ペイガニズムは、キリスト教徒にとって今日も根深い感情と偏見を呼び起こす言葉です。近年まではキリスト教以外の文化を指す一種の蔑称で、生け贄や野蛮な行為を想像する人もいました。一方で、平和を愛し、地球とのスピリチュアルな関係を重視する自然崇拝の象徴と捉える人もいました。本書では、2000年にわたる異教信奉の起源と歴史をたどって教義を明確にすると共に、その信仰、慣習、教会との関係がどのような変化を遂げてきたのかを見つめなおします。
   

• Explores the history and origins of Paganism
• Reveals attitudes towards the practices of pagans from the ancient world to the present day
• Written in a concise and lively style, providing an engaging introduction
• Discusses various ways in which 'pagan' and 'paganism' have been defined and used from antiquity to the present

  
'Paganism' is an evocative word that, even today, conjures up deep-seated emotions and prejudices. Until recently, it was primarily a derogatory term used by Christians to describe the non-Christian cultures confronted and vanquished by their Churches. For some it evokes images of sacrifice and barbaric behaviour, while for others it symbolises a peace-loving, nature-worshipping spiritual relationship with the earth. 

This Very Short Introduction explores the meaning of paganism - through a chronological overview of the attitudes towards its practices and beliefs - from the ancient world through to the present day. Owen Davies largely looks at paganism through the eyes of the Christian world, and how, over the centuries, notions and representations of its nature were shaped by religious conflict, power struggles, colonialism, and scholarship. 

Despite the expansion of Christianity and Islam, Pagan cultures continue to exist around the world, whilst in the West new formations of paganism constitute one of the fastest-growing religions. Focussing on paganism in Europe, but exploring the nature of paganism globally, Davies looks at how Europeans discovered new cultures through colonial expansion, missionary work, and anthropological study. Contemporary social paganism can be a liberating and social force, and the idea of a global Pagan theology is now on the religious map.