The 'Polytheist Boom' in the States

[lorna]

I've recently been following the development of the polytheist movements in the States- from books published on Devotional Polytheism and Spirit Work by Silence Maeastas, Sarah Kate Istra Winter and Galina Krasskova, the Walking the Worlds biannual journals of polytheism and spirit-work to the profusion of new web-sites such as Polytheist.com and Gods & Radicals and numerous blogs and most recently the Many Gods West Conference which is reviewed by John Beckett here: www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbeckett/2015/08/many-gods-west.html

Do you think Britain already had its 'polytheist boom' with the hordes of people who joined APT and Brython in the nineties which then subsided? Do you think a similar thing will happen in the States or something more long-lasting will develop? Is there any hope the American enthusiasm could re-awaken interest in Brython?

[Lee]

There are a couple of observations I have with this boom;

it doesnt seem to be mirrored in the UK because we don't seems to make a huge distinction as is being made between polytheists and the other pagans traditions. Polytheism is viewed here more as an overall outlook as part of either druidry, Wicca, heathenry or general paganism.

I am seeing a clear divide being made by polytheists between pagans and polytheists and to my mind I cant quite grasp what the divide is based upon; i tend to regard polytheists as pagans, but not all pagans are polytheists.

No idea where this will lead - the Atlantic seems to be a big boundary and i don't know how much bleed across there will be. I might be wrong but here we do a lot more in person meeting and talking at moots, conferences etc whereas in the US it is more online because of the distance between people.

Lee

[Heron]

It have noticed that people in the U.S tend to be more absolutist about what they see as their distinctive traditions. In Britain people seem to be more at ease with porous borders between their practice and that of others. I say 'tend to be ..' because, of course, I don't want to be too absolutist about making the point ;-)

[lorna]

I must say I'm pretty grateful for the acceptability of the porosity of traditions in Britain - the ability to be pagan / polytheist / atheist / druid / witch / awenydd without argument and conflict. There have been some horrible arguments between polytheists and atheo-pagans on Patheos recently which has led to me deciding to steer clear of the site for good and stick to places where conversations are respectful and honorable such as here and TDN!

[Chad]

There hasn't been so much a "boom" as there has been a desire for many Polytheists to separate themselves from other forms of Paganism in the United States. All forms of Pagan religion are growing here, and as it does, people kind of start to stick to their groups. Some of it is political, as those who are very political here see enemies everywhere. To others, it is the view that one of the other forms damages the process of Paganism being taken seriously by the public.

[potia]

I think there is a slowly growing interest in a range of polytheist paths here in the UK but I think that there may also be more caution about getting pulled into the sorts of arguments that can happen in the States. I think from hearsay that in the UK many polytheists are solitary in their personal practices and join wider pagan groups or attend larger events for a sense of community. And yes I think that many are pore flexible in their approaches than some voices in the states too.

[Chad]

There is certainly a rigidity in approach here in the US. Native traditions are closed off, which most of us respect. So perhaps many see themselves as having "something to prove" to their European counterparts. Personally, I guess that I just don't feel that way, with regards to having something to prove. Though, I would be a liar if I said I didn't share a few of the conventions associated with Pagans here.

[Heron]

Apr 5, 2018 9:16:34 GMT -1 potia said:

I think there is a slowly growing interest in a range of polytheist paths here in the UK but I think that there may also be more caution about getting pulled into the sorts of arguments that can happen in the States. I think from hearsay that in the UK many polytheists are solitary in their personal practices and join wider pagan groups or attend larger events for a sense of community. And yes I think that many are pore flexible in their approaches than some voices in the states too.

Sounds about right to me. Both on differences between U.S. and British attitudes and on the solitary practice of many polytheists. It seems that this is how it was in Ancient times too. Worship of the gods consisted of visiting shrines or family worship of household gods. But only the salvationist religions like Mithraism and Christianity were congregationalist.

[Claudia]

I've been following the debate about whether polytheists should call themselves pagan for some time. What seems to be happening is the eradication of deities as individuals. I have seen it myself. Atheist pagans and those who like to say "all gods are one god" seem to be dominating groups and leaving no space for discussion on polytheism. It's not only offensive to polytheists but it's watering down traditions that have already been damaged by years of conversion to monotheist religions. I have also found that, if you say to someone that you are pagan, they automatically assume you are either Wiccan or some New Ager. I have no problem with either of these paths, in fact I used to study Wicca in my teens, but people either forget or are ignorant to the fact that 'pagan' is an umbrella term for many diverse religions.

With regards to the polytheist boom in America; I have noticed a slight increase in Norse/Brythonic/Druid tags on instagram. I hope it stems from a genuine interest in their ancestry rather than something more sinister. White supremacy has sadly increased in heathen groups, or at least they are more vocal about it, since November 2016.

[Chad]

As an American, I can attest to the popularity of Druidry and such in the United States. As to Norse stuff, like in the UK and Europe, it dominates Heathenry. Though other forms are growing as well. Gaelic Polytheisms and Druidry make up the vast majority of Celtic Polytheists here. Quite a few are both.

I think that Brythonic Polytheism only hasn't because, unlike, say Gaulish Polytheism, is that there is *slightly* more to work with in regards to accessibility. There are a few people specifically into Welsh Polytheism.

All of this is well and good, of course. Personally, I have trouble with Reconstruction in regards to Iron Age Brythonic Polytheism, I know of plenty of Gods, I can tease out cultural mores, and such from later Welsh myths and attempting to figure out things from classical sources, but other things, I simply do not know. If I knew more reconstructed Proto Brythonic, I think it would help a lot.