Modern Paganism in World Cultures
Comparative Perspectives
by Michael F. Strmiska
December 2005, 382pp, 7 x 10
1 volume, ABC-CLIO

Hardcover: 978-1-85109-608-4
$103, £80, 90€, A142
Please contact your preferred distributor for pricing.
eBook Available: 978-1-85109-613-8
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Thor and Odin, Dievs, Diana, fairies—these old gods find new life in the Neopagan movement. In North America and Europe, people increasingly turn to ancestral religions, not as amusement or matters of passing interest, but in an effort to practice those religions as they were before the advent of Christianity.

The most comprehensive study available of neo-pagan religious movements in North America and Europe.

Modern Paganism in World Cultures collects the work of specialists in religion, folklore, and related fields to provide a comprehensive treatment of the movement to reestablish pre-Christian religions. Detailed accounts of the belief systems and rituals of each religion, along with analysis of the cultural, social, and political factors fueling the return to ancestral religious practice, make this a rich, singular resource.

Scandinavian Asatru, Latvian Dievturi, American Wicca—long-dormant religions are taking on new life as people seek connection with their heritage and look for more satisfying approaches to the pressures of postmodernism. The Neopagan movement is a small but growing influence in Western culture. This book provides a map to these resurgent religions and an examination of the origins of the Neopagan movement.

Features

  • Photographs of neo-pagan leaders, practitioners, and rituals, along with maps of areas where various religions are practiced
  • Contributions from an international team of scholars provides insight into belief systems and cultural influences
Michael F. Strmiska, Ph.D., is assistant professor of world history at Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT. He received his degree in religious studies from Boston University, and has published articles on Scandinavian mythology, the Asatru Pagan revival movement in Iceland, and the Romuva Pagan movement in Lithuania.

Reviews

"This volume is highly recommended for scholars of alternative religions, paganism, new religious movements, and contemporary religious developments."—Sophia, May 1, 2007
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