods, and heroes of the aboriginal golden age. Given that the Aryan can reconnect to the archetypal gods of the blood, "man is able", in the words of McVan, "to awaken to a divinity which flows within him". "A race without its mythos and religion of the blood", McVan followed, "shifts aimlessly through history".<ref name=":3" />

Wotanism, contrary to a self-denying Christianity, is seen by Wotansvolkers as a "natural religion", preaching "war, plunder, and sex".<ref name=":3" /> Lane's followers, who regard him as a [[folk hero]],<ref name="SPLC1998"/> see Lane's writing, such as the "[[14 Words]]" and the "88 Precepts" manifesto, as [[religious text|holy scriptures]] and foundational texts. They primarily consider the gods through a "[[Polytheism|soft polytheistic]]" lens as [[Jungian archetypes]], although Lane said one could be a [[deist]], a [[pantheist]], or an [[atheist]] and still be Wotansvolk.<ref>{{cite web |website=Gambanreidi Statement |title=Wotanism by Professor Carl Gustav Jung. Compiled by the late, Jost Turner |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021005043705/http://www.geocities.com/gambanreidi.geo/wotanjung.html |archive-date=2002-10-05 |url=http://www.geocities.com/gambanreidi.geo/wotanjung.html}}</ref>{{sfnp|Gardell|2003|p=270}} McVan and Lane have described many rituals and practices, none of which are required of practitioners.{{sfnp|Gardell|2004|pp=214–217}} Lane often used "Odinist" and "Wotanist" as synonymous in his writings, and the [[Southern Poverty Law Center]] regards Lane's Wotanism as a form of Odinism, whereas Ron McVan labelled it "Heathen".<ref name="SPLC1998">{{cite news |url=https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/intelligence-report/1998/new-brand-racist-odinist-religion-march |title=New Brand of Racist Odinist Religion on the March|date=Winter 1998 |work=Intelligence Report |access-date=30 May 2017|publisher=Southern Poverty Law Center}}</ref> 

Universalist Asatruars—notably [[The Troth]]—along with some non-folkish [[Odinists]], have rejected what they perceive as an attempt to appropriate the revival of the ancient native faith of [[northern Europe]] for [[political]] and [[racial]] ends.{{sfnp|Gardell|2003|pp=273–283}} Folkish Heathens on their side, such as [[Stephen McNallen]] of the [[Asatru Folk Assembly]], generally support Lane's  [[Fourteen Words]], although they are not generally in favor of [[domestic terrorism]] to establish a [[white ethnostate]].<ref name="SPLC1998"/>