Sociological Studies of Pagans?

[Carla O'Harris]

Can anyone recommend some sociological studies of pagans, especially if available online? What sorts of people tend to join the pagan community?

[StephanieAine]

Hi, Carla -

I'm not pagan/Wiccan/witch (etc.!) - just an ordinary Christian... but I may be able to help you with your sociological quest, at least a bit.

I noticed recently that there are a few threads here that discuss people's religious backgrounds. Particularly those who came to paganism/magic from a previously Christian faith. In the threads, they go into a lot of detail about why they changed their religious focus and what their religious history is like, as well as their family background. That kind of information may help.

Also, at Amazon, I noticed a 'recommended book' link recently which mentioned a book about "being pagan." If I remember correctly, the book covers sociological aspects of the pagan community. I could be wrong about that, but I'm not sure. It might be worth popping over to Amazon and running a term search, though.

-Stevie

[LostSheep]

What sorts of people tend to join the pagan community?
strange ones. _inabox_

Seriously, i think a general look around this site, might give at least a kind of overview of the kind of interests that people who either are pagan or are sympathetic to paganism have... I think there's probably a broader range of people here with a broader range of backgrounds and interests that you'd find on some wicca oriented sites, because there's a whole variety of backgrounds, occupations and religious/spiritual/whatever interests covered here.

[ShamanFeather]

fascinating question. I would hardly doubt that there are any fair ones out there, but then again I wonder if there are any done on christians? I have read that people of middle or low class tend to be more religious.

I think we all have opinions on who pagans generally are, but there are variations in all things.

So what brought on such an interesting question?

[Toby Stimpson]

Hey,

I would suggest, if you have any friends in college or university if you could ask them to save some PDF academic journals...I know my college library has a large number of articles and essays on the subject, or to soem extent the larger movement and ideas. I would be careful with the question though, be careful not to generalize becasue Paganism is so big and depending on whom it is they can have any reason for wanting to be a part. Interesting question though :)

Namaste

Tobias

[omar]

I read a survey some place last year that said 75% pagans was women,75% was college educated & 75% made over $50,000 a year. But most where self employed, both men & women. All are very independant.

[Philosophia]

Hey,
I would suggest, if you have any friends in college or university if you could ask them to save some PDF academic journals...I know my college library has a large number of articles and essays on the subject, or to soem extent the larger movement and ideas. I would be careful with the question though, be careful not to generalize becasue Paganism is so big and depending on whom it is they can have any reason for wanting to be a part. Interesting question though :)
Namaste
Tobias

I second this suggestion.

[Toby Stimpson]

I second this suggestion.

Another great resource, btw :)

[Rowan Darkmoon]

One interesting book is Persuasions of the Witch's Craft by Tanya Luhrmann, and Drawing Down the Moon by Margeret Adler also has some sociological information.

Here's a link to the Luhrmann book...

http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog/LUHPER.html

I would agree with the suggestions of others that a university's searchable online journal index would be a good place to look. Depending on what type of information that you're looking for, you might have better luck with Anthropological journals verses Sociological. Anthropologists have always been very interested at looking at religious practice and ritual as well as witchraft. It's one of the basics of the discipline. Sociology is more demographic, but if you want that then go for it.

Here is link to a list that has a variety of books and articles; some scholarly and some not...

http://www.geocities.com/mikerdna/genneo.html

I found this as well, and it looks to be an interesting article entitled, "Reenchanting Nature: Modern Western Shamanism and Nineteenth Century Thought" by Kocku van Stuckard.

http://home.planet.nl/~stuck008/jaarshamanism.pdf

Hope it helps!

[Zephyrstorm]

There's also "Earthly Bodies Magical Selves" it's an Ethnographical survey from here in the US.
http://www.ucpress.edu/books/pages/8775.html

And I third the use of a College libraries access to databases and other research resources. :)
Bon chance, Carla.

[equinox2]

The book "voices from the Pagan Census" is what you want. Here it is:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1570034885/ref=sr_11_1/002-1527253-8509660?%5Fencoding=UTF8

I've read it and Pagans do tend to be better educated and independant.

Enjoy-

[alwaysfallingup]

Hello!

A year or so ago, I participated in an online study that was a lady's thesis project. She was studying the effects of Goddess spirituality on women's lives.

I wish I could remember her name! But you might Google it or something...she had a whole site set up with the information and the survey section to participate.

~Alisha~

[Crysiira]

I was GOING to take a class in the fall called "the Anthropology of Myth, Magick, and Religion", it was really about how magick religions have evolved to where they are today, I would have been a wealth of information for you. Unfortunately, before i even got the chance to register, the class got FILLED UP!!!!! I was so disappointed. but then again... what does that say? that everyone is interested in magick religions! gogogo paganism into the mainstream!!!

[CelticMoon11]

According to my evil sociology textbook given to us by an even eviller lecturer some studies of interest would be:

Roy Wallis (1976) who proposed a typology of the growth of "new religious movements"

Bruce (1996) talks about how new age religions are largely "audience" or "client cults"

Heelas, 1996) talks about X Files influence in the rise of new age stuff and that new age people view "The Self" as sacred

Thats all thats mentioned I have acccess to online journals etc if you'd like anything more substantial I can search for for you PM me and lemme know :)