Two Particular Expressions of Neo-Paganism

• Author: Sorea, D.
• Position: Department of Social Sciences and Communication, Transilvania University of Brasov
• Pages: 29-40

Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov

Series VII: Social Sciences • Law • Vol. 6 (55) No. 1 - 2013

TWO PARTICULAR EXPRESSIONS

OF NEO-PAGANISM

Daniela SOREA1

Abstract: The current increased interest in the practical and theoretical

approaches to the manifestations of religiosity in its pagan forms is a feature

of postmodernism. Neo-shamanism is an important part of neo-paganism.

Unlike the classical, unifying approach of shamanis m, recent studies have

underlined the great diversity of the neo-shamanic practices. The differences

in the ethno-pagan manifestations of the Hungarian and Romanian

populations from the Carpathian area justify the importance of

distinguishing among the pre-Christian religious traditions from which the

aforementioned manifestations stem.

Key words: neo-paganism, shamanism, cultural tradition.

1 Department of Social Sciences and Communication, Transilvania University of Brasov.

1. Introduction

According to Michael Winkelman

(2010), neo-shamanis m as part of neo-

paganism has evolved considerably for the

past years [24]. Within the context of an

overlap between the secularization process

and the increased communication

difficulties between the old Christian

churches and their believers, that is a sign

of contemporary Western people’s need to

retrieve the original forms of their

religiosity.

In Mircea Eliade’s view, deemed by the

history of religions and anthropology as a

classical one, shamanism is generally

concerned with the human element.

However, the contemporary descriptions of

the neo-shamanic practices outline its

particular expressions. These are actually

the result of the postmodern context within

which both the described practices and

their research are undertaken.

Starting from a comparative research

into the Romanian and Hungarian neo-

pagan manifestations, this paper highlights

the causes that lead to the differences

underlying these. Moreover, it provides an

outlook on the descriptions of neo-

paganism and neo-shamanism in the

contemporary specialized literature, it

outlines the conclusions of the

aforementioned comparative research, as

well as the specific shamanic features to be

identified in the Romanian traditional

culture.

Anchoring the neo-pagan manifestations

into distinct cultural traditions as a means

to acknowledge diversity is a postmodern

trend, but the inherent recognition of

traditions underlying this goes well beyond

the boundaries of postmodernism.

2. Significant contemporary expressions

of neo-paganism and their connotations

Robert M. Place (2008) views the