Introduction to Pagan Studies


                                            Adam Anczyk


                             Department for the Psychology of Religion

                      Institute of Religious Studies, Jagiellonian University



Contact: adam.anczyk@gmail.com

Short course outline: The course covers some basic aspects of an emerging subdiscipline of
Religious Studies, called “Pagan studies”. The phenomenon of contemporary Paganism will be
presented and discussed from basic definitions, history of contemporary Paganism or Neo-Paganism (
Romantic revival, Pagan inspirations in Germany in early XX century,  history of wicca and
druidism) to present an image of the Pagan diaspora all around the world, including cultural
peculiarities (Paganism in USA and Europe: similarities and differences). The emphasis will be put
not only on the cultural history but also on the psychosocial aspects of the phenomena, therefore
during our classes an image of an ordinary member of these movements will emerge. The course will
contain many multimedia sources, like presentations, videos and music. All readings will be
provided.


Methods of assessment: research project and quiz .


Outcomes: the course aims at providing students with general knowledge about contemporary Paganism;
students will acquire knowledge on Paganism in all aspects of the phenomenon – from historical
roots to psychological portrait of a follower; also an emphasis will be put on the practical
skills: how to conduct a research in the field of New Religious Movements  (field research,
analysis of the cultural material: movies,  fiction etc.).


About the lecturer: Adam Anczyk researcher and lecturer at the Department for the Psychology of
Religion in the Institute of Religious Studies, Jagiellonian University and researcher at the
Department of Methodology IOMEH. Interested in psychology of religion, psychology of dreams, New
Religious Movements, neopaganism (especially contemporary druidry) and methodology of humanities.
Teaches at Jagiellonian University (courses: New Religious Movements, Religions of the Far East,
Buddhism, Religion and Psychotherapy). He is currently finishing his Ph.D. thesis on contemporary
druidism. Enjoys Celtic and ethnic music, literature and poetry.


Requirements for the course:

·       Research project

·       Attendance and homework (1 absence is allowed, the rest of the absences is to be covered by
doing additional tasks, 4 absences or more results in F grade)

·       Quiz


                                       Outline of the course


       Classes will be divided into 11 meetings, and some empirical exercises done in home.


1.    The roots of contemporary Paganism: basic definitions, Romantic revival, nationalism and
Paganism.


Form: lecture, outline of the course, research project criteria.



2.                Cultural history of modern witchcraft and wicca.


Form: lecture


Literature: M. Adler, Drawing Down the Moon, p. 39-89.



3.                Which witch is which?


Form: discussion


Literature: M. Adler, Drawing Down the Moon, p. 90-139.


4.                Wiccan beliefs and rituals


Form: workshop, participants should find information about wiccan rituals and bring them to the
class


Literature: chosen by the participants


5.                Reconstucting the Past: Pagan movements in Central, Eastern and Northern Europe.


Form: lecture and discussion


Literature:

S. Simpson, Native Faith. Polish Neo-Paganism at the Brink of XXI century (chosen parts)


6.                The druids of history


Form: lecture


Literature: B. Cunliffe (2010). The Druids.


7.                The druidic movement.


Form: lecture and discussion


Literature: Bonewits I., Bonewits’s Essential Guide to Druidism, New York 2006 (chosen parts)


8.                Plurality of belief among contemporary druids.


Literature: Anczyk A. The Image of Druids in Contemporary Paganism: Constructing the Myth


9.                Paganism in popculture


Form: workshop


Literature:


Clifton C., In the Mists of Avalon: How the Contemporary Paganism Dodges the “Crisis of History”
[conference materials], Salt Lake City 2009,


10.                      Why is it so popular? Psychosocial characteristic of contemporary
followers of Paganism.



Form: discussion


Literature: Lawrence B. (ed.), Being a Pagan: Druids, Wiccans and Witches Today, New York, 2002
(chosen parts).



11.                      Quiz

Literature



Adler M. Drawing Down the Moon. Witches, Druids, Goddess-worshippers and other Pagans in America.
New York 2006.

Anczyk A. The Image of Druids in Contemporary Paganism: Constructing the Myth, in: Neo-Pagan
Movements in Central and Eastern Europe, Cracow 2011.

Bonewits I., Bonewits’s Essential Guide to Druidism, New York 2006

Clifton C., In the Mists of Avalon: How the Contemporary Paganism Dodges the “Crisis of History”
[conference materials], Salt Lake City 2009.

Davy B., Introduction to Pagan Studies, New York 2006.

Hutton R., Blood and Mistletoe. The History of the Druids in Britain, London 2009.

Hutton R., Triumph of the Moon: A history of Modern Pagan Witchcraft, New York, 2006.

Lawrence B. (ed.), Being a Pagan: Druids, Wiccans and Witches Today, New York, 2002.