PAGAN LITERATURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION (original) (raw)
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Paganism, like every religion, is a complex mixture of concepts that can be used to either rationalize environmental neglect or encourage ecological harmony. Rather than characterizing Paganism, or any other religion, as “green” or “not green,” we might rather speak about the “greening of religions,” an ongoing, never-to-be-complete process. In this way, we can understand the history of contemporary Paganism as a “greening,” one that is still going on, and A Pagan Community Statement on the Environment, as one small but valuable part of that process.
The Greening of Paganism (Revisited)
2022
Many Pagans and scholars of Paganism presume that Paganism is and always has been an earth-centered religion. But this claim needs to be interrogated closely by academics and participants alike to determine whether and to what extent Pagan beliefs and practices are actually earth-centered.
Nature and Ethnicity In East European Paganism: An Environmental Ethic of the Religious Right?
Religion, 2002
Paganism is frequently cast by Anglo-American scholars as a form of “nature religion.” Some have also identified its political leanings as left rather than right. This article tests these preconceptions against the evidence provided by East European, especially Ukrainian, Paganism or “Native Faith.” The author examines Native Faith notions of nature as land, as “blood,” and as “tradition,” and argues that these are underpinned by a concept of “territorialized ethnicity”—the belief that ethnic communities are natural and biological entities rooted in specific geographical territories. The article traces this idea to its precursors in European and Soviet thought, and suggests that it may be more commonly found around the world than Western theorists presume. In light of such a different understanding of nature, the concept of “nature religion” may need to be rethought.
Mythology and Ecocriticism: A Natural Encounter Introduction
Ecozon@, 2018
This issue was conceived to occupy a shared locus in the study of myth and ecocriticism which has so far been vacant. Its purpose is to link topoi such as Eden, the promised land and the new Canaan as manifestations of paradise, the Arthurian cycle, pastoral Arcadia, unexplored virgin tropical lands, and the American West with the current situation of the world we inhabit, in terms of our relationship with the land and the more-than-human world. Our aim was to show that myths and the literature of nature have been written in acknowledgement and understanding of each other, that they have evolved in parallel, with a common focus on the intervention of human beings in nature. Take the Greek myth of Prometheus for example: his betrayal of the gods led to an alteration of the world order. Prometheus became an icon of human rebellion, a recurrent symbol reminding humans of their inability to overcome divine power. At the same time, the Prometheus myth mirrors the eternal natural cycle of destruction and creation in its repetition throughout the history of literature, in emblematic works like Frankenstein or Prometheus Unbound by Mary Shelley. If we wish to fully understand the present and the changes that have come about as a consequence of human wars and conflicts such as the events of 9/11 in the USA, the Iraq War and our connections and disconnections with nature, we must therefore go back to the ancient mythologies, and analyse how these have been presented and adapted in history and literature down through the centuries. The Holy Grail is one of the most commonly encountered myths. Since The Romance of Perceval or Story of the Grail by Chrétien de Troyes, the story of this chalice has undergone repeated transformations, serving as a symbol of Christianity pitted against the forces of Islam, a myth of eternal return, and a promise of salvation from the sin of Adam and Eve through the Passion of Jesus Christ. This powerful story of the Christian faith and religious devotion gave medieval knights the strength to fight for possession of Jerusalem for 1 This special issue has been programmed as a result of the research project Acis & Galatea: Actividades de investigación en mitocrítica cultural (S2015/HUM-3362).
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSCIOUSNESS THROUGH MYTHOLOGY
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSCIOUSNESS THROUGH MYTHOLOGY AND TRADITIONAL VALUES GAINING ECO-AWARENESS IN BUKET UZUNER’S NOVEL SERIES OF THE ADVENTURES OF MISFIT DEFNE KAMAN, 2020
As ecological awareness gains momentum in these times of climate emergency and uncertainty about future, one cannot expect fiction to turn a blind eye to vital issues such as ozone depletion, biodiversity loss, deforestation, global human population growth, violation of animal walfare, and lack of freshwater resources. Buket Uzuner, a leading contemporary Turkish novelist, prioritises ecological and social problems through the agency of Shamanism (ancient Turkish beliefs) and some traditional values in her book series of The Adventures of Misfit Defne Kaman in Water (2012), Earth (2015), and Air (2018). This article's main focus will be on how Uzuner's novels help readers to explore environmental consciousness through ancient Turkish value-system such as Shamanism or Kutadgu Bilig (The Wisdom which brings Happiness), an 11th century work. Whether or not making use of mythological/traditional values in the face of ecological awareness in a culture where its modernising efforts still continue will also be investigated as a final discussion.
Critical Dictionary of Apocalyptic and Millenarian Movements, 2024
At the onset of the twenty-first century, humanity is confronted with global challenges that have redirected interest in apocalyptic narratives. These challenges, encompassing climate change, environmental degradation, and the ramifications of a global pandemic, have led to a resurgence in exploring eschatological themes. Historically, apocalyptic narratives in various religious traditions are often depicted as linear and catastrophic events, typically linked to divine retribution or human transgression. However, this interpretation does not fully encompass the breadth of apocalyptic thought, especially within the diverse spectrum of contemporary Paganism. Contemporary Paganism presents a contrasting viewpoint to the traditional Jewish and Christian narrative of apocalypse. In contrast to monotheistic traditions, where the apocalypse often signifies a terminal event, Pagan perspectives are notably different. Paganism tends to conceptualise the apocalypse as a cyclical process of transformation and renewal. This perspective is deeply rooted in observing natural phenomena, emphasising the interconnectedness of all existence. Here, endings are not seen as absolute terminations but as integral phases of ongoing cycles of life, death, and rebirth (Adler 1986; Harvey 2005). In this framework, the apocalypse is not a disastrous end as seen in popular imaginations but a transformative process integral to the natural and cosmic order. The relevance of this Pagan perspective is particularly significant in the context of contemporary environmental crises. In facing climate change and ecological challenges, Pagan interpretations of the apocalypse offer a unique lens, emphasising balance, respect for nature, and humanity’s role within a larger ecological system. This approach transcends traditional eschatological speculation, offering a framework for understanding and responding to real-world environmental issues (York 1995, 2003; Harvey 2005). Furthermore, contemporary Paganism’s apocalyptic narratives frequently incorporate elements of prophecy, divine inspiration, and revelation. While differing significantly from their Abrahamic counterparts, these elements contribute to a rich landscape of beliefs and practices that underscore a harmonious and cyclical view of existence (Magliocco 2004; Pike 2004). This article aims to explore these unique Pagan perspectives on the apocalypse, critically examining how they contrast with, and at times converge with more conventional views. The study seeks to illuminate how these narratives contribute to broader discourses surrounding environmental crises and the envisioning of possible futures, enriching our understanding of Pagan beliefs and offering alternative paradigms for considering the role of humanity in an ever-changing world.
Re-enchanted Nature. Folk Religious Ethics Related to Natural Environment in Rural Romania
Europolis, 2013
This paper seeks to explore in a common framework micro-spaces of secular life and macro-spaces of natural environment, both categories sharing a transcendental significance in Romanian folk religious Orthodoxy. The natural space on which this research focuses is the water source, seen as an ancient location of collective sacrifices and offerings, seasonal rituals and social gatherings. Given this sacred identity of rural wells and streams, rituals performed here were considered as a necessary contribution to general welfare of traditional communities, from the first centuries of our era. The Romanian situation offers a particular development due to the communist atheism which prohibited public celebration. The revival of expressed vernacular religiosity and its re-enchanted nature will be considered in connection of economic changes suffered by Romanian villages. On a more general view, the current research tries to verify ideas about secularization and lasting ritualism in an eastern conservative Christian area, and also to explain the lack of ecological concerns expressed by this population of agriculture-working peasants, despite their growing interest to the divine harmony of their environment.
Mythology and Ecocriticism : A Natural Encounter Introduction 1
2018
This issue was conceived to occupy a shared locus in the study of myth and ecocriticism which has so far been vacant. Its purpose is to link topoi such as Eden, the promised land and the new Canaan as manifestations of paradise, the Arthurian cycle, pastoral Arcadia, unexplored virgin tropical lands, and the American West with the current situation of the world we inhabit, in terms of our relationship with the land and the more-than-human world. Our aim was to show that myths and the literature of nature have been written in acknowledgement and understanding of each other, that they have evolved in parallel, with a common focus on the intervention of human beings in nature. Take the Greek myth of Prometheus for example: his betrayal of the gods led to an alteration of the world order. Prometheus became an icon of human rebellion, a recurrent symbol reminding humans of their inability to overcome divine power. At the same time, the Prometheus myth mirrors the eternal natural cycle of...