The Troth, formerly the Ring of Troth, is an
American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, pe ...
-based international
heathen organization.
[On its main page (retrieved July 26, 2013)](_blank)
the organization says: "There are several modern names for various forms of our religion: Asatru, Forn Sed, Urglaawe, Theodism, and others. Historically, we were called Heathens, and we still use that name now, too." It is prominent in the inclusionary, as opposed to
folkish sector of heathenry. The organization was founded on December 20 (
Mothers' Night), 1987 by former
Ásatrú Free Assembly members
Edred Thorsson
Eadred (c. 923 – 23 November 955) was King of the English from 26 May 946 until his death. He was the younger son of Edward the Elder and his third wife Eadgifu, and a grandson of Alfred the Great. His elder brother, Edmund, was killed try ...
and James Chisholm. Chisholm remains associated with the organization as an Elder Emeritus. The current Steer is Lauren Cro
The Troth is registered as a
non-profit
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
corporation in the state of
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
with federal
501(c)(3)
A 501(c)(3) organization is a United States corporation, trust, unincorporated association or other type of organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code. It is one of the 29 types of 50 ...
status as a public charity. It hosts a yearly June meeting called Trothmoot. Trothmoot 2022 was held at Meeman Shelby Forrest State Park near Memphis, TN.
Objectives and organization
The Troth defines itself as a religious organization of
Germanic Heathenry
Heathenry, also termed Heathenism, contemporary Germanic Paganism, or Germanic Neopaganism, is a modern Pagan religion. Scholars of religious studies classify it as a new religious movement. Developed in Europe during the early 20th centu ...
open to all the forms of the religion (
Asatru
Heathenry, also termed Heathenism, contemporary Germanic Paganism, or Germanic Neopaganism, is a modern Pagan religion. Scholars of religious studies classify it as a new religious movement. Developed in Europe during the early 20th cent ...
,
Urglaawe,
Forn Sed
Heathenry, also termed Heathenism, contemporary Germanic Paganism, or Germanic Neopaganism, is a Modern Paganism, modern Pagan religion. Scholars of religious studies classify it as a new religious movement. Developed in Europe during the ...
,
Theodism, and others)
international in scope, with training clergy, promoting cooperation and community, and providing information and educational publications as objectives.
Publications
The Troth publishes a quarterly journal called ''Idunna'', an annual ''Old Heathen's Almanac'',
[Barbara Ardinger, ''Pagan Every Day: Finding the Extraordinary in Our Ordinary Lives''. Weiser, 2006, p. 32: "There are numerous groups who follow the paths of the old Norse and Germanic pantheons. The Troth of Berkeley, California, publishes an ''Old Heathen's Almanac'' with much useful information as well."] and a handbook called ''Our Troth''.
History
The Troth was founded as "The Ring of Troth" in 1987, at the same time as the
Ásatrú Alliance, both emerging from the wreckage of the
Ásatrú Free Assembly, which had disintegrated over disputes between the racialist and the non-racialist factions.
The organization suffered a series of setbacks and disasters during the late 1980s to early 1990s.
The leadership of both Thorsson and Chisholm became controversial because of their association with the Satanist
Temple of Set
The Temple of Set is an occult initiatory order founded in 1975. A new religious movement and form of Western esotericism, the Temple espouses a religion known as Setianism, whose practitioners are called Setians. This is sometimes identified ...
. In 1988 to 1989, Rob Meek campaigned against the "Satanist infiltration" of the group. The Ásatrú Alliance in 1989 declared that there could be no association of Ásatrú and Satanism. In 1991, Thorsson and Chisholm sought for a new leader (''Steersman'') of the group, as it had become clear that they were too controversial to fill this position. The office of Steerswoman was eventually accepted by Prudence Priest in 1992. Internal controversy continued to plague the group, however, including accusations that Priest was intending to pass leadership back to Thorsson and attempting to marginalize the increasingly influential
Stephan Grundy
Stephan Scott Grundy (June 28, 1967 – September 29, 2021),
''The Wild Hunt'', October 5, 20 ...
. As a consequence, Priest was ousted by William Bainbridge in 1995, who took over as interim Steersman.
By the mid-1990s, the Troth, now led by William Bainbridge, had emerged as a stable organization with a wide spectrum of members situated "squarely within the Wiccan/neopagan community". Bainbridge was followed by
Diana Paxson
Diana Lucile Paxson (born February 20, 1943) is an American author, primarily in the fields of Paganism and Heathenism. Her published works include fantasy and historical fiction novels, as well as numerous short stories. More recently she has ...
(1999), Stefn Thorsman (2002), Mark Donegan (2005), Patricia Lafayllve (2008), Victoria Clare (2010), Steve Abell (2013), Rob Schreiwer (2016), and Lauren Crow (2022).
Approach within Heathenry
The Troth is prominent in the non-racialist, inclusive branch of modern-day heathenry. The organization's statement of purpose and bylaws refer to "non-discriminatory groups and individuals" and specify that "Discrimination
ased on criteria such as race, gender, ethnic origin, or sexual orientationshall not be practiced by The Troth, its programs, departments, officers, or any affiliated group, whether in membership decisions or the conduct of any of its activities."
Edred Thorsson intended the Ring of Troth to be based on scholarship and provide priests trained to high academic standards. While few members have achieved graduate degrees as he envisaged, the organization has been a prominent source of scholarly information within heathenry.
Ring of Troth Europe
A United Kingdom affiliate of the Ring of Troth, later renamed Ring of Troth Europe, was founded in 1993 by
Freya Aswynn
Elizabeth Hooijschuur (born November 1949), known by her pen name Freya Aswynn, is a Dutch writer and musician, primarily known for her activities related to modern paganism in the United Kingdom. She was an early exponent of a form of Germanic ne ...
, who has held office in both the Troth and the
Rune Gild
Runes are the letters in a set of related alphabets known as runic alphabets native to the Germanic peoples. Runes were used to write various Germanic languages (with some exceptions) before they adopted the Latin alphabet, and for specialised ...
.
Eldaring
The German
Eldaring
Eldaring is a German Heathenry (new religious movement), heathen organisation founded in 2000 and launched in 2002. It operates as an umbrella organisation for local groups and independent practitioners.
History
Eldaring began in 2000 as a privat ...
started in 2000 as a partner society of The Troth, and was officially founded and registered in 2002. As of 2008, it claimed some 200 members, and had an active internet forum with almost 5000 users. It claims political neutrality, and holds that folkish and universalist (non-racialist) heathenry are not necessarily at odds.
[Anja Gregor, ''Neuheidentum und Geschlechterrollenverständnis—Die Darstellung von Geschlecht in den Texten der Internetpräsenzen neuheidnischer Vereinigungen'', GRIN, 2008, ]
pp. 12–13
References
External links
*{{official, http://www.thetroth.org/
Religious organizations established in 1987
Ásatrú in the United States
German-American culture
Germanic neopagan organisations
Non-profit organizations based in Texas
Religion in Texas
Modern pagan organizations based in the United States
Modern pagan organizations established in the 1980s