Editing Heathenry in the United States (section)

==Terminology==
In English usage, the genitive ''{{lang|is|Ásatrúar}}'' "of Æsir faith" is often used on its own to denote adherents (both singular and plural).{{sfnm|1a1=Blain|1y=2002|1p=5|2a1=Strmiska|2a2=Sigurvinsson|2y=2005|2p=128|3a1=Adler|3y=2006|3p=286|4a1=Harvey|4y=2007|4p=53}} This term is favored by practitioners who focus on the deities of Scandinavia,{{sfn|Strmiska|Sigurvinsson|2005|p=128}} although it is problematic as many Asatruar worship deities and entities other than the Æsir, such as the Vanir, Valkyries, Elves, and Dwarves.{{sfn|Strmiska|2000|p=113}} Other practitioners term their religion ''Vanatrú'', meaning "those who honour the Vanir" or ''Dísitrú'', meaning "those who honour the Goddesses", depending on their particular theological emphasis.{{sfn|Harvey|2007|p=53}}

Within the community it is sometimes stated that the term ''Ásatrú'' pertains to groups which are not racially focused, while ''Odinism'' is the term preferred by racially oriented groups. However, in practice, there is no such neat division in terminology.{{sfn|Gardell|2003|p=152}}

There are notable differences of emphasis between ''Ásatrú'' as practiced in the US and in Scandinavia. According to {{harvp|Strmiska|Sigurvinsson|2005}}, American Asatruar tend to prefer a more devotional form of worship and a more emotional conception of the Nordic gods than Scandinavian practitioners, reflecting the parallel tendency of highly emotional forms of Christianity prevalent in the United States.<ref>"American Nordic Pagans want to feel an intimate relationship with their gods, not unlike evangelical attitudes towards Jesus. Icelandic Asatruar, by contrast, are more focused on devotion to their past cultural heritage rather than to particular gods." {{harvp|Strmiska|Sigurvinsson|2005|p=165}}</ref>