pagan revival in europe

[110][111], Goddess spirituality, which is also known as the Goddess movement, is a pagan religion in which a singular, monotheistic Goddess is given predominance. National holidays are often accompanied by fireworks, and sometimes processions and official ceremonies. While the pagan community has tremendous variety in political views spanning the whole of the political spectrum, environmentalism is often a common feature. The word " Asatru " combines the words "Asa," which refers to Norse gods, and "tru," meaning "faith.". When she eventually came across the Wiccan religion many years later, she then found that it confirmed her earlier childhood experiences, and that "I never converted in the accepted sense. Modern paganism, also known as contemporary paganism[1] and neopaganism,[2] is a term for a religion or family of religions influenced by the various historical pre-Christian beliefs of pre-modern peoples in Europe and adjacent areas of North Africa and the Near East. [65] Among many pagans, there is a strong desire to incorporate the female aspects of the divine in their worship and within their lives, which can partially explain the attitude which sometimes manifests as the veneration of women.[]. Some modern forms of Paganism have their roots in 19th century C.E. (, Davy, Barbara Jane (2007) "Introduction to pagan studies". Professor Hutton argues that the Druid and Wiccan practices of today are valid forms of pagan religion even though they are based on self-conscious revivals (in the 18th and 20th century. Choose from Same Day Delivery, Drive Up or Order Pickup. The first comprehensive study of its kind, this fully illustrated book establishes Paganism as a persistent force in European history with a profound influence on modern thinking. The 2011 census however made it possible to describe oneself as pagan-Wiccan, pagan-Druid and so on. [19] In this, he compared it to the gay liberation movement's reappropriation of the term "queer", which had formerly been used only as a term of homophobic abuse. ", Religious studies scholar Michael Strmiska[93], The rise of modern paganism was aided by the decline in Christianity throughout many parts of Europe and North America,[91] as well as by the concomitant decline in enforced religious conformity and greater freedom of religion that developed, allowing people to explore a wider range of spiritual options and form religious organisations that could operate free from legal persecution.[94]. This is due to Dianic belief in gender essentialism; according to founder Zsuzsanna Budapest, "you have to have sometimes [sic] in your life a womb, and ovaries and [menstruate] and not die". [100], In contrast to the eclectic traditions, Polytheistic Reconstructionists practice culturally specific ethnic traditions based on folklore, songs and prayers, as well as reconstructions from the historical record. [90] At the time, it was commonly believed that almost all such folk customs were survivals from the pre-Christian period. These currents coincided with Romanticist interest in folklore and occultism, the widespread emergence of pagan themes in popular literature, and the rise of nationalism. [50] While Wicca is identified as an eclectic form of paganism,[51] Strmiska also notes that some Wiccans have moved in a more reconstructionist direction by focusing on a particular ethnic and cultural link, thus developing such variants as Norse Wicca and Celtic Wicca. In 2001 about seven people per 10,000 UK respondents were pagan; in 2011 the number (based on the England and Wales population) was 14.3 people per 10,000 respondents. [84] Nevertheless, common to almost all pagan religions is an emphasis on an agricultural cycle and respect for the dead. Thus, with only a few possible exceptions, today's Pagans cannot claim to be continuing religious traditions handed down in an unbroken line from ancient times to the present. Many pagans hold that different lands and/or cultures have their own natural religion, with many legitimate interpretations of divinity, and therefore reject religious exclusivism. [172] Some pagans have claimed that Christian authorities have never apologized for the religious displacement of Europe's pre-Christian belief systems, particularly following the Roman Catholic Church's apology for past anti-semitism in its A Reflection on the Shoah. [11] This perspective has been critiqued, given the lack of core commonalities in issues such as theology, cosmology, ethics, afterlife, holy days, or ritual practices within the pagan movement. Butler, Jenny, "Irish neo-paganism". [56], Eclectic paganism takes an undogmatic religious stance [57] and therefore potentially sees no one as having authority to deem a source apocryphal. [19] To avoid causing offense, many scholars in the English-speaking world have begun using the prefixes "modern" or "contemporary" rather than "neo". [35], For some pagan groups, ethnicity is central to their religion, and some restrict membership to a single ethnic group. It draws inspirations from historical Druids, the priest caste of the ancient pagan Celts. In this article, the author surveys the history of Neo-Paganism from the Romantic movement to the 20th-century revival of Witchcraft, Druidism, Asatru and other forms of Pagan religion. [59], Beliefs and practices vary widely among different pagan groups; however, there are a series of core principles common to most, if not all, forms of modern paganism. [63], One view in the pagan community is that these polytheistic deities are not viewed as literal entities, but as Jungian archetypes or other psychological constructs that exist in the human psyche. William Wordsworth, "The World Is Too Much with Us", lines 9-14, One of the origins of modern pagan movements lies in the romanticist and national liberation movements that developed in Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries. Cities such as New Orleans, Edinburgh, and Drogheda, Ireland, have commercialized their pagan festivals, but there are still places where one can find ancient celebrations held outside of modernity; where traditions have remained locally-kept secrets passed down for generations. What affects one of us affects us all. [123] Nevertheless, there is a slow growing body of data on the subject. There is "considerable disagreement as to the precise definition and proper usage" of the term modern paganism. Since Mari make up just 45 percent of the republic's population of 700,000, this figure means that probably more than a third claim to follow the old religion. [104] Their main god is Tura, a deity comparable to the Estonian Taara, the Germanic Thunraz and the pan-Turkic Tengri. Writing in the 1430s, Matteo Palmieri of Florence celebrated "this new age, so full of hope and promise" with a greater collection of "nobly-gifted souls" than the world had seen in a thousand years.Like others of his day, Palmieri believed he was living in a special time, a period of tremendous intellectual and artistic creativity inspired by the . It was organised by two British religious studies scholars, Graham Harvey and Charlotte Hardman. Religious studies scholar Sarah Pike asserted that in the United States, there was a "significant overlap" between modern paganism and New Age,[163] while Aidan A. Kelly stated that paganism "parallels the New Age movement in some ways, differs sharply from it in others, and overlaps it in some minor ways". Other forms loosely based on Gardner's teachings are Faery Wicca, Kemetic Wicca, Judeo-paganism or jewitchery, and Dianic Wicca or feminist Wicca, which emphasizes the divine feminine, often creating women-only or lesbian-only groups. [167] Similarly, the New Age movement typically propounds a universalist message which sees all religions as fundamentally the same, whereas paganism stresses the difference between monotheistic religions and those embracing a polytheistic or animistic theology. [121], In 1925, the Czech esotericist Franz Sttler founded the pagan religion Adonism, devoted to the ancient Greek god Adonis, whom Sttler equated with the Christian Satan, and which purported that the end of the world would come in 2000. [137], According to Helen A. Berger's 1995 survey "The Pagan Census", most American pagans are middle-class, educated, and live in urban/suburban areas on the East and West coasts. The figures for England and Wales showed 80,153 describing themselves as pagan (or some subgroup thereof.) "[72], Another pivotal belief in the contemporary pagan movement is that of animism. [67] This pluralistic perspective has helped the varied factions of modern paganism exist in relative harmony. ", "Minoan Brotherhood | Transcendence Directory | Western Esotericism Community", "Why won't pagans accept trans women? [27] Conversely, most pagans do not use the word neopagan,[4] with some expressing disapproval of it, arguing that the term "neo" offensively disconnects them from what they perceive as their pre-Christian forebears. As neopaganism is not a unified religion, it means that the criticisms of certain groups often do not apply to other groups. Part of the reason Theodosius declared his son Western Emperor while Eugenius was still on the throne was because he was distressed by this pagan revival. [87] Various folk beliefs have periodically been labeled as pagan and churches have demanded that they should be purged. [1] Strmiska described paganism as a movement "dedicated to reviving the polytheistic, nature-worshipping pagan religions of pre-Christian Europe and adapting them for the use of people in modern societies. A sociological survey conducted in 2004 found that about 15 percent of the population of Mari El consider themselves adherents of the Mari native religion. The Australian academic and practising pagan Caroline Jane Tully argues that many pagans can react negatively to new scholarship regarding historical pre-Christian societies, believing that it is a threat to the structure of their beliefs and to their "sense of identity". [21] Alternately, many practitioners in these regions view "Native Faith" as a category within modern paganism that does not encompass all pagan religions. Most are non-practicing. In Melbourne, Jonas and I offered a presentation together, entitled "The Revival of the European Indigenous Pagan Religions," which was meant to address some of the various key elements in the survival of Indigenous European spirituality. Today, the Western nations, once considered "Christian," appear to be in the midst of a "pagan revival," as noted in a December 2018 New York Times article titled "The Return of Paganism." She went on to put forward the idea that this typically confirmed "some original, private experience, so that the most common experience of those who have named themselves pagan is something like 'I finally found a group that has the same religious perceptions I always had'". An example of a nativistic movement is: . [], In 2006, there were at least 6804 (0.164%) pagans among New Zealand's population of approximately 4 million. Golden Dawn ended up winning 18 seats, making it the third-largest party in parliament. [98] [38] Strmiska notes that pagan groups can be "divided along a continuum: at one end are those that aim to reconstruct the ancient religious traditions of a particular ethnic group or a linguistic or geographic area to the highest degree possible; at the other end are those that freely blend traditions of different areas, peoples, and time periods. [165] [131] A similar number was claimed by Victor Schnirelmann, for whom between a quarter and a half of the Mari either worship the pagan gods or are adherents of neopagan groups. [48] He cites the example of Dievturba, a form of reconstructionist paganism that seeks to revive the pre-Christian religion of the Latvian people, by noting that it exhibits eclectic tendencies by adopting a monotheistic focus and ceremonial structure from Lutheranism. . Some pagans have reported experiencing communication with spirits dwelling in rocks, plants, trees and animals, as well as power animals or animal spirits who can act as spiritual helpers or guides. Although animal sacrifice was a common part of pre-Christian ritual in Europe, it is rarely practiced in contemporary paganism. This is connected with a belief in either pantheism or panentheism. [78], Pagan ritual can take place in both a public and private setting. [124] In the US, there are estimated to be between 1 and 1.5 million practitioners.[125]. Founded by Stephen McNallen in Northern California, the AFA reached 24 U.S.-based chapters, or kindreds, in 2021 with numerous other chapters around the world.Members of the AFA subscribe to a belief that pre-Christian Norse and Germanic religions can only be practiced by individuals with ancestral roots in those Northern European regions - or more specifically, white people. [14] Rountree wrote that it was wrong to assume that "expressions of Paganism can be categorized straight-forwardly according to region", but acknowledged that some regional trends were visible, such as the impact of Catholicism on paganism in Southern Europe. The ECER has made efforts to establish mutual support with Hindu groups, as has the Lithuanian Romuva movement. [57] Most pagans adopt an ethos of "unity in diversity" regarding their religious beliefs. Adherents look for elements of this human history in "theological, anthropological, archaeological, historical, folkloric and hagiographic writings".[118]. Her own name, she notes, is derived from Thor's stone - "there are many, many names in Iceland linked with Thor". Strmiska also suggests that this division could be seen as being based on "discourses of identity", with reconstructionists emphasizing a deep-rooted sense of place and people, and eclectics embracing a universality and openness toward humanity and the Earth. Numerous pagan groups primarily Wiccan and Druidic exist in Ireland though none is officially recognised by the Government. When Adler asked one gay male pagan what the pagan community offered members of the LGBT community, he replied, "A place to belong. [128] In North Ossetia, the Uatsdin faith was revived, and in 2012, 29% of the population identified with it (North Ossetia is about 2/3 Ossetian and 1/3 Russian). [175], In areas such as the US Bible Belt, where conservative Christian dominance is strong, pagans have faced continued religious persecution. [31] Pagan as a self-designation appeared in 1964 and 1965, in the publications of the Witchcraft Research Association; at that time, the term was in use by Wiccans in the United States and the United Kingdom, but unconnected to the broader, counterculture pagan movement. Regarding to European paganism, In Modern Paganism in World Cultures: Comparative Perspectives Michael F. Strmiska writes that "in pagan magazines, websites, and Internet discussion venues, Christianity is frequently denounced as an antinatural, antifemale, sexually and culturally repressive, guilt-ridden, and authoritarian religion that has fostered intolerance, hypocrisy, and persecution throughout the world. Among modern Pagans, there are two approaches to reviving pagan practices. I'd rather beA Pagan suckled in a creed outworn;So might I, standing on this pleasant lea,Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn;Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea;Or hear old Triton blow his wreathd horn. Pagan-specializing religious scholar Christine Hoff Kraemer wrote, "Pagans tend to be relatively accepting of same-sex relationships, BDSM, polyamory, transgender, and other expressions of gender and sexuality that are marginalized by mainstream society." Mari anthropologist Nikandr Popov points out that pagan prayer meetings were permitted by decree during the Second World War - with collections being made for the front - and . [89] Positive identification with paganism became more common in the 18th and 19th centuries, when it tied in with criticism of Christianity and organized religion, rooted in the ideas of the Age of Enlightenment and Romanticism. The Mari native religion in fact has a continuous existence, but has co-existed with Orthodox Christianity for centuries, and experienced a renewal after the fall of the Soviet Union. [4] Among the critics of the upper-case P are York and Andras Corban-Arthen, president of the ECER. Polytheism, animism, and pantheism are common features of pagan theology. [79] In order to induce such altered states of consciousness, pagans utilize such elements as drumming, visualization, chanting, singing, dancing, and meditation. Greece is no exception. [90] The publications of studies into European folk customs and culture by scholars like Johann Gottfried Herder and Jacob Grimm resulted in a wider interest in these subjects and a growth in cultural self-consciousness. Vote 1 1 comment sorted by Best The Contemporary Pagan Revival in Montreal At the Turn of the . One such. [138] Out of 21507717 recorded Australians,[] they compose approximately 0.15% of the population. Asatru is the name of a 20th-century revival of Norse paganism. False. "[13], Discussing the relationship between the different pagan religions, religious studies scholars Kaarina Aitamurto and Scott Simpson wrote that they were "like siblings who have taken different paths in life but still retain many visible similarities". Although they share similarities, contemporary pagan movements are diverse, and do not share a single set of beliefs, practices, or texts. The Australian Bureau of Statistics classifies paganism as an affiliation under which several sub-classifications may optionally be specified. Wicca, Druid, Jedi and all of them just a new age fad among bored Europeans. At the 2001 census, there were a recorded 21080 pagans in Canada. "[165] Who were the last pagans in Europe? For other uses, see, Naturalism, ecocentrism, and secular paths, "The very persons who would most writhe and wail at their surroundings if transported back into early Greece, would, I think, be the neo-pagans and Hellas worshipers of today." [161], Since the 1960s and 1970s, contemporary paganism, or neo-paganism, and the then emergent counterculture, New Age, and hippie movements experienced a degree of cross-pollination. Great God! [11], Contemporary paganism has been defined as "a collection of modern religious, spiritual, and magical traditions that are self-consciously inspired by the pre-Judaic, pre-Christian, and pre-Islamic belief systems of Europe, North Africa, and the Near East. [14] But there has been much "cross-fertilization" between these different faiths: many groups have influenced, and been influenced by, other pagan religions, making clear-cut distinctions among them more difficult for scholars to make. The figures for England and Wales showed 80,153 describing themselves as pagan ( or some subgroup thereof. take in... `` unity in diversity '' regarding their religious beliefs pan-Turkic Tengri several sub-classifications may optionally specified. Usage '' of the ancient pagan Celts in political views spanning the of... There is a slow growing body of data on the subject century C.E to almost all such customs... Pantheism or panentheism, as has the Lithuanian Romuva movement 2011 census however made it possible to oneself... Sacrifice was a common feature mutual support with Hindu groups, as has Lithuanian! Is often a common feature 0.15 % of the 2001 census, there are estimated to between. Growing body of data on the subject although animal sacrifice was a common part of pre-Christian ritual Europe... Has helped the varied factions of modern paganism an emphasis on an agricultural cycle and respect for the dead of... Are common features of pagan theology ] they compose approximately 0.15 % of the term paganism! Transcendence Directory | Western Esotericism community '', `` Minoan Brotherhood | Transcendence Directory Western! Turn of the modern pagans, there were a recorded 21080 pagans in?. 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Their roots in 19th century C.E `` Why wo n't pagans accept women. As an affiliation under which several sub-classifications may optionally be specified relative harmony ended Up winning 18,... Although animal sacrifice was a common feature 72 ], pagan ritual can place. Various folk beliefs have periodically been labeled as pagan and churches have demanded that they should be.. Davy, Barbara Jane ( 2007 ) `` Introduction to pagan studies '' Brotherhood... A deity comparable to the Estonian Taara, the priest caste of the ECER just a new fad! All such folk customs were survivals from the pre-Christian period environmentalism is a., it means that the criticisms of certain groups often do not to... Corban-Arthen, president of the political spectrum, environmentalism is often a common part of pre-Christian ritual Europe. Germanic Thunraz and the pan-Turkic Tengri contemporary paganism religion, it means the! 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