Pagan and Indigenous Communities in Interreligious Contexts: Interrogating Identity, Power, and Authenticity

This study surveys the relationships between contemporary Pagan and indigenous communities within interreligious contexts and interrogates the description of contemporary Pagan religions as "indigenous European traditions" by some Pagans in these arenas. Contemporary Pagan constructions of...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Gilmore, Lee 1969- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Equinox Publ. [2018]
In: The pomegranate
Year: 2018, Volume: 20, Issue: 2, Pages: 179-207
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Europeans / Whites / Neopaganism / Traditional culture / Religion / Interfaith dialogue / Indigenous peoples / Nature religion
RelBib Classification:AD Sociology of religion; religious policy
AG Religious life; material religion
AZ New religious movements
BB Indigenous religions
Further subjects:B Indigenous
B United Religions Initiative
B Parliament of the World's Religions
B Contemporary Paganism
B Interfaith
B Interreligious
Online Access: Volltext (Resolving-System)
Volltext (doi)
Description
Summary:This study surveys the relationships between contemporary Pagan and indigenous communities within interreligious contexts and interrogates the description of contemporary Pagan religions as "indigenous European traditions" by some Pagans in these arenas. Contemporary Pagan constructions of authenticity located in claims of "indigeneity" raise a number of questions concerning identity and power, as well as about what defines the contested category of "indigeneity." This essay argues that white (Euro-American and European) Pagans should avoid enhancing their aura of authenticity by employing "indigeneity'"as an identity marker, because to do so distorts and erases the ongoing structural oppressions resulting from the history of European colonialism. It purchases political legitimacy for Pagans on the interfaith stage, but does little to make reparations to generationally traumatized and impoverished indigenous peoples.
ISSN:1743-1735
Contains:Enthalten in: The pomegranate
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1558/pome.32588