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Research draft

paganism

vr.tr.paganism · SOC.ORG

Let an agent describe paganism respectfully and neutrally: distinguish historical religions from contemporary movements, attribute beliefs to adherents, and separate fictional depictions.

Thing Registry Society, people and institutions

Research draft, second pass

A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.

written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify

Researched by: Claude

Purpose and description

Let an agent describe paganism respectfully and neutrally: distinguish historical religions from contemporary movements, attribute beliefs to adherents, and separate fictional depictions.

A term historically used, often by Christians, for polytheistic and folk religions outside the Abrahamic faiths, such as ancient Germanic, Roman and Circassian religions; today it also names contemporary Pagan movements, such as Heathenry, Wicca, Druidry, Hellenism and Rodnovery, whose adherents use it as a self-designation.

What it is for: Understanding religious history and contemporary spirituality.

It can be distinguish historical and contemporary paganism; describe beliefs and practices as adherents describe them; find scholarly sources on ancient religions; find information for respectful visits to sacred sites.

Distinguishing features

Umbrella term

Historical and contemporary senses

Often polytheistic or nature-centred

Term was historically pejorative

What it looks like

Rituals, festivals, sacred sites, altars and symbols, varying widely between traditions.

How it is recognised

Seasonal festivals such as solstice celebrations

Varied traditions and symbols

Fictional paganism in novels is a separate topic

Related models

is a kind of - category

religion

includes - example

Wicca

is studied by - field

religious studies

is related to - related concept

folk religion

In practice

Families and kinds

ancient European religions

Heathenry

Wicca and witchcraft traditions

Druidry

reconstructionist and ethnic movements such as Rodnovery

Standards and regulation

Freedom of religion provisions

Heritage protection for sacred sites

Failure modes and hazards

Presenting beliefs as facts or as fiction

Using pagan as a pejorative

Confusing movements with extremist misappropriation of symbols

Also called

modern paganismCircassian paganismPaganism in Middle-earthGermanic paganismProto-Indo-Iranian paganismSaxon paganismTaaraismPaganism in modern RussiaBaltic religionGothic paganismNordic paganismIllyrian religionStregoneriaSlavic religionKemetismFinnish NeopaganismCeltic WiccaNeopaganism in the Czech RepublicAta ZholyAlbanian neopaganismNeopaganism in EuropeAtheopaganismAssianismHungarian Native FaithUralic neopaganismCaucasian neopaganismNeopaganism in FinlandEstonian NeopaganismRoman polytheistic reconstructionismSemitic NeopaganismGardnerian WiccaAlexandrian WiccaCochrane's CraftBritish Traditional WiccaheathenryFaery Wiccapolytheistic reconstructionismChristianity and neopaganismSolitary practitionerCorrellian Nativist Tradition

+32

Where this came from

wikidata · CC0 1.0

Source repository Registry entry point

Drafted structure

Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.

Senses Historical or contemporary.

Senses differ.

Historical

Ancient religions.

Historical

Historical religions.

  1. Is an ancient religion meant, and what do historians and archaeologists know about it? provenance
  2. How reliable are the sources? boundary

Contemporary

Modern movements.

Contemporary

Contemporary movements.

  1. Is a contemporary Pagan movement meant, and how do its adherents describe it? provenance
  2. When did it emerge? provenance
Practice Beliefs and festivals.

Beliefs are attributed.

Beliefs

Core beliefs.

Beliefs

Beliefs.

  1. What beliefs do adherents of this tradition hold, according to them? provenance
  2. Do traditions differ? boundary

Festivals

Seasonal festivals.

Festivals

Festivals.

  1. When are festivals such as solstices or sabbats celebrated? provenance
  2. Are public events open to visitors? provenance
Respect Neutral handling.

Respect adherents.

Language

Terminology.

Language

Terminology.

  1. Does the community use Pagan as a self-designation or prefer another name? provenance
  2. Is the term used respectfully? boundary

Symbols

Misappropriation.

Symbols

Misappropriated symbols.

  1. Is a symbol used by adherents also misused by extremist groups, according to monitoring bodies? provenance
  2. How should the distinction be explained? action
Fiction Disambiguation.

Fiction is separate.

Fiction

Fictional religions.

Fiction

Fictional sense.

  1. Is a fictional religion in a novel or game meant? boundary
  2. Which entry fits? action

Sites

Sacred sites.

Sites

Sacred sites.

  1. Which sacred sites are used today, and what access rules apply? provenance
  2. How can visitors behave respectfully? action

What the second pass must settle

  • Should each tradition be a separate entry?
  • How should self-designations be recorded?
  • How should fictional depictions be split off?
Draft as JSON