Paganism: A Very Short Introduction

Very Short Introductions #269

by Owen Davies

"Paganism" is an evocative word that even today conjures up deep-seated emotions and prejudices. Until recently, it was primarily a derogatory term used by Christians to describe the non-Christian cultures vanquished by their churches. For some it evokes images of sacrifice and barbaric behavior, while for others it symbolizes a peace-loving, nature-worshipping spiritual relationship with the earth.

Written in a concise and lively style, this Very Short Introduction explores the meaning of the words "pagan" and "paganism" - through a chronological overview of the attitudes towards its practices and beliefs - from the ancient world through to the present day. Owen Davies looks at paganism largely through the eyes of the Christian world, describing how, over the centuries, notions and representations of paganism were shaped by religious conflict, power struggles, colonialism, and scholarship. Although the emphasis is on the experience of paganism in Europe, Davies also discusses how the idea of paganism spread around the globe as Europe came into contact with new cultures through colonial expansion, missionary work, and anthropological study.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Religion, Paganism, Philosophy, Spirituality, Theology

160 pages, Paperback

First published May 26, 2011

About the author

Owen Davies is a reader in Social History at the University of Hertfordshire. His main field of research is on the history of modern and contemporary witchcraft and magic.

His interest in the history of witchcraft and magic developed out of a childhood interest in folklore and mythology, which was spawned in part from reading the books of Alan Garner. From around the age of sixteen, he also became interested in archaeology and began to get involved with field-walking and earthwork surveying. He then went on to study archaeology and history at Cardiff University and he spent many weeks over the next six years helping excavate Bronze Age and Neolithic sites in France and England, mostly in the area around Avebury. He developed a strong interest in archaeology in general, and the ritual monuments and practices of the Neolithic and Bronze Age.

From Cardiff, he went on to write a doctorate at Lancaster University, working on a thesis looking at the continuation and decline of popular belief in witchcraft and magic from the Witchcraft Act 1735 to the Fraudulent Mediums Act 1951 (1991-1994).

Reviews

[C. Varn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is exactly what it claims to be: a very short introduction to the concept of paganism. Davies's take a historical view on the development of the concept from early Christian antiquity unto the modern neo-pagan movement. This means Davies must take the broadest overviews and focus on a few key historical facts and anecdotes to make his points. Davies makes it abundantly clear that Christianity has been the primary definer of the pagan, even in modern terms and the distinctions around the neo-pagan movement. This also means that one with no historical context would be a bit lost. If one wants more information on the topic, the work of Ronald Hutton is highly relevant and oft-cited by Davies.

[Karu Veenbahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is what the title says, an introduction to the subject. But it is very interesting if you have any sort of knowledge of paganism. I recommend it a lot

[Lee Broderick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a typically dense and concise Very Short Introduction text. Taking as it's starting point the fact that 'paganism' was a term coined by the first Christians in defining themselves, Owen Davies explores how it relates to the 'other' (see Orientalism) and, as such, to Christianity. The story of paganism is then traced through two thousand years of Christian history, including the reformation and missionary-ism, to a point in the late twentieth century where that 'other' has become so appealing that people begin to adopt it.

So, Christianity begat modern paganism. Hardly revolutionary but a concise overview: a very short introduction to pagan studies perhaps, rather than paganism.

[Darnell]

Concise and informative. I'm not sure if it's this series or Owen Davies, but I should read more of both.

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Запознаването с езичеството трябва да става и чрез сериозните изследвания по темата. Поради тази причина си поръчах изданието „Paganism“, което е част от серията „A Very Short Introduction“, издавана от Oxford University Press (OUP). Целта на тези книжки е да се представи обзорно конкретна тема, представя се историческа справка за развитието на явлението и се дават примери от древността и съвременността, ако е възможно.

Когато говорим за такъв тип книги е изключително важно да отбележим автора и издателския екип, дали те имат опит в дадената сфера, дали имат нужните познания и квалификация, за да могат да ни представят темата. Предполагам, че OUP няма да си позволи да наеме някой некадърен автор за подобен род книги. На първо място тук не се търси литературното писане, а се търси умението за намиране, рефериране и синтезиране на голям обем библиография, в допълнение на познанията на автора и редакционния екип. В тази връзка с едно бързо търсене в Google разбрах, че Owen Davies е историк, който се занимава именно с историята на магията, вещерството и техните съвременни проявления. Това бе достатъчно, за да ме мотивира в покупката на книгата.

Книгата е съставена в типичния paperback формат, който е изключително удобен за четене. Съжалявам, че в България той не е разпространен, нашите издателства ползват други формати за книгите. По отношение на тезауруса ми направи впечатление, че изданието започва с индекс на илюстрациите, който е поставен преди предговора. Това ми се струва малко странно издателско решение при положение, че същинската текстова част следва библиография и бележки към всяка глава. Цитирането е без отбелязване, което не е удобно, защото постоянно трябва читателя да прехвърля между текста и приложението, за да знае какъв източник се използва в конкретното обяснение.

Предполагам, че това е направено с цел да се поддържа наративен вид на текста, защото изданието се предлага като по-скоро научно-популярно отколкото като авторска монография.

Самата книга представя увлекателно темата за езичеството. Ще споделя за какво става дума във всяка част от книгата, дано да ви стане интересно.

Предговорът въвежда в темата и анализира етимологията на думата и значението на езичеството през Античността и Средновековието. Той е съвсем кратък и предразполага читателя към стила на книгата, изданието е написано в много достъпен език, което е много хубаво.

Първата глава е озаглавена „The ancient world“. В нея се проследяват първите проявления на религиите чрез най-старата форма на вярване – концепцията за задгробен живот. Следват идолите и пещерните рисунки, които са свидетелство за това. Свързването на тези ранни свидетелства говори за появата на анимизма като вярване. Няма конкретни свидетелства, които да свързват директно анимизма с културата, но автора смята, че тези доказателства са тотемически. Отделя се внимание на древния шаманизъм, култа към предците и боготворенето на Майката-богиня. Твърдите политеистични вярвания в периода на цивилизациите на Месопотамия, Вавилон и Египет, както и писмените знакови системи играят важна роля за развитието на вярванията. Доволен съм от обясненията за синкретизма в гръко-римския пантеон, както и отношението на Юдаизма и Християнството към езическите религии. Използват се различни примери за обяснение и сравнение: Митраизма, неоплатониците и други. Авторът изрично отделя значителна част от тази глава, за да изясни естеството на разбирането за жертвоприношенията – историческите, теологическите и археологическите свидетелства и доказателства против и в подкрепа на тези явления в езическия и юдео-християнския свят;
„Paganism in retreat“ е втората глава от книгата и тя е посветена на началото на гоненията срещу езичниците. Авторът започва от Римската империя и едиктите на императорите срещу езическите практики. Разказва се за мисионерството и практиките на християнизация в Англия и териториите около днешното Обединено кралство. За разрушението на древните храмове, идоли и свещенни места се използват жития и други исторически източници. Териториите са най-обширни: Гърция, Турция, Северна Африка и др. В тази глава отново се застъпва тезата за характера на синкретизма в Християнството. Монасите и мисионерите успяват да въплътят някои езически практики в своята религия и по този начин по-лесно да нагодят своята религия към местното население. Езичеството постепенно преминава във фолклора и суеверията;
Третата глава е „Gods of the North“, която се отнася до северните народи, които най-късно биват покръстени в християнската вяра. Описват се редица характеристики не само на викингските народи, но и на балтийските, както и на някои от славяните. Правят се някои уточнения, които са важни за отбелязване по отношение на езическите варвания на скандинавците, например факта, че в различните племена и държави е имало различно отношение към популярните на нас Тор, Один и Фрея. Один се споменава често в шведските и датските имена, но е по-рядко срещан в Норвегия и Исландия. Фрея е по-рядко срещана в Дания за разлика от Швеция. Обръща се внимание и на саксонците и ирландските. Главата обхваща периода между 4 и 14 век. Любопитното в книгата за нас е, че на страница 62 е поставена гравюра на Битката при Върбишкия проход(811 г.), показваща разгрома на византийската армия от хан Крум;
Четвъртата глава „Pagans across the ocean“ ни разкрива новия свят, който се открива с Великите географски открития. Новите култури, които европейците откриват, са толкова различни от всичко, което е било познато до този момент, че това е представлявало сериозна заплаха за християнския свят според мореплавателите. Книгата разказва за силната мобилизация на мисионерите от началото на 15. век. Споменават се също и гоненията на езичниците в Русия и принудителното покръстване към православната църква по времето на Иван Грозни и Петър Велики. В тази глава автора разкрива и информация за отношенията между колонизаторите и индианците в Северна Америка, както и към азиатските народи – срещите на мисионерите с китайските религии, индуизма, будизма и тяхната пропагандна дейност;
„Embracing the pagan past“ е петата глава от книгата, която се фокусира върху възвръщането на интереса към езичеството, това явление започва през Ренесанса. Великите майстори по онова време развиват невероятен до този момент интерес към древната философия и създават произведения, които са повлияни от естетиката на древността. Според историците 18 век и Просвещението преражда езичеството. Романтизмът също има роля в това, споменават се творби на Гьоте и Шилер. Езерната школа и Шели са също пример за поглед към езичеството. Друидите и жреците биват „преобличайни“ в нова светлина и представени чрез изкуството. С възникването на теорията на естествения подбор много учени използват тази идея и я прилагат през призмата на културното развитие на народите. Обясняват се суеверията по онова време със запазени останки от езическите практики. Събужда се интерес към езичеството от много учени, споменава се „Златната клонка“ на Фрейзър и опитите да се възроди или реконструира прарелигията. В тази глава се отделя и внимание на манията към окултизма и как това повлиява на някои общества през 19 и 20 век, дава се пример с нацистите по времето на Германската империя (Третия райх);
Последната шеста глава е озаглавена „Return of the gods“ и нейната цел е да направи кратък обзор на състоянието на съвременното езичество. Отново се говори за вълната на окултизъм, която започва през 19. век. Отделя се внимание на всички по-известни и важни движения по онова време – Теософското общество на Елена Блаватска, Херметическия орден на златната зора, Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.) и значителна част на Гарднър и Wicca. Съвременното езичество се развива и до днес, така че няма как книгата да е напълно изчерпателна.

След краят на основния текст книгата предлага библиография, допълнителен списък с препоръчана литература и индекс на използваните термини и имена. По мое мнение това издание е изключително полезен ресурс, защото успява да съчетае историческа и научна достоверност и лесен наративен стил, който е подходящ за всеки читател – не само човек с интерес към тази област, но и сериозния учен. Много е писано и се пише върху темите за съвременно езичество, но почти никъде няма позоваване на авторитетен източник. При книгите за езичество много почти (почти винаги) авторите реконструират или интерпретират древни вярвания през своята гледна точка, но никога не посочват първоизточника. Затова по-голямата си част от книгите са в някаква степен ненадежден източник на информация. Прочитът на „Paganism: A Very Short Introduction“ не само е чудесно въведение, но и полезен източник на информация за всякакви видове вярвания, които са споменати в текста. Книгата си заслужава дори и само заради библиографията и списъка с препоръчани книги.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

A brief study from the earliest manifestations of paganism (including the polytheism and idol worship of the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and Vikings) to the Medieval Christian missionary work carried out across the globe, which led to the transformation and adoption of pagan practices into the Christian faith. The author describes how a scant number of original (sometimes questionable) sources have been reinterpreted and appropriated by both Pagans and Christians throughout history: sometimes to meet the needs of populations seeking connections to their ancient past, or as part of a process of reimagining national identities in times of social/political change or uncertainty. Not what I was expecting - there is very little attention given to neopaganism and Wicca for example - because these modern manifestations of Paganism are described by the author as being born of dubious (even forged) source works such as the Book of Shadows, upon which Wicca is based. All very interesting nonetheless!

[Michael Huang · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written little book in 7 chapters:
1. Pagan is term used mostly by Christians to mean backward idol worshipers, people who keep their customs, and those who practice “false religion”

2. In the ancient world, there is already ritual burial. By the time of Egyptians kings, they are already divine. Commerce and war created bidirectional absorption of deity between peoples. There were mutual accusations suggesting deeds unacceptable to both pagan or Christians alike.

3. There was gradual prohibition from the son of Constantine to Justinian I including forced conversion, occasional reversion. Conversion is quite easy thanks to similar notions and practices which served familiar functions to those of pagan religion. But to a degree syncretism exists (just like how suppressing Catholic practices was difficult in Protestant country).

4. It took a while for Christianity to spread to the north (Saxony, Scandinavia, and the Baltics), mostly due to distance from Rome.

5. The age of exploration began in the 15th century. Once Christians realized that oversea pagans far outnumbered Christians, a new wave of missionaries began. Numerically, the effort didn’t seem to make a big dent, but subtle syncretism and influences (both ways) are certain.

6. How to make the classics safe for Christian consumption has always been a worry. (Cicero, Pliny, Aristotle, Plato etc. mentioned people and events that apparently predated Adam & Eve.) Only extremists (e.g., Savonarola) would insist Greco-Roman texts should not be taught to children. Enlightenment broached the subject by introducing the theory we are passing the era of organized religion into the era of science.

7. In the 19th c, people talk about paganism, but nobody was actually converting in the West. In the 20th. C., truly new paganism started to emerge in Europe (Theosophical Society, etc.) In contemporary society, Paganism can be a liberating spiritual force, but can also manifest as a facet of racial and religious intolerance.

[Liberty · Rating 3 out of 5]

He made it seem like Christians had a malicious plot to rid every pagan in every corner of the world, whereas the shift from 'paganism' was probably more naturally, rather than wholly Christian force.

The Christian bias is essential for anyone reading about pre-christian religion, especially when reading what has been written about paganism, which is what this book is about - what other people have wrote about pagans. Which is interesting but a little limited.

Due to the focus on writings about paganism, a huge chunk was missed out on Greco-Roman pre-christian religion, which absolutely had plenty of untainted evidence (untainted by christians), unlike celtic and gaulish etc evidence, which basically doesn't exist. But that may be more archaeology than history.

[Vikas Datta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superb introduction to the concept, though limited in scope (as the author himself makes clear that he is restricting himself to a Christian prism) but the best is about the bouquet of spurious pagan practices in the last two centuries or so....

[Emily W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every self-identifying pagan who values intellectual honesty should read this. Interesting for the rest of us too!

[Matthew Lloyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Owen Davies' short introduction to Paganism covers a very wide historical period, beginning with a summation of pre-Christian traditions and ending with the modern Pagan movement(s) in the twenty-first century. As such, it does not always have the detail one might wish, which is not uncommon for the Very Short Introductions series. Certainly, having read The Vikings: A Very Short Introduction last year, and done some additional reading around it, I had more of an idea about Scandinavian religion than Davies is able to present. Similarly, I have a degree in Classics in which I studied Greek and Roman Religions, and thus have some ideas about the context of early Christianity and 'paganism'. As such, the early chapters were of less interest to me than the last two, on the revival of interest in paganism from the Renaissance onward and revivals or new creations of Pagan practice in the twentieth- and twenty-first centuries.

My problem with the earlier chapters largely comes down to this: when we define ancient religions as 'pagan' we ultimately look at them from a Christian perspective. For many of the religions covered in chapter 3, this is unavoidable as we mostly know of these religions from the texts of the Christians who worked to annihilate them; in chapters 2 and 4, though, I wish there was a little more done to elucidate the practice of these religions as religions, rather than as Christianity's 'paganism'. I feel that this approach is taken, to some degree, in chapter 6, although modern Paganism has strong Christian influences - or so Davies often argues. Overall, we end up with a perspective that I don't think I could describe as Christian, but that is looking at or through Christianity rather than these other religions. One of the reasons why I would disagree with Davies' rejection of the label 'polytheism' is that I do not think it does lead us to such constant use of a Christian perspective.

That being said, I still find that Christian perspective fascinating and there is much that is extremely interesting in this little book. It is a Very Short Introduction, and Davies has opted to go for breadth of time and geography rather than focus on one aspect of paganism in depth. I am not certain that there was another option. I think I will be looking to delve into his bibliography on chapters 5 and 6 for more information.

[Elliot Larsson · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting subject indeed but written in a complex language (English isn’t my first language), and the author named a lot of people and places as he assumed the reader had knowledge of them already?
I also wished the book would have contained even more information about the paganism practices and beliefs and less history about how Christianity tried to “destroy” it (even tho I understand it’s an important part of it all, and the author says himself that that’s the approach he will have in the book). Neither less, interesting subject and facts but too much focus on Christianity in my opinion.

[Anastasiia Shafran · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very nice introduction into the concept of paganism. Of course, it didn't cover everything, due to several reasons. First of all, it is a very short introduction. And secondly, the book makes very clear how strong the Christian influence was on formation and formulation of the term and idea of paganism.
The book nicely went through the ages - from the very beginning, to today's practices. Very interesting and very informative.

[J Grimsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book but the concept of Paganism seems confused. It ranges from not Christian and perhaps not Islamic or Jewish to fans of Buffy Vampire Slayer and Wicca through Oden and British Folk/folklore and Aleister Crowley. The book was full of interest but a little incoherent for a starter book. I would like to know the author's own spiritual beliefs it's not on, in my view, to maintain a lofty academic purity. I'm being picky because I enjoyed the book and gave it 5 stars.

[Sir Robbiethehoo · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting subject matter. Although, names and places are dropped as if the reader should automatically know who/where said person/place is. It felt a bit heavy and as though pieces of information were just thrown together and then strung out.

An okay overview to how paganism was and is perceived around the world. With emphasis on how indigenous religions were assimilated into bigger world religions but maintained some of their own individual identifying features.

[valentina c. · Rating 4 out of 5]

El libro entrega lo que promete: un poquito de todo, quizás me hubiese gustado mas desarrollo de las esferas africanas y americanas, pero el autor señala que este libro se posiciona desde la esfera católica y la alteridad del paganismo asi que se entiende ✨, es bastante denso pero es muy interesante, es casi como leer una línea del tiempo narrada y explicada de forma clara. Apto para practicantes y curiosos ✨

[Herman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paganism a very short Introduction by Owen Davies, a concise compilation of historical key moments of mostly how a Christian world view shaped by ideology an addiction too power and colonialism drove a process of eternal struggle against all who would challenge it’s orthodoxy great overview of a complex expansive topic. A good historical reference book I’ll keep on my bookshelf and short too which is always a plus three stars

[Taylor Swift Scholar · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good one. If you're expecting to learn much about "pagan" practices and beliefs, this is not it, however. The bulk of the book focuses on the word pagan and how Christians used it to other various religious groups before ending with a brief exploration of modern paganism. I did add a bunch of books from the Further Reading section to my reading list though, which is honestly one of my main goals from reading this series.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

An introduction to the idea of paganism over the last two millenia. Considering the "fragmentary, distorted, and partial nature of the sources," Davies traces what we know/have known about the various religions that have been considered Pagan throughout time and shows how attitudes toward them have changed and evolved.

[Janet Schalk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting historical review of various forms of paganism. Not so much about contemporary paganism. Reminds the reader that the word "pagan" is a term that only makes sense from the Christian worldview.

[Marion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent introduction to the history of Paganism. Concise and complete timeline. I found it powerful to see the connection between the Christian oppression of Pagan religions and Indigenous beliefs. I had never read a book that made that connection before, it was very interesting!

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll write more of a review later, but it was good. Owen Davies has a good way of sneakily throwing some sass in.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jam-packed introduction to the associated topic. I do wish the author expanded the chapter on modern pagan traditions...felt like the end was a bit rushed.

[Galatea · Rating 4 out of 5]

a pretty decent summary of colonized religions under the gaze of the colonizer.

[Duggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of attitude in a little book.

[Hakan Kaysı · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Still, for ambitious politicians and state functionaries, it was becoming amply clear that being pagan was increasingly unprofitable in career terms." A point which should be kept in mind for all religious transitions including radicalization within a religious community itself. The value of being or appearing religious for the sake of career, profit, influence etc.

[Michael Patton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This introduction doesn't sensationalize what is too often sensationalized. But instead, debunks commonly held ideas. So, I would say: read this book to be informed, not to be titillated.

[Khiya Hillyard · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 stars

[Joey · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNFed @ ~25% Not really what I was looking for, and the rest of the book seems to be in a similar vein. I wanted a breakdown of historical pagan religions, not a history of Christians getting mad at pagans.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting read. A lot of the book covered paganism through the ages rather than the present day. I think it should very much be considered an introduction which would hopefully encourage the reader to look for further reading material.