A survey course introduces students to the wide variety of Paganisms being practiced around the world, challenging scholarly and personal definitions of Paganism by tracing common threads among disparate traditions. Students will then explore the Internet and their local communities to gain first-hand experience with traditions not their own. We address issues of cultural appropriation versus appropriate cultural borrowing and consider Paganism’s position as a consciously (re)constructed, combinative religious path. A final project allows students to synthesize their knowledge in a comparison of Paganisms that supports the unique thrust of each student’s ministerial path. C5121
Instructor: Michael Strmiska, Ph.D.
Day/Time of class meetings: Saturday, 10:30 am-12 pm ET
Texts:
John Salibi, Understanding New Religious Movements, 2nd Edition Revised Edition (2003)
Michael F. Strmiska, Modern Paganism in World Cultures: Comparative Perspectives (2005).
Spring Semester runs Jan 12 to Apr 26, 2025. Log in to your Populi account to register. Note that a non-refundable deposit of $200 must be paid by Dec 22. (Deposit will be refunded if class is cancelled.)
