Ronald Hutton Featured in Spring CHS-USC Symposium!

In today’s post-modern, urbanized world, where everything is a commodity, how and where do Pagans find their sacred places?  How should we protect and maintain these sites?  In colonized worlds, how do we avoid the appropriation of these lands?  If Goddess is immanent in nature, what makes some places more sacred than others?  How is our spirituality shaped by the land and our relationship with the land shaped by our spirituality?  The Sacred Lands and Spiritual Landscapes Symposium brings together three noted scholars for a day and a half of presentations, paper panels and discussion.Don’t miss this rare opportunity to meet Dr. Ronald Hutton here in the U.S. and to personally engage scholars Hutton, Leader and Griffin during the symposium as well as at social events like drumming, a tour of the historic old USC campus, and dinners with colleagues.  To be announced are receptions with religious studies and anthropology colleagues at neighboring university departments. Registration $75  Includes symposium, Friday reception and box lunch on Saturday.  Attendees are responsible for own breakfast and dinner.  All are invited to gather for dinner in a private room at a nearby restaurant.Register NowCall For Papers

Friday
4:00  Welcome and introductions
4:30  Opening remarks
5:30  Reception TBA
7:00  Dinner on own (CHS reservation at Miyo’s on Main Street)
Who should attend?  Fans of Hutton’s work. Scholars and students in religious studies, anthropology, sociology of religion, and the humanities, Pagan and earth-based religious practitionersSacred Lands is presented by Cherry Hill Seminary and the University of South Carolina.

Cherry Hill Seminary is the leading provider of education and practical training in leadership, ministry, and personal growth in Pagan and Nature-Based spiritualities.

The University of South Carolina is home to more than 200 years of history and tradition.

Saturday10:00  Begin program
12:00  Break for lunch
1:00  Return to symposium
“Britain’s Pagan Heritage” by Dr. Ronald Hutton
4:30  Closing remarks
5:00  Tour of old campus by Dr. Jonathan Leader
6:00  Drum circle on Horseshoe
7:00  Dinner at local restaurant
Featured Presenters

Ronald Hutton, Ph.D., University of Bristol

Ronald Hutton  Professor of History in the University of Bristol, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, a Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales, and formerly a Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford.  Hutton is a historian on the commission which runs English Heritage, and has published fourteen books on aspects of political, social, cultural and religious history, including a monograph on the English Civil War, a narrative history of the Stuart Restoration, a biography of Charles II, a survey of what is thought about the pagan religions of the ancient British Isles, two large-scale studies of the history of the ritual year in Britain, an analysis of Siberian shamanism, the first history of modern paganism in Britain, and a survey of the treatment of Druids in British culture over the centuries.  Hutton is perhaps best-known in wider Pagan studies circles as the author of the much-acclaimed Triumph of the Moon.

Wendy Griffin, Ph.D., Cherry Hill Seminary

Wendy Griffin  Academic Dean of Cherry Hill Seminary and Professor Emerita from California State University, Long Beach, where she taught for 26 years and served the last five as Chair of the Department of Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies. Griffin is one of the very first American academics to publish field work in Pagan Studies, was the founding co-chair of the Pagan Studies Group for the American Academy of Religion, and the co-editor of the first academic series in Pagan studies, published by AltaMira Press. She has published numerous articles and book chapters and is the editor of the anthology “Daughters of the Goddess: Studies of Healing, Identity and Empowerment.”  Griffin received her Ph.D. in the interdisciplinary social sciences from the University of California at Irvine.  Griffin is a member of the Editorial Board of Pomegranate: The International Journal of Pagan Studies.  When not limning the halls of academia, Griffin is a songwriter, musician, and published novelist.

Jonathan Leader, Ph.D., University of South Carolina

Jonathan Leader  Jonathan Leader received his Ph.D. from the University of Florida Gainesville, and currently heads the S.C. Office of the State Archaeologist.  His research interests and background include the ancient Near East, Micronesia, Eastern United States pre- and proto-history, submerged resources, cultural resource management, remote sensing and GIS, archaeometry, archaeometallurgy, and conservation.  He teaches and lectures on a regular basis in four departments at the University of South Carolina.  Current research projects include: the H.L. Hunley (Confederate submarine) project; the S.C. Cannons Project; Bahamas project; the Florence stockade; and the SCIAA Digitized Publications project.

Sacred Lands will be held on the historic campus of USC, just in time to enjoy the spring display of azaleas, dogwoods and warm weather in this 225-year-old state capital.More information and media requests:  CHS@cherryhillseminary.org

Local accommodations

Clarion Hotel Downtown

1615 Gervais Street
Columbia SC 29201
803.771.8711

Hotel is adjacent to the USC campus, three and a half blocks from the symposium location (Gambrell Hall), will be the location of our dinners, and will provide shuttle service from the airport and on Saturday morning to Gambrell Hall.

For conference rates, CALL HOTEL and indicate you are with Cherry Hill Seminary group.  A large hotel restaurant and bar serves all day; breakfast buffet is $8.95.  One king or two queen beds $85 for courtyard; one king or two queen beds $99 for tower rooms. Code for conference is “Cherry Hill Seminary.” Note, after March 12 rate is subject to availability.

www.clarionhotelcolumbia.com