The Northvegr Foundation strives to bring knowledge and understanding of Northern European pre-Christian history, culture and spiritual values (i.e. world-view and ethic) which is in evidence in many primary sources and well documented in many secondary sources, and can be gleaned through research. We believe strongly in promoting scholarship based upon critical thought.

We support any group or organization, (religious and/or secular) that works to promote its own history, culture and spiritual values, as long as it does so without demonizing another organization or people. Different does not mean that it is worse or better. It simply means different. We strongly support any genuine tribal/folk-religion and believe that unity through diversity can be achieved. We also strongly oppose all forms of tyranny. Irrational hatred and oppression of a people are not Northern Virtues. We reject those who would follow such paths. We state unequivocally that the Heithinn spiritual tradition has no connection at all with extremists, white supremacists, or racists (or the more "PC" term ‘racialists').

Notes:

1. Heithni [Hayth-nee] comes from the Old Norse word ‘heiðni’, which is a word that was used in some areas of Scandinavia in elder times to describe the pre-Christian spiritual tradition of the Northern European peoples. The word Heithinn comes from the Old Norse word ‘heiðinn’ which we use as an adjective to describe the ideals of Heithni (ex. Heithinn ethics – those ethics which conform to Heithni), or as a noun to describe those who live by the ethic and world-view of Heithni (ex. He is Heithinn, those people are Heithnir [plural]). Heiðni also means 'high, pure, clear' in Icelandic. The modern word "heathen" descends from this word. [Back]