Being Viking - Heathenism in Contemporary America - Jefferson F. Calico
Hard Polytheism in a Soft World
Being Viking - Heathenism in Contemporary America - Jefferson F. Calico
Jefferson F. Calico [+]
Eastern Kentucky University
Jefferson F. Calico is an instructor in the Department of Philosophy and Religion at Eastern Kentucky University where he teaches a variety of courses in Religious Studies. He currently serves as co-chair of the Religion and Ecology consultation for the Southeastern Commission on the Study of Religion. His research focuses on alternative religions in America.
Description
At the core of Heathen religious experience are the incredibly potent figures of the gods. This chapter examines Heathen theological approaches, including the contrast between ideas of hard and soft polytheisms. As new polytheistic religions such as Heathenry emerge in societies once dominated by monotheism, it has become increasingly important to understand the dynamics of polytheistic systems. In that context, I examine Heathenry as a developing polytheist culture.