Talk
Neopagan groups and the Seasonal Celebration of the Natural Cycles: Epistemological and Ontological challenges on the study of spirituality
Joana Martins (Martins, Joana.);
Event Title
VII Congresso Associação Portuguesa de Antropologia
Year (definitive publication)
2019
Language
Portuguese
Country
Portugal
More Information
--
Web of Science®

This publication is not indexed in Web of Science®

Scopus

This publication is not indexed in Scopus

Google Scholar

This publication is not indexed in Google Scholar

Abstract
Neopaganism, an “umbrella term” used to designate several religious and spiritual polytheistic traditions, has as its main beliefs nature as sacred, polytheism and gender equality. Through the seasonal celebration of the natural cycles, they look for the establishment of a connection with the natural world based on respect and protection. With the ritualization of the seasonal festive and natural cycles it’s possible to understand that this is the field where relationships, sociability and world views are created and transported to the establishment of important relationships between humans and non-humans, as well as to ethical and moral concerns of ecological order, that also are epistemological and ontological. Working with this dimension of the lived religion and spirituality allows us to question and reflect not just about the way we conduct our anthropological work, and question the way it was done until now, but also the challenges and answers that arise, and the importance that this new religious movements face due to the pollical, sociocultural and ecological crisis that mark the contemporary life. If one considers the alternative discourses and solutions that they present, an important and genuine dialogue can be created between Anthropology and these groups.
Acknowledgements
--
Keywords
neopaganism,religion,gender,ethnographic fieldwork,ecology
  • Anthropology - Social Sciences
Funding Records
Funding Reference Funding Entity
SFRH/BD/138893/2018 Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia

With the objective to increase the research activity directed towards the achievement of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, the possibility of associating scientific publications with the Sustainable Development Goals is now available in Ciência-IUL. These are the Sustainable Development Goals identified by the author(s) for this publication. For more detailed information on the Sustainable Development Goals, click here.