Researching Paganisms

by Jenny Blain (Editor), Douglas Ezzy (Editor), Graham Harvey (Editor)

Should researchers of spirituality and religion be distantly "objective," or engaged and active participants? The traditional paradigm of 'methodological agnosticism' is increasingly challenged as researchers emphasize the benefits of direct participation for understanding beliefs and practices. Should academic researchers "go native," participating as "insiders" in engagements with the "supernatural," experiencing altered states of of consciousness? How do academics negotiate the fluid boundaries between worlds and meanings which may change their own beliefs? Should their own experiences be part of academic reports? Researching Paganisms presents reflective and engaging accounts of issues in the academic study of religion confronted by anthropologists, psychologists, sociologists, historians and religious studies scholars―as researchers and as humans―as they study contemporary Pagan religions. The insights that contributors gain, with resultant changes to their own lives, will fascinate not only other scholars of Pagan religions, but scholars of any religion and indeed anyone who grapples with issues of reflexive research.

Genres: Religion, Anthropology

256 pages, Paperback

First published September 28, 2004

Reviews

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book offering a glance into the struggles faced by scholars who are researching paganisms, a phrase I like a lot. Not every contribution spoke to me. I particularly liked the contributions by Hutton, Wallis, Blain, Pike, Harvey, Ezzy, and Griffin, mostly because I could relate or they were written somewhat entertainingly. Would still recommend, even though it's almost 20 years old!

[iz]

less useful for my diss than expected but ultimately a good book on studying Paganisms! recommend for all those in the market x