Pagan Prayer and Worship: A Qualitative Study of Perceptions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1558/pome.v15i1-2.178Keywords:
Paganism, prayer, worship.Abstract
This article reports on an exploratory qualitative project exploring how the concepts of "prayer” and “worship” are understood by those who identify as Pagan in the UK. There were more than four hundred completed responses to an online survey containing a modified version of the Attitude to prayer scale. We found that although respondents raised issues in relation to the use of the terms, “prayer” and “worship”, in relation to Pagan practice, the majority were in agreement that they did, by their own definitions, both pray and worship.References
Beaman, Lori G. “The Myth of Pluralism, Diversity, and Vigor: The Constitutional Privilege of Protestantism in the United States and Canada.” Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 42, no. 3 (2003): 311–25. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1468-5906.00183
Berger, Helen A. “The Routinization of Spontaneity.” Sociology of Religion 56, no. 1 (1995): 49–61. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3712038
Braun, Virginia, and Victoria Clarke. “Using Thematic Analysis in Psychology.” Qualitative Research in Psychology 3, no. 2 (2006): 77–101. http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Davidsen, Markus Altena.”What is Wrong with Pagan Studies?” Method and Theory in the Study of Religion 24, no. 2 (2012): 183–99. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/157006812X634881
Ezzy, Douglas. “Religious Ethnography: Practicing the Witch’s Craft.” In Researching Paganisms, edited by Jenny Blain, Douglas Ezzy, and Graham Harvey, 113–28. Walnut Creek, Calif.: 2004.
Frith, Hannah, and Kate Gleeson. “Clothing and Embodiment: Men Managing Body Image and Appearance.” Psychology of Men & Masculinity 5, no 1 (2004): 40–48. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/1524-9220.5.1.40
Gallagher, Eugene V. “A Religion without Converts? Becoming a Neo-Pagan.” Journal of the American Academy of Religion 62, no. 3 (1994): 851–67. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jaarel/LXII.3.851
Glaser, Barney G. “The Future of Grounded Theory.” Qualitative Health Research 9, no. 6 (1999): 836–45. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/104973299129122199
Hawkins, Craig. Goddess Worship, Witchcraft, and Neo-Paganism. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1998.
Holloway, Immy, and Les Todres. “The Status of Method: Flexibility, Consistency and Coherence.” Qualitative Research 3, no. 3 (2003): 345–57. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1468794103033004
Hutton, Ronald. The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198207443.001.0001
James, William. The Varieties of Religious Experience, vols. 13, 15. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1985.
Jencson, Linda. “Neopaganism and the Great Mother Goddess: Anthropology as Midwife to a New Religion.” Anthropology Today 5, no. 2 (1989): 2–4. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3033137
Jensen, Gary F., and Ashley Thompson. “‘Out of the Broom Closet’: The Social Ecology of American Wicca.” Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 7, no. 4 (2008): 753–66. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-5906.2008.00439.x
Jones, Prudence. “Contemporary Paganism: An Insider’s Analysis.” Journal of Alternative Spiritualities and New Age Studies 2 (2006): 132–51.
Lingard, Lorelei, Mathieu Albert, and Wendy Levinson. “Grounded Theory, Mixed Methods, and Action Research.” British Medical Journal 337 (2008): 459–61. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39602.690162.47
McIntosh, Christopher. “The Pagan Revival and Its Prospects.” Futures 36, no. 9 (2004): 1037–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2004.02.002
Meraviglia, Martha. “Effects of Spirituality in Breast Cancer Survivors.” Oncology Nursing Forum 33, no. 1 (2006): 1–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1188/06.ONF.E1-E7
Office of National Statistics. Focus on Religion. London: www.statistics.gov.uk, 2004.
Pagan Federation. The Pagan Federation 2009, http://www.paganfed.org/.
Primiano, Leonard Norman. “Vernacular Religion and the Search for Method in Religious Folklife.” Western Folklore 54, no. 1 (1995): 37–56. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1499910
Raduescu, Corina, and Irir Vessey. “Analysis of Current Grounded Theory Method Practices.” In Business Information Systems Working Paper Series, University of Sydney, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/2123/7225
Rezaei, M., M. Adib-Hajbaghery, N. Seyedfatemi and F. Hoseini. “Prayer in Iranian Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy.” Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice 14 , no. 2 (2008): 90–97. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2008.01.001
Rountree, Kathryn. “Localizing Neo-Paganism: Integrating Global And Indigenous Traditions In A Mediterranean Catholic Society.” Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute 17, no. 4 (2011): 846–72. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9655.2011.01722.x
Serith, Ceisiwr. A Book of Pagan Prayer. Boston: Weiser Books, 2002.
Strauss, Anselm, and Juliet Corbin. Basics of Qualitative Research: Grounded Theory Procedures and Techniques. Newbury Park, Calif.: Sage Publications, 1990.
Turton, D. W., and L. J. Francis. 2007. “The Relationship between Attitude toward Prayer and Professional Burnout Among Anglican Parochial Clergyin England: Are Praying Clergy Healthier Clergy?” Mental Health, Religion & Culture 10, no. 1 (2007): 61–74. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13674670601012246
Urquhart, C., H. Lehmann, and M. D. Myers. “Putting the ‘Theory’ Back into Grounded Theory: Guidelines for Grounded Theory Studies in Information Systems.” Information Systems Journal 20, no. 4 (2009): 357–81. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2575.2009.00328.x
Versnel, H. S. “Some Reflections on the Relationship Magic-Religion.” Numen 38, no. 2 (1991): 177–97. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/156852791X00114
Williams, Emyr, Leslie J. Francis, and Ursula Billington. “The Williams Scale of Attitude toward Paganism: Development and Application among British Pagans.” Archive for the Psychology of Religion 32, no. 2 (2010): 179–93. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/157361210X500900
Winston, Kimberly. Bead One, Pray Too: A Guide to Making and Using Prayer Beads. Harrisburg, Pa.: Morehouse Publishing, 2008.
York, Michael. “Wanting to Have Your New Age Cake and Eat It Too.” Journal of Alternative Spiritualities and New Age Studies 1 (2005): 15–34.
Berger, Helen A. “The Routinization of Spontaneity.” Sociology of Religion 56, no. 1 (1995): 49–61. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3712038
Braun, Virginia, and Victoria Clarke. “Using Thematic Analysis in Psychology.” Qualitative Research in Psychology 3, no. 2 (2006): 77–101. http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Davidsen, Markus Altena.”What is Wrong with Pagan Studies?” Method and Theory in the Study of Religion 24, no. 2 (2012): 183–99. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/157006812X634881
Ezzy, Douglas. “Religious Ethnography: Practicing the Witch’s Craft.” In Researching Paganisms, edited by Jenny Blain, Douglas Ezzy, and Graham Harvey, 113–28. Walnut Creek, Calif.: 2004.
Frith, Hannah, and Kate Gleeson. “Clothing and Embodiment: Men Managing Body Image and Appearance.” Psychology of Men & Masculinity 5, no 1 (2004): 40–48. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/1524-9220.5.1.40
Gallagher, Eugene V. “A Religion without Converts? Becoming a Neo-Pagan.” Journal of the American Academy of Religion 62, no. 3 (1994): 851–67. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jaarel/LXII.3.851
Glaser, Barney G. “The Future of Grounded Theory.” Qualitative Health Research 9, no. 6 (1999): 836–45. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/104973299129122199
Hawkins, Craig. Goddess Worship, Witchcraft, and Neo-Paganism. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1998.
Holloway, Immy, and Les Todres. “The Status of Method: Flexibility, Consistency and Coherence.” Qualitative Research 3, no. 3 (2003): 345–57. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1468794103033004
Hutton, Ronald. The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198207443.001.0001
James, William. The Varieties of Religious Experience, vols. 13, 15. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1985.
Jencson, Linda. “Neopaganism and the Great Mother Goddess: Anthropology as Midwife to a New Religion.” Anthropology Today 5, no. 2 (1989): 2–4. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3033137
Jensen, Gary F., and Ashley Thompson. “‘Out of the Broom Closet’: The Social Ecology of American Wicca.” Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 7, no. 4 (2008): 753–66. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-5906.2008.00439.x
Jones, Prudence. “Contemporary Paganism: An Insider’s Analysis.” Journal of Alternative Spiritualities and New Age Studies 2 (2006): 132–51.
Lingard, Lorelei, Mathieu Albert, and Wendy Levinson. “Grounded Theory, Mixed Methods, and Action Research.” British Medical Journal 337 (2008): 459–61. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39602.690162.47
McIntosh, Christopher. “The Pagan Revival and Its Prospects.” Futures 36, no. 9 (2004): 1037–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2004.02.002
Meraviglia, Martha. “Effects of Spirituality in Breast Cancer Survivors.” Oncology Nursing Forum 33, no. 1 (2006): 1–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1188/06.ONF.E1-E7
Office of National Statistics. Focus on Religion. London: www.statistics.gov.uk, 2004.
Pagan Federation. The Pagan Federation 2009, http://www.paganfed.org/.
Primiano, Leonard Norman. “Vernacular Religion and the Search for Method in Religious Folklife.” Western Folklore 54, no. 1 (1995): 37–56. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1499910
Raduescu, Corina, and Irir Vessey. “Analysis of Current Grounded Theory Method Practices.” In Business Information Systems Working Paper Series, University of Sydney, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/2123/7225
Rezaei, M., M. Adib-Hajbaghery, N. Seyedfatemi and F. Hoseini. “Prayer in Iranian Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy.” Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice 14 , no. 2 (2008): 90–97. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2008.01.001
Rountree, Kathryn. “Localizing Neo-Paganism: Integrating Global And Indigenous Traditions In A Mediterranean Catholic Society.” Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute 17, no. 4 (2011): 846–72. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9655.2011.01722.x
Serith, Ceisiwr. A Book of Pagan Prayer. Boston: Weiser Books, 2002.
Strauss, Anselm, and Juliet Corbin. Basics of Qualitative Research: Grounded Theory Procedures and Techniques. Newbury Park, Calif.: Sage Publications, 1990.
Turton, D. W., and L. J. Francis. 2007. “The Relationship between Attitude toward Prayer and Professional Burnout Among Anglican Parochial Clergyin England: Are Praying Clergy Healthier Clergy?” Mental Health, Religion & Culture 10, no. 1 (2007): 61–74. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13674670601012246
Urquhart, C., H. Lehmann, and M. D. Myers. “Putting the ‘Theory’ Back into Grounded Theory: Guidelines for Grounded Theory Studies in Information Systems.” Information Systems Journal 20, no. 4 (2009): 357–81. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2575.2009.00328.x
Versnel, H. S. “Some Reflections on the Relationship Magic-Religion.” Numen 38, no. 2 (1991): 177–97. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/156852791X00114
Williams, Emyr, Leslie J. Francis, and Ursula Billington. “The Williams Scale of Attitude toward Paganism: Development and Application among British Pagans.” Archive for the Psychology of Religion 32, no. 2 (2010): 179–93. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/157361210X500900
Winston, Kimberly. Bead One, Pray Too: A Guide to Making and Using Prayer Beads. Harrisburg, Pa.: Morehouse Publishing, 2008.
York, Michael. “Wanting to Have Your New Age Cake and Eat It Too.” Journal of Alternative Spiritualities and New Age Studies 1 (2005): 15–34.
Published
2014-08-12
Issue
Section
Articles
How to Cite
Goodall, J., Williams, E., & Goodall, C. (2014). Pagan Prayer and Worship: A Qualitative Study of Perceptions. Pomegranate, 15(1-2), 178-201. https://doi.org/10.1558/pome.v15i1-2.178
