PAGANISM: THREE APPROACHES TO CONCEPTUALIZATION

Abstract

The article examines the use of the term «paganism» in the framework of academic research on the religion of the ancient Slavs and modern neopaganism. The history of the term is briefly traced. Three main conceptualizations of paganism are analyzed. Phenomenological conceptualization is based on the ideas of neopagans and сhristians themselves about what paganism is. Functionalist conceptualization abstracts from people's ideas and reduces paganism to its social functions as a religious institution that unites the community. The constructivist conceptualization considers paganism as an identity that arises as a result of a clash between representatives of pre-сhristian religions and сhristians. The author comes to the conclusion that all three conceptualizations and all three approaches are equally necessary for a deeper study of paganism and neopaganism.