'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 confronted and vanquished by their Churches.
For some it evokes images of sacrifice and barbaric behaviour,
while for others it symbolises a peace-loving, nature-worshipping
spiritual relationship with the earth. This Very Short Introduction
explores the meaning of paganism - through a chronological overview
of the attitudes towards its practices and beliefs - from the
ancient world through to the present day. Owen Davies largely looks
at paganism through the eyes of the Christian world, and how, over
the centuries, notions and representations of its nature were
shaped by religious conflict, power struggles, colonialism, and
scholarship. Despite the expansion of Christianity and Islam, Pagan
cultures continue to exist around the world, whilst in the West new
formations of paganism constitute one of the fastest-growing
religions. Focussing on paganism in Europe, but exploring the
nature of paganism globally, Davies looks at how Europeans
discovered new cultures through colonial expansion, missionary
work, and anthropological study. Contemporary social paganism can
be a liberating and social force, and the idea of a global Pagan
theology is now on the religious map. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very
Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains
hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized
books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly.
Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas,
and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly
readable.
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