Modern Paganism, also known as contemporary paganism or neopaganism, encompasses a diverse range of new religious movements inspired by the pre-Christian belief systems of Europe, North Africa, and the Near East. These movements represent an effort to revive, reconstruct, and reimagine religious traditions that were suppressed for extended periods.
Revival and Reconstruction
Modern Pagans draw inspiration from pre-Christian, folkloric, and ethnographic sources. Some adherents strive to revive indigenous religions as accurately as possible, while others embrace a more modern spirituality. This spectrum ranges from reconstructive movements, which meticulously attempt to revive historical pagan religions, to eclectic movements that blend elements from various religions and philosophies with historical paganism.
Michael Strmiska, a scholar of religious studies, emphasizes that modern Paganism is a new religious movement, even though it incorporates ancient sources. He notes that today’s Pagans cannot claim an unbroken lineage from ancient times but are modern individuals creating a new religion from remnants of the past.
Reinterpretation and Adaptation
Modern Paganism involves interpreting, adapting, and modifying ancient traditions according to contemporary ways of thinking. This reinterpretation can lead to the creation of “fakelore,” particularly with the spread of misinformation online. Despite these challenges, modern Pagans often view deities as archetypes or metaphors and reframe magic as a psychological practice1.
Historical Context and the Pagan Revival
The modern pagan revival has roots in the 18th century, gaining momentum through various revival efforts by the 1990s. These efforts ranged from groups influenced by figures like Aleister Crowley to attempts at reanimating pre-Christian traditions from various cultures.
Revivals have been a recurring feature of European history since the rise of Christianity. The Emperor Julian, who ruled the Roman Empire in the 4th century AD, sought to replace Christianity with a form of paganism derived from Platonist philosophy.
Modern Expressions
Today, the modern pagan scene is vibrant, with a strong presence on social media and in online venues. Contemporary paganism can be seen as part of a larger global phenomenon of reviving traditional, indigenous, or native religions.
Many modern Pagans see themselves as directly continuing these extinct religions, while others view their practices as a revival or a new religion inspired by the past. Hinduism and Taoism have also influenced contemporary Paganism.
