American Heathens: The Politics of Identity in a Pagan Religious Movement

American Heathens is the first in-depth ethnographic study about the largely misunderstood practice of American Heathenry (Germanic Paganism). Jennifer Snook--who has been Pagan since her early teens and a Heathen since eighteen--traces the development and trajectory of Heathenry as a new religious movement in America, one in which all identities are political and all politics matter.

Snook explores the complexities of pagan reconstruction and racial, ethnic and gender identity in today's divisive political climate. She considers the impact of social media on Heathen collectivities, and offers a glimpse of the world of Heathen meanings, rituals, and philosophy.

In American Heathens, Snook presents the stories and perspectives of modern practitioners in engaging detail. She treats Heathens as members of a religious movement, rather than simply a subculture reenacting myths and stories of enchantment. Her book shrewdly addresses how people construct ethnicity in a reconstructionist (historically-minded) faith system with no central authority.

Author: Jennifer Snook
Publisher: Temple University Press
Published: 06/12/2015
Pages: 242
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.72lbs
Size: 9.07h x 5.79w x 0.39d
ISBN13: 9781439910979
ISBN10: 1439910979
BISAC Categories:
- Social Science | Sociology of Religion
- Religion | Paganism & Neo-Paganism
- Social Science | Anthropology | Cultural & Social

About the Author
Jennifer Snook is an Instructional Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Mississippi.