Abstract:

Pagans constitute a minority of long standing in society; even in Lithuania, the last state of Europe to be Christianized, they've endured for over six hundred years. This persistence probably indicates that the movement meets certain religious and spiritual needs in society, but may also reflect something about how Pagans function as a movement. Here we report an ethnographic investigation of a Pagan group in Lithuania where we find evidence for a Pagan ideological influence on the movement's organizational functioning. These Pagans not only seek inspiration in their national heritage and folklore but in the concept of darna, which relates to harmony, morality, honor, and fruitfulness. Our research shows that darna is one factor affecting a Pagan group’s organization and functioning.

Author: Egidija Ramanauskaite, Rimas Vaišnys