Reconstructionist Heathenism, Neopaganism and their role in Women Empowerment

Abstract

This paper highlights the reconstructionist heathenism and neopagan movements and their role in women empowerment. Women empowerment has varied meanings. For some it is removing the veil from the head, for some it is going to work to earn for the family and for some it is reviving a faith that has gender balance in it or creating one that has less gender discrimination in it. After the Christianisation of Europe pagan faiths were destroyed or demonised and their followers were either persecuted or demonised to be devil worshippers. All know the story of Eve and then the condition of women who followed non abrahamic faiths in Europe until the age of Enlightenment in Europe. The movement for feminism and women empowerment led to revival of certain ancient beliefs leading to heathen reconstruction and neo paganism. This shows women are trying to revive or make a faith that has no Abrahamic misogynist aspect in it .With cases of rise in faiths that are having the element of veneration to women, with Wicca a faith having a gender balance in the deities gaining popularity in the west or even the Rodnovary movement being led by a chief priestess in the Slavic lands. It is time reconstructionist heathenism and neopaganism are seen as a form of religious empowerment of women.