Paganism & Its Discontents

Cherry Hill Seminary and the University of South Carolina Institute of Anthropology & Archaeology will hold an important conference

March 15-17, 2019 in Columbia, S.C. 

Join us at the most beautiful time of the year in Columbia, on the historic campus of the University of South Carolina.

We will meet in Room 134 of the  Darla Moore School of Business, 1014 Greene Street and Assembly Street, shown on this campus map. Columbia offers many hotels and restaurants which you may wish to explore. We recommend these hotels. A number of restaurants are within a block or two, including Middle Eastern, Mexican, subs and fast food. We will have a longer Saturday lunch break. Watch for news about a reception on Friday evening. Conference language is English.

Late Registration (after January 15): $115

South Carolina residents courtesy fee for Saturday only: $45

Proponents of racist interpretations of pre-Christian Norse-Germanic spiritualities have claimed to be preserving “heritage,” while others belonging to the contemporary Heathen movements have moved to distance themselves from “folkish” thinking. Long-simmering just beneath the surface of American Paganism, racialized Heathenry was on full display in 2017 in Charlottesville, Virgina. The recent Pagan Engagement Survey also revealed a surprising thread of racism among participants. Presentations will address topics like:

♦ Ethnic vs. universal Paganism
♦ Attempted co-option of Pagan ideas and symbols by hate groups
♦ Addressing under-the-radar racism in Pagan groups
♦ Irredentist ideas in our mythologies
♦ Reconstructionism or racism and xenophobia?
♦ Implications and consequences of Declaration 127
♦ Re-emergence of ethno-nationalism and its impact on current events

Event Schedule (subject to change)

Note: Cherry Hill Seminary students earn intensive credit for participation.