This paper aims to examine the development of political thinking of Heathenry and the factors that determine the political identity of particular heathen groups, namely their tendency to right-wing radicalism. The first chapter (after introduction) consists of four case studies; each one represents a different type of group in regard to where and under which circumstances they emerged, to the context that has been shaping their religious and political beliefs, and to the way they legitimize their possible political activism. The following two chapters analyze the historical influences that marked the difference in the ideological development of the two main types of Heathenry, Ásatrú and Odinism, in two distinct cultural milieus - Europe and the US. The final chapter is a synthesis of the case studies in relation to their historical background. The outcome of this synthesis offers a possible interpretation of the process of radicalization of the heathen groups. KEY WORDS: New religious movements, Germanic neopaganism, religious racism, political religion, nationalism, extremism, Asatru, Odinism

[pt] A presente dissertação busca compreender como o racismo religioso é capaz de produzir e reproduzir violências objetivas e subjetivamente, bem como quanto esta questão atravessa e/ou é atravessada pelo Direito. No Brasil, as Religiões de matrizes africanas, vindas pela diáspora africana, a partir do Século XV, fruto da escravidão, são as que mais sofrem com estas questões racializadas. Para desenvolver tais apontamentos, a presente pesquisa parte de uma análise teórica e crítica, questionando e revisitando alguns conceitos caros ao Estado e ao direito, como liberdade (religiosa), laicidade e democracia, juntamente com estudo crítico acerca da branquitude. Usa-se como técnica de investigação a análise de conteúdo (BARDIN, 1977), bem como as de análise de discurso e documento para explorar três importantes relatórios publicados em âmbito nacionais acerca de intolerância religiosa. Por fim, critica-se o Direito, especialmente o direito constitucional, a partir de seus próprios instrumentos, ao fazer uma análise crítica sobre o Recurso Extraordinário 494.601 e seu contexto, que trata sobre a constitucionalidade dos sacrifícios de animais em rituais de Religiões de matrizes africanas. Desta maneira, é possível visualizar como o Direito – em suas linguagens e instituições – não dá conta da pluralidade que existe nas práticas das religiões de matrizes africanas, nem tampouco consegue, devido ao racismo institucional e estrutural no Brasil, contemplar por inteiro as demandas de tal seguimento religioso. / [en] This dissertation seeks to understand how racism in its religious bias is capable of producing and reproducing objectively and subjectively violence, as well as how much this issue crosses and/or is crossed by the Law. Thus, African-based religions are the ones that suffer most from such racialized issues, since they derive from the African diasporic process, from the 15th century, fruit of slavery. The present research starts from a theoretical and critical analysis, questioning and revisiting some concepts dear to the State and the law, such as (religious) freedom, secularism and democracy, together with a critical study about whiteness. Content analysis is used as an investigation technique (Bardin, 1977), as well as those of speech and document analysis to explore three important nationally published reports on religious intolerance. Finally, the law is criticized, especially constitutional law. Finally, the Law is strained from its own instruments, when making a critical analysis of Extraordinary Appel 494.601 and its context, which deals with the constitutionality of animal sacrifices in rituals of African-based religions. In this way, it is possible to see how Law - in its languages and institutions - does not account for the plurality that exists in Afro-religious practices, nor is it able, due to institutional and structural racism in Brazil, to fully contemplate the demands of theses religious groups.