RLBcB510 Neopaganism

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2025

The course is not taught in Spring 2025

Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Michal Puchovský, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. David Zbíral, Ph.D.
Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Matouš Vencálek
Supplier department: Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Prerequisites
The lectures are primary meant for bachelor students of Religious studies, but we welcome also MA students and interested persons from other fields as archaeology, history and ethnology. Good knowledge of English is much recommended for successful pass of RLB510 Neopaganism, because big part of secondary literature is available only in English.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 50 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/50, only registered: 0/50, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/50
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
RLB510 Neopaganism offers a complex introduction to the study of contemporary modern Paganism – new religious movement, which reconstructs pre-Christian European religions and faiths. In the series of the lectures will be presented origins and roots of modern Paganism together with brief overview of how did paganisms looked like before they were slowly replaced by Christianity. We will also discuss the history and characteristics of most important and widespread modern Pagan movements (Wicca, Celtic, Slavic and heathen branches) since their beginnings in the early fifties od 20th century until present, including our local Czech and Slovak variations. Besides the historical perspective the lectures will offer deeper inside into topics of relations of modern Paganism with majoritarian society, music, politics, ecology and violence.
Learning outcomes
• learn basic information about origins of new religious movements born to prominence in 20th and 21th century
• understand the roots, evolution and typology of modern Pagan movements
• be able to orient themselves in the relations between modern Paganism and contemporary society
• be able to write top quality newspaper article about selected topic based on secondary literature
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction, the roots of modern Paganism I. (Rome, Greek)
  • 2. Roots of modern Paganism II. (Celts, Germans, Slavs)
  • 3. Roots of modern Paganism III. (romanticism, contra cultural movement, introduction to new religious movements, different starting point for modern Paganism in post-Soviet space)
  • 4. Wicca
  • 5. Celtic modern Paganism
  • 6. Heathenism/Ásatrú
  • 7. Slavic modern Paganism
  • 8. Modern Paganism and nature
  • 9. Modern Paganism and society
  • 10. Modern Paganism and music
  • 11. Seminary „How to write good newspaper article“
  • 12. Seminary „ Student‘s presentations of chosen newspaper topic“
Literature
    required literature
  • Strmiska, M. (2005). Modern Paganism in World Cultures: Comparative Perspectives. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 1-55.
  • Dostálová, A. (2014) „Czech Neopagan Movement and Leaders“. in Aitamurto, K., & Simpson, S. (Eds.). Modern Pagan and Native Faith Movements in Central and Eastern Europe. Abingdon: Routledge, 164-182.
  • Bocánová, M. & Turiničová Z (2014), „(Novo)pohanstvo na Slovensku“ in: Silvia, Letavajová (ed). Súčasná alternatívna religiozita na Slovensku. Trnava: Univerzita sv. Cyrila a Metoda v Trnave, Filozofická fakulta, 104-135.
Teaching methods
Online lectures in MS Teams, online synopsis in ELF, two seminaries.
Assessment methods
1) You need to deliver newspaper article on selected topic related to modern Paganism for online portal Náboženský infoservis, which size will be 7200 signs (4 norm pages, with toleration +- 200 signs). You are obligatory to use at least three academic resources (studies, chapters of books). Newspaper article will be written in correct Czech/Slovak without grammatical mistakes and in meaningful sentences. Finished articles will be inserted into folder „Odovzdávareň“. in ELF at latest 23:55 on day of deadline you assigned in IS.
2) The attendance on two seminaries.
Points system
You need to collect at least 60 points of 100 to pass.
1. Newspaper article about chosen topic of modern Paganism 0-90 p
a) Grammar 0-10 p
b) Stylistics 0-20 p
c) Used literature 0-20 p
d) Informational level of newspaper article 0-50 p
2. Participation on seminary - 0-10 p
Students will earn 5 point for being present on seminaries.
Bonus points – 0-10p
You can collect one point for your participation on lectures.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught once in three years.
The course is taught: every week.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Zápis mimo religionistiku je podmíněn souhlasem vyučujícího.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2025/RLBcB510