Pagan Religions in Five Minutes - Suzanne Owen
12. Do Pagans have Sacred Sites?
Pagan Religions in Five Minutes - Suzanne Owen
Ethan Doyle White [+]
University College London
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A trained archaeologist, Ethan Doyle White is currently undertaking doctoral research into the archaeological evidence for popular religion in early medieval Britain at University College London (UCL). As an independent scholar, he is an established figure in the field of contemporary Pagan studies, being the author of both Wicca: History, Belief, and Community in Modern Pagan Witchcraft (Sussex Academic Press, 2016) and a range of articles in such peer-reviewed journals as The Pomegranate, Nova Religio, and Magic, Ritual and Witchcraft. His current research interests focus on pre-Christian and folk religiosity in early medieval Europe alongside the adoption of pre-Christian beliefs and imagery within modern Pagan new religious movements.
Description
This chapter discusses the importance of sacred sites in modern Paganism. Pagans consider certain locations, like pre-Christian or prehistoric sites, sacred as they connect with ancestral traditions. However, rituals at prehistoric sites outside Europe raise concerns about cultural appropriation. Conflicts arise with archaeologists and heritage managers due to the impact of Pagan rituals on these sensitive archaeological sites. Some Pagans oppose the excavation and display of pre-Christian human remains.