I apologize in advance guys, but I just couldn't resist doing this because of that other thread on the boards. 
The word "conversion" a problematic one to use in describing the rise of contemporary Paganism (Neopaganism) from a culture dominated by Christianity. It's a loaded and pejorative term to many of us, because it is seen as something that happens to someone from outside forces, often with the use of threats (i.e., you'll go to hell!), coercion (i.e., we helped you in your time of need... join us!), value inversion (i.e., what you do is wrong!) slander (i.e., you worship devils!), among other nasties.
Conversion doesn't happen that way in Neopaganism. There's no being confronted with beliefs from the outside and being expected to conform to them. The absence of heavy-handed proselytizing can be part of its appeal to many of us who came to the community. Most Neopagans describe their "conversion" as a coming home, but the process isn't quite so simple. The vast majority of Neopagans were raised in a Christian cultural morass, and at some point, there had to be an active rejection of that culture and religious paradigm. After rejection, there is a period of searching for a religion that more closely matches their personal theology or practices. Harper-Bisso (2005) noted that "the most common motifs in NeoPagan conversion are intellectual conversion and experimental conversion" (p 163). They read books and do research, then experiment with different religious practices until finding the one that resonates. This means taking an active, participatory role in one's religion, as well as blazing one's own path.
Based on surveys by Harper-Bisso (2005) and Reid (2001) of Neopagans in the United States and Canada respectively, we can generate the following list of reasons why people convert from (usually) Christianity to contemporary Paganism:
This is certainly not an all-inclusive list, but one that can be derived from the dissertations above. For some, the ability to embrace and incorporate science within the framework is another important factor. You don't see climate science denialism and evolution denialism in Neopaganism; my community is overwhelmingly science-affirming and science-progressive. At the very least, this should give us all an idea of the reasons why Christians convert to that regressive, evil, immoral, primitive rubbish called Paganism.
Thoughts? Comments? Free blueberry muffins?
Works Cited
The word "conversion" a problematic one to use in describing the rise of contemporary Paganism (Neopaganism) from a culture dominated by Christianity. It's a loaded and pejorative term to many of us, because it is seen as something that happens to someone from outside forces, often with the use of threats (i.e., you'll go to hell!), coercion (i.e., we helped you in your time of need... join us!), value inversion (i.e., what you do is wrong!) slander (i.e., you worship devils!), among other nasties.
Conversion doesn't happen that way in Neopaganism. There's no being confronted with beliefs from the outside and being expected to conform to them. The absence of heavy-handed proselytizing can be part of its appeal to many of us who came to the community. Most Neopagans describe their "conversion" as a coming home, but the process isn't quite so simple. The vast majority of Neopagans were raised in a Christian cultural morass, and at some point, there had to be an active rejection of that culture and religious paradigm. After rejection, there is a period of searching for a religion that more closely matches their personal theology or practices. Harper-Bisso (2005) noted that "the most common motifs in NeoPagan conversion are intellectual conversion and experimental conversion" (p 163). They read books and do research, then experiment with different religious practices until finding the one that resonates. This means taking an active, participatory role in one's religion, as well as blazing one's own path.
Based on surveys by Harper-Bisso (2005) and Reid (2001) of Neopagans in the United States and Canada respectively, we can generate the following list of reasons why people convert from (usually) Christianity to contemporary Paganism:
- Acceptance of nature as sacred, and/or a sense of connection with nature
- Embrace of the divine feminine, positive images of women, and sex/gender equality
- Tolerance of human diversity in general, but especially sexual orientation
- Flexibility of beliefs and practices, and/or the wide range of traditions available
- Ability to declare "rightness for me" and/or the absence of exclusivist "rightness for all" claims
- Sense of personal ethical responsibility and/or the absence of prescribed sin
- Empowerment of the individual to change their life
- Appreciation of a magical worldview and practices such as spellcraft or divination
- Preternatural, mystical experiences that fall outside accepted Abrahamic narratives
This is certainly not an all-inclusive list, but one that can be derived from the dissertations above. For some, the ability to embrace and incorporate science within the framework is another important factor. You don't see climate science denialism and evolution denialism in Neopaganism; my community is overwhelmingly science-affirming and science-progressive. At the very least, this should give us all an idea of the reasons why Christians convert to that regressive, evil, immoral, primitive rubbish called Paganism.
Thoughts? Comments? Free blueberry muffins?
Works Cited
Harper-Bisso, Susan. 2005. Negotiating Gender Identity and Social Identity in an American Neopagan Community. Ph.D. diss., Southern Methodist University.
Reid, Sian Lee Macdonald. 2001. Disorganized Religion: An Exploration of the Neopagan Craft in Canada. Ph. D. diss., Carleton University.
Reid, Sian Lee Macdonald. 2001. Disorganized Religion: An Exploration of the Neopagan Craft in Canada. Ph. D. diss., Carleton University.
Helen Berger has done extensive survey work of our community, but I don't have access to those data at the present moment. I'm fairly sure my University has an e-book version of at least one of her works, but the library website is, tragically, not currently functioning.
