This interdisciplinary workshop explores the revival of ancient religions in Europe, examining their resurgence, dissemination, institutional recognition, and sociopolitical impact. As non-monotheistic beliefs—polytheism, paganism, and animism—gain renewed interest and are increasingly leveraged in identity debates, this initiative brings together researchers from across Europe for a cross-disciplinary investigation of these evolving dynamics.

Presentation

This interdisciplinary workshop, drawing on sociology, anthropology, history, as well as legal and political sciences, aims to explore the reconstruction of ancient religions across Europe in its broadest sense. The recognition of emerging religious trends is a critical political and legal process that merits analysis within the framework of contemporary European societal structures.

At the intersection of these disciplines, this workshop seeks to illuminate the dynamics of religious revival, their modes of dissemination, institutional recognition, and the political and social challenges they bring. In light of the growing interest in belief systems beyond monotheistic traditions, such as polytheism, paganism, and animist traditions, and their instrumentalization in contemporary debates on identity, culture, and nationhood, this project aims to bring together European researchers for a collective and cross-disciplinary reflection on the implications of these phenomena.

Program

April 3^rd

9:00 – 9:30 | Welcoming Address and Opening Remarks

• Mélanie Schmitt, University of Strasbourg, Head of the DRES Research Centre

9:30 – 10:45 | Session 1

• Kaarina Aitamurto, University of Helsinki: European Slavic Native Faith and Social Recognition
• Fredrik Gregorius, Linköping University: The Many Faces of Heathen Spirituality

10:45 – 11:00 | Coffee Break

11:00 – 12:15 | Session 2

• Michael Strmiska, SUNY Orange: Arguing with the Ancestors: Making the Case for a Paganism without Racism
• Kerem Görkem Arslan, University of Strasbourg: Crossroads of Neo-Paganism: The Claims of European and Turkic Neo-Pagan Movements in Turkish Society

12:15 – 14:00 | Lunch Break

14:00 – 15:30 | Session 3

• Efstathios Kessareas, University of Erfurt: Hellenic Polytheism in Contemporary Greece: Hellenicity/Greekness as an Apple of Discord
• Michal Puchovský, Slovak Academy of Sciences: The Joys and Sorrows of Being a Pagan: Legal, Social, and Political Recognition of Modern Paganism in Slovakia

15:30 – 15:45 | Coffee Break

15:45 – 17:15 | Roundtable Discussion: Societal Impact

Moderator: Kerem Görkem Arslan

• Speakers: Kaarina Aitamurto, Jenny Butler, Rasa Pranskevičiūtė-Amoson, Michael Strmiska, Anne-Laure Zwilling

17:30 | End of Day

April 4^th

09:00 – 10:15 | Session 4

• Eva Arnaszus, University of Bremen: Legitimizing Religion: How Romuva is Discursively Constructed in Lithuanian Parliamentary Debates
• Scott Simpson, Jagiellonian University: Recognition of Rodzimowierstwo in Poland in Theory and Practice

10:15 – 10:30 | Coffee Break

10:30 – 11:45 | Session 5

• Jenny Butler, University College Cork: ‘And Ancient Ireland Knew It All’: Ancestors, Antiquity and Contemporary Irish Paganism
• Rasa Pranskevičiūtė-Amoson, Vilnius University: The Old Baltic Faith Romuva Movement and State Recognition

11:45 – 13:30 | Lunch Break

13:30 – 14:15 | Book Overview: Druidism, Tengrism, Taaraism: Current Reactivations of Ancient Spiritualities and Religions, From Identity to Politics.

• Anne-Laure Zwilling, CNRS

14:15 – 14:45 | Concluding Remarks: Future Directions for Research on Religious and Spiritual Movements in Europe

• Samim Akgönül, University of Strasbourg

15:00 | End of Workshop

Useful information

• Date: April 3-4, 2025
• Venue: MISHA, Salle Europe, University of Strasbourg
• Hybrid Format: Available both in-person and online

Register here:
In-person: https://evento.renater.fr/survey/in-person-participat...-p4yqjf15
Online: https://evento.renater.fr/survey/online-participation...-l6lpfwwl

Contacts

• Kerem Görkem Arslan: kg.arslan[at]unistra.fr 
• Samim Akgönül: akgonul[at]unistra.fr

Organizing Committee

• Kerem Görkem Arslan, Samim Akgönül
• Scientific Committee
• Kerem Görkem Arslan
• Samim Akgönül
• Anne-Laure Zwilling