The Neo-Pagan Trend in America
Location
CSU
Student's Major
Anthropology
Student's College
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Mentor's Name
Paul Brown
Mentor's Department
Anthropology
Mentor's College
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Description
Neo-Pagan religions are some of the fastest growing branches of spirituality in America today, and yet few contemporary practitioners were raised with Neo-Pagan beliefs. Since Neo-Paganism generally involves a conscious decision to depart from traditions in which the individual is raised, this paper will focus on the cultural and personal factors that may affect a person's change of spiritual systems. This study analyzes this current trend by using data gathered from Neo-Pagans' self-reported motivations. Among the issues examined are subjects' religious upbringings, factors that caused them to move away from childhood belief systems, how they were introduced to Neo-Paganism, and what Neo-Paganism fulfills for them that their former religion did not.
The Neo-Pagan Trend in America
CSU
Neo-Pagan religions are some of the fastest growing branches of spirituality in America today, and yet few contemporary practitioners were raised with Neo-Pagan beliefs. Since Neo-Paganism generally involves a conscious decision to depart from traditions in which the individual is raised, this paper will focus on the cultural and personal factors that may affect a person's change of spiritual systems. This study analyzes this current trend by using data gathered from Neo-Pagans' self-reported motivations. Among the issues examined are subjects' religious upbringings, factors that caused them to move away from childhood belief systems, how they were introduced to Neo-Paganism, and what Neo-Paganism fulfills for them that their former religion did not.
