Papers by Melissa Harrington
Journal of Folklore Research Reviews, May 12, 2011
When reflecting on the 50th anniversary of the cultural revolution it is useful to reflect on its... more When reflecting on the 50th anniversary of the cultural revolution it is useful to reflect on its religious aspects. One such aspect has been the ostensible parallax of the rapid secularisation of society coinciding with the rise of alternative spiritualities. Britain's most successful modern spirituality is contemporary Paganism, which in the 2011 census was shown to be Britain's largest 'other' religion'. This religion has been a crucible of new expressions of love, religion, protest and society, in an underground religious revolution that shared many of the roots of the New Age movement, as well as partially inspiring it. In this twentieth century occult revival protest began with a personal affirmation of cognitive change within the individual, rather than public demands for changes within society. Pagan communities espoused models of diversity, equality, community, feminism and empowerment that foreshadowed many of the society norms of today. Still popularly seen as radically alternative Paganism has become a valid and recognised religion, yet with little recognition of its import or influence, such as the inclusion of Druid ceremonial in the 2012 Olympics. This paper outlines the history of the occult revival, the birth and rapid growth of contemporary Paganism, and takes a close look at its largest Pagan denomination, Modern Pagan Witchcraft. It describes its inception and history, while mapping psychological processes within long-term practice, and analysing them in the light of cognitive dissonance and consistency. It discusses social dimensions of this religion that place it at the heart of societal norms and prominent values of 21st century western society, and help us to understand its evolution from a small group to a worldwide religion in less than seventy years, and an integral spiritual contributor to the last half century of cultural revolution.. When reflecting on the 50th anniversary of the western 'cultural revolution' it is useful to reflect on its spiritual aspects. Spirituality both influences and reflects cultural and political movements, it can be deeply personal, and yet political action is preceded by political belief which is fuelled by personal ideology, a complex interwoven mesh of theoretical rules, goals and aspirations for the belief holder and their society.
The second largest response category in 2011 was no religion, going from 14.8 per cent of the pop... more The second largest response category in 2011 was no religion, going from 14.8 per cent of the population in 2001 to 25.1 per cent in 2011 in England &Wales, thus a growth of 14.1 million people in England and Wales who said they had no religion, with similar patterns in Scotland. Christianity's decline and non-religion's growth support the partial secularization theory of modernity initiating a general decline in religious belief in favour of scientific rationalism.
Pomegranate: The International Journal of Pagan Studies, 2016
Professor Arthur Versluis’ introduction to Western Esotericism provides a clear account of the hi... more Professor Arthur Versluis’ introduction to Western Esotericism provides a clear account of the historical antecedents of contemporary Western Esotericism, interweaving strands and transmission, and scholars who have illuminated this fascinating field. He engagingly explores millennia of history, theology and philosophy, magic, mysticism, esotericism, and the ground between, in a remarkably comprehensive guide. It is simply structured, easily readable and will appeal to a wide audience. Verslius’ discussions extend into many key questions about the academic study of esotericism, making the book a useful addition to any university library.
Study of conversion is as complex and many faceted as the study of religion itself. Heelas asks &... more Study of conversion is as complex and many faceted as the study of religion itself. Heelas asks "How is clear cut conversion, when it occurs, to be explained? It must immediately be noted that the academic community is far from agreed about what could be taking place. Theories abound, ranging from the psychoanalytical to the cognitive. Advocates of different theories are committed to different accounts of human nature, ranging from the behaviouristic to the voluntaristic. Indeed there is so much diversity, with so little advance on the front of finding evidence which conclusively counts either for or against particular claims, that some academics have suggested that the best strategy is to be agnostic for the time being on the matter of what exactly generates change" (Heelas 1996: 186).
Professor Arthur Versluis’ introduction to Western Esotericism provides a clear account of the hi... more Professor Arthur Versluis’ introduction to Western Esotericism provides a clear account of the historical antecedents of contemporary Western Esotericism, interweaving strands and transmission, and scholars who have illuminated this fascinating field. He engagingly explores millennia of history, theology and philosophy, magic, mysticism, esotericism, and the ground between, in a remarkably comprehensive guide. It is simply structured, easily readable and will appeal to a wide audience. Verslius’ discussions extend into many key questions about the academic study of esotericism, making the book a useful addition to any university library.
Pomegranate: The International Journal of Pagan Studies, 2015
Pomegranate: The International Journal of Pagan Studies, 2016
Usage of any items from the University of Cumbria's institutional repository 'Insight' must confo... more Usage of any items from the University of Cumbria's institutional repository 'Insight' must conform to the following fair usage guidelines. Any item and its associated metadata held in the University of Cumbria's institutional repository Insight (unless stated otherwise on the metadata record) may be copied, displayed or performed, and stored in line with the JISC fair dealing guidelines (available here) for educational and not-for-profit activities provided that • the authors, title and full bibliographic details of the item are cited clearly when any part of the work is referred to verbally or in the written form • a hyperlink/URL to the original Insight record of that item is included in any citations of the work • the content is not changed in any way • all files required for usage of the item are kept together with the main item file. You may not • sell any part of an item • refer to any part of an item without citation • amend any item or contextualise it in a way that will impugn the creator's reputation • remove or alter the copyright statement on an item. The full policy can be found here.
This is a short description of Wiccan sexuality, written for the Springer Encyclopedia of Psychol... more This is a short description of Wiccan sexuality, written for the Springer Encyclopedia of Psychology and Religion, edited by David A Leeming (pp 1638-1641). It locates Wicca's ethos and practice as contemporaneous with the twentieth century secular milieu from which Wicca emerged, yet encompassing traditional Western esoteric philosophy, with some eastern influence.
This reflexive biography discusses how discovering Wicca initiated a dual learning process within... more This reflexive biography discusses how discovering Wicca initiated a dual learning process within the international magical community and the Academy. It describes an ongoing dynamic of personal, intellectual and spiritual development within the context of two communities, and examines perceptions and experiences of the personal, public and contested interactions of scholar and practitioner. It demonstrates the complexities of belonging to, and choosing association with, perceived communities, and how these choices influence methodological and theoretical choices in research and publishing. It highlights the dichotic and unnatural simplicity of the “insider/outsider” position, particularly within our own culture, and some of the pressures on people who identify as members of both communities. It concludes by recommending Graham Harvey’s concept of “guesthood” when working with any community, and argues that in researching our own culture in our own language it is not only easy and polite to share conclusions and invite response from the researched, but recommended in order to produce work with greater depth that avoids problematical assumptions of the researcher as superior and detached. The paper also discusses the development of Pagan Studies, and how the study of contemporary Paganism is beginning to contribute new challenges, methods and tools to the academic study of religion.
Handbook of New Age, 2007
PAGANISM AND THE NEW AGE Melissa Harrington This chapter focuses upon discourse on Paganism and t... more PAGANISM AND THE NEW AGE Melissa Harrington This chapter focuses upon discourse on Paganism and the New Age, reviewing important studies, and discussing critical views on the rela-tionship between these two spiritualities. The main problem in such discourse is that ...
This paper describes how contemporary urban folklore about “elf knots” or “witch knots” in horses... more This paper describes how contemporary urban folklore about “elf knots” or “witch knots” in horses’ manes has endured almost unchanged since Shakespeare wrote “That is the very Mab that plaits the manes of horses in the night, And bakes the elflocks in foul sluttish hairs, which once untangled, much misfortune bodes.” The paper outlines how this myth has been perpetuated by the popular press and the police. It discusses how the folklore is repeatedly dismissed by equine experts, and The Pagan Federation, yet regularly surfaces. Medical and practical causes for a horse to appear “hag-ridden”, and natural causes for elf knots are explained, and there is a discussion of how horse mane braiding myths relate to contemporary fears and fantasies. The paper then considers how a much darker urban folkore is evolving in which random sadistic acts upon horses are attributed to Satanic ritual, with maintaining factors of inaccurate and sensationalistic reportage, “experts” seeking publicity, and false information regarding “Satanism” being created and promoted by Christian extremists. It concludes that the folklore of fairies, witches or thieves mane braiding will die out due to better information via social networking, but that newer urban folklore on satanic attacks may endure, as the “spiritual warfare” that inspired the satanic panic of the 1980s is ongoing, and when linked to media hype makes for a potent source of story telling.
Book Reviews by Melissa Harrington
Malcolm Gaskill has attempted the impossible in writing a short introduction to the history of wi... more Malcolm Gaskill has attempted the impossible in writing a short introduction to the history of witchcraft, which encompasses social, cultural and political explanations for witchcraft beliefs and crazes throughout the ages. He has succeeded magnificently. This pocket book eloquently and clearly introduces and summarizes the theories and theorists of the historical study of witchcraft. His account is concise enough to stand alone, but also a great introduction to the work of other scholars in the field, with excellent recommended reading. Eight chapters are titled Fear, Heresy, Malice, Truth, Justice, Rage, Fantasy and Culture. Gaskill considers witchcraft as culturally durable, with a volatile ontological status that reflects the timeless anxieties of ever-changing society. 'Fear' introduces the liminal ambiguity of the witch-the monstrous supernatural agent who is also human, and who has been with us throughout history. In 'Heresy' authority and orthodoxy are discussed, particularly looking at increased witchcraft persecutions as barometers of social and political turmoil, from the Greek and Roman times until today. 'Malice' looks at the image of the witch as a cultural hybrid of popular and scholarly tradition, and discusses case studies from various witch trials. It examines the association of women with witchcraft, in relation to female vulnerability, misogyny, Christian demonization of pagan deities, and times of 'gender crisis'. It also looks at beliefs of malefic magic, explaining the rationale of such beliefs in terms of the eras and cultures in which they manifested, weaving this with an account of how explanations have varied within academic disciplines and research paradigms. The fourth chapter, 'Truth', describes the history of belief in witchcraft, discussing how such belief can be visceral rather than cerebral, and has been shaped by material conditions, social relations, institutions and ideologies. More case studies are used to guide the reader through the witch trials of early modern Europe, with reference to leading academic studies. Gaskill is clearly immersed in, and enchanted by, his chosen field of research. 'Justice' begins with the description of how he sees the dust covered records of witch hunts turn into colorful accounts of magic, and life and death. His enthusiasm for the subject helps to make what could be dull material as fascinating for the reader as it is for him. However he maintains his scholarly elucidation throughout, considering how such records are decontextualised twice, by early modern courts looking for evidence of demonic malice, and by historians with research agendas. He discusses how legal and historical truths about witchcraft are shaped by governors, those governed, and those that report and study it. He looks at changing laws on witchcraft through the ages, and socioeconomic links to patterns in witch hunting, the methods of finding evidence, and punishing those convicted. He challenges some of the popular myths about the witch craze, and shows why the statistics of those convicted are currently understood to be much lower than was once thought. Chapter six, 'Rage', depicts the worst excesses of the early modern witch craze while contextualizing them politically, psychologically and sociologically in the light of
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Papers by Melissa Harrington
Book Reviews by Melissa Harrington