Pagan Theology: Paganism as a World Religion

By: Michael York

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Synopsis: This study identifies paganism as a viable religion, exploring its practices and theology as they are expressed in religious communities across the world. Long dismissed as a miscellany of fringe ideas and practices, Paganism is one of the fastest-growing spiritual orientations in the West. In Pagan Theology, Michael York reframes Paganism as a world religion. He provides an overview of pagan theology and practice while expanding on the concept of paganism itself. He demonstrates it to be a viable spiritual perspective—one which he identifies around the world today in such forms as Chinese folk religion, Shinto, tribal religions, and neo-Paganism in the West. While adherents to many of these traditions do not use the word &“pagan&” to describe their beliefs or practices, York contends that they feature common characteristics for which the label &“pagan&” is appropriate. After outlining these characteristics, he examines many of the world's major religions which, while not themselves pagan, have pagan elements. In the course of examining such behavior, York provides rich and lively descriptions of religions in action, including Buddhism and Hinduism.