DFG Research Project

This DFG research project examines the multi-layered neopagan scene – people from various religious movements who feel connected to pre-Christian natural religions – in Greece today. A research desideratum in several respects: For although the so-called “neopagan” or “ethnic” religions can be observed internationally, the modern Greek case has a number of special features, particularly because of its connection to ancient Greek polytheism and its fierce criticism of the producers of the dominant Orthodox culture and official ideology in Greece. The “Ethnic Hellenes”, as they prefer to call themselves, aim to restore the ancient Greek religion and tradition in contemporary Greece. They promote Hellenic polytheism and a related way of life as a key solution to the rapid transformations and acute crises that not only Greece, but also the whole world faces today. The project intends to examine these religious groups and organizations both “internally” (e.g., beliefs, values, ritual practices) and “externally” (e.g., conflicts, public relations) in a differentiated, detailed and systematic way. To this end, it will use a variety of methods; for instance, interpretive content analysis, semi-structured interviews, and participant observation. The results will be made available to both academic and non-academic audiences in conferences, scholarly papers, blog posts, and a monograph on the subject.