Modern Pagan and Native Faith Movements in Central and Eastern Europe

Kaarina Aitamurto is Research Fellow at the Aleksanteri Institute, University of Helsinki. Scott Simpson is Senior Lecturer at the Institute of European Studies at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland, and author of Native Faith: Polish Neo-Paganism at the Brink of the 21st Century (Nomos, 2000)

"This is the first book to offer a remarkably comprehensive and differentiated picture of the neo-pagan movements in Central and Eastern Europe. It does not limit itself to a country by country analysis, but encourages a reflection on Native Faith's roots in Romanticism and nationalism, and their interaction in a globalized world. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in this important but much neglected topic." - Marlene Laruelle, George Washington University "Not only does this diversified work present a detailed and historical journey through previously unexplored territory for the West, it also provides an advantageously useful reference resource concerning twelve Central-Eastern European peoples." - Michael York, Bath Spa University "A fascinating set of studies of (neo)pagan and other local religious-cultural movements ... a tantalizing volume." - Anthropology Review Database "An absolute must-read for all serious scholars of Pagan studies, and a very useful guide for undergraduates or other students taking their first tentative steps into this ever expanding field - It would not be an exaggeration to state that this is the most important book published within Pagan studies in the last five years - Highly recommended." - Alternative Spirituality and Religion Review "The book covers a fascinating religious phenomenon that is little known in the English speaking world. Recommended." - Choice

• Introduction: Native Faith and Neo-Pagan Movements in Central and Eastern Europe, Scott Simpson & Kaarina Aitamurto PART I: OVERVIEWS 1. A Postcolonial Key to Understanding CEE Neopaganisms, Piotr Wiench 2. Selected Words for Modern Pagan and Native Faith Movements in Central & Eastern Europe, Scott Simpson & Mariusz Filip 3. Romanticism and the Rise of Neo-Paganism in Central and Eastern Europe: the Polish Case, Agnieszka Gajda 4. Russian Neo-Paganism: from Ethnic Religion to Racial Violence, Victor Shnirelman PART II: COUNTRY STUDIES 5. Contemporary Paganism in Lithuanian Context: Principal Beliefs and Practices of Romuva, Rasa Pranskeviciute 6. The Dievturi Movement in Latvia as Invention of Tradition, Gatis Ozolins 7. Polish Rodzimowierstwo: Strategies for (Re)Constructing a Movement, Scott Simpson 8. Ukrainian Paganism and Syncretism: 'This Is Indeed Ours!" Mariya Lesiv 9. Russian Rodnoverie: Six Portraits of a Movement, Alexey Gaidukov & Kaarina Aitamurto 10. Czech Neo-Pagan Movementsand Leaders, Anna-Marie Dostalova 11. Neo-Paganism in Slovenia, Ales Crnic 12. Bulgarian Society and the Diversity of Pagan and Neo-Pagan Themes, Vladimir Dulov 13. Romanian Ethno-Paganism: Discourses of Nationalistic Religion, Laszlo-Attila Hubbes 14. Neopaganism in Hungary: Under the Spells of Roots, Reka Szilardi 15. Neopaganism in the Mari El Republic, Boris Knorre 16. A Neopagan Movement in Armenia: The Children of Ara, Konrad Siekierski & Yulia Antonyan PART III: THEMATIC STUDIES 17. The Ideology of Jan Stachniukand the Power of Creation, Maciej Strutynski 18. "Imported" Paganisms in Poland in the 21st Century: A Sketch of the Developing Landscape, Maciej Witulski 19. Russian-language Internet and Rodnoverie, Alexey Gaidukov Notes Bibliography Index