Recent Crimes Involving Former Military Officers

Two significant incidents have emerged lately, both involving ex-military personnel. On September 27, a 40-year-old Marine veteran named Nigel Max Edge shot into a crowd at the American Fish Company waterfront bar in Southport, North Carolina. The tragedy resulted in three fatalities and eight injuries before Edge managed to flee and was later apprehended.

Following this, the very next day, another Marine, Thomas Jacob Sanford, also 40 years old, opened fire at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints conference in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan. This horrific event left four people dead and injured eight others before Sanford was killed by police.

Rick Burgess, who hosts a podcast titled “The Strange Encounter,” has been observing these troubling trends for some time. A few years back, during a conversation with a gym trainer—who also had a military background—the trainer expressed a belief that the U.S. military was drifting away from Christianity and leaning toward Nordic paganism.

This ancient religion among the Germanic Scandinavian cultures revolves around gods like Odin, Thor, and Freyja, characterized by a rich array of cosmology, rituals, and beliefs about the afterlife.

Rick pointed out that many military individuals are now opting for tattoos depicting these Viking deities. He notes that there’s a shift in perception among some, who view themselves not just as soldiers serving their country but as warriors seeking favor from these ancient gods.

He expressed concern: “This is alarming. Why? Because these Scandinavian gods don’t exist. Worshiping them leads to honoring something that’s fundamentally untrue. Building altars or practicing such beliefs could steer people toward more sinister influences.” It makes him wonder if there’s a connection between the rising pagan sentiments in military circles and the alarming number of violent acts perpetrated by veterans.

As he reflects on the troubling transformations of these ex-service members into cold-blooded criminals, he questions, “Did they engage with paganism during their time in the military?”

For more insights from Rick’s analysis, you can listen to the full episode.