Have you read Albanese's NATURE RELIGION IN AMERICA
(U Chicago Press, 1990)?
It was one of my theoretical starting points. She
knew very little about contemporary Paganism when she
wrote it--she was more concerned with the "natural" of
natural foods, natural healing, etc.--but her insights explain
much about the growth of (neo) Pagan religion.
Native religions, on the other hand, do not have
as much connection with contemporary Paganism as a new
religious movement, I think. Indeed, in North America at least,
most Pagans take a hands-off attitude towards
American Indian/First Nations religion, lest they be accused
of the dreadful crime of cultural appropriation.
The definitions that Michael York advanced in PAGAN THEOLOGY
(New York University Press, 2003) do, however, bridge
"neo" and indigenous paganisms.
Chas
On 29 Jun,06, at 7:31 AM, Caelum Rainieri wrote:
> Congratulations on the publication of your book, Chas. I'm curious
> as to why you would adopt a definition of a nature religion which
> relies on a "scholarly construct" rather than examine the religion
> of certain native tribes which include a magico-religious
> component. Most of these native religions, in my view, would be
> better examples of a nature religion than what some writers have
> ascribed to neo-druidry or other New Age goddess constructs.
>
> Caelum
>
> "Chas S. Clifton" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> I am happy to announce that my book _Her Hidden Children:
> The Rise of Wicca and Paganism in America_ has been published
> by AltaMira Press / Rowman & Littlefield, as part of the
> Pagan Studies series edited by Wendy Griffin and me.
>
> It's mainly an exploration of how British Wicca combined
> with American "nature religion" (in Catherine Albanese's definition
> of the latter as a "scholarly construct").
>
> One of the points that I make in passing is that the emphasis on
> nature religion/earth religion has led to a de-emphasizing of magic,
> to the point where one can now call oneself a "Witch" without
> having to actually do anything magical in the popular understanding
> of the term.
>
> A shortcut to the online catalog page: http://www.tinyurl.com/gkaoq
>
> Or else go to http://www.altamirapress.com and use the "Search"
> feature. It may be purchased directly from the publisher
> online or through the usual online booksellers.
>
> The price is US $19.95 paperback and $55 hardback.
>
> My thanks to Doug Cowan, Ronald Hutton, and Sabina
> Magliocco for their generous cover blurbs.
>
> Apologies for the inevitable cross-posting,
>
> Chas Clifton
>
>
>
> -----------------------
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