Neopagan Geleneklerde Tarihsel Temeller ve İnanç Sistemleri: Wicca, Neo-Druidizm, Heathenry ve Church of All Worlds Örneği

Yıl 2025, Sayı: 27, 132 - 166, 30.12.2025

Serap Şahin

https://doi.org/10.18498/amailad.1740534

Öz

Öz
Modernleşmeyle birlikte gelişen hızlı sosyal değişim, bireylerin geleneksel dini yapılarla olan ilişkilerini yeniden değerlendirmelerine yol açmış ve bunun sonucunda çeşitli yeni dini hareketler ile modern maneviyat akımları ortaya çıkmıştır. Bu dönüşüm süreci, özellikle bireysel kimlik arayışları, özgürlük talepleri ve sekülerleşmeyle bağlantılı olarak farklı inanç sistemlerine olan ilgiyi artırmıştır. 1960’lardan itibaren Batı dünyasında yaygınlaşmaya başlayan bu yeni dini hareketlerden biri de modern paganizm ya da diğer adıyla neopaganizmdir. Antik pagan inançlarının modern dünyada yeniden yorumlanmasıyla ortaya çıkan bu yeni dini hareket, bireylerin doğayla bütünleşme, çok tanrılı sistemlere yönelme ve spiritüel özgürlük gibi temalar etrafında şekillenen yeni bir dini kimlik inşa etmelerine olanak tanımaktadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, modern dönemde ortaya çıkan Neopagan geleneklerden Wicca, Neo-Druidizm, Heathenry ve Church of All Worlds örneklerini, kültürel referansları, tarihsel temelleri ve inanç sistemleri bağlamında incelemektir. Çalışmada ayrıca söz konusu hareketlerin antik pagan geleneklerle kurdukları bağ ve çağdaş dini yapılar içerisindeki konumları analiz edilmektedir. Bu doğrultuda, araştırmada nitel yöntem kapsamında doküman analizi tekniği kullanılmış olup, ilgili birincil metinler ve ikincil akademik kaynaklar sistematik biçimde taranarak değerlendirilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular, Neopaganizmin özellikle ondokuzuncu yüzyıl sonlarından itibaren, Avrupa’da Rönesans, Reform, Aydınlanma, folklor çalışmaları, antropoloji ve çeşitli gizli toplulukların etkisiyle biçimlenmeye başladığını göstermiştir. İncelenen Neopagan geleneklerin, antik Kelt, Germen, Greko-Romen ve Mezopotamya inanç sistemlerinden esinlenmelerine rağmen, bu yapıların doğrudan bir kültürel süreklilikten ziyade, modern bağlamda şekillendirilen yapılar olduğu ve bu şekillendirme sürecinin hâlen devam ettiği tespit edilmiştir. Neopagan geleneklerin ortak temaları arasında çevreci yaklaşım, çok tanrıcılık ve özgürlük odaklı olma öne çıkarken; tarihsel referanslar, teolojik içerikler ve örgütsel yapılar bakımından önemli ölçüde çeşitlilik gösterdikleri görülmüştür. Çalışma ayrıca, Neopaganizmin sekülerleşme sonrası dönemde bireysel kimlik inşasında ve alternatif topluluk biçimlerinin gelişiminde oynadığı role dikkat çekmektedir. Yeni dinî hareketlerin akademik olarak incelenmesinin, modern toplumlarda inanç, kimlik ve kültürün nasıl yeniden şekillendiğini anlamak açısından taşıdığı önemden hareketle, bu araştırma dinler tarihi disiplini çerçevesinde modern dinî oluşumların anlaşılmasına yönelik güncel bir katkı sunmayı amaçlamaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Dinler Tarihi , Neopaganizm , Wicca , Neo-Druidizm , Heathenry , Church of All Worlds

Historical Foundations and Belief Systems in Neopagan Traditions: The Case of Wicca, Neo-Druidism, Heathenry, and the Church of All Worlds

Öz

Abstract
The rapid social change that developed alongside modernisation led individuals to re-evaluate their relationship with traditional religious structures, resulting in the emergence of various new religious movements and modern spiritual trends. This process of transformation, which is particularly associated with the search for individual identity, demands for autonomy and processes of secularisation, has been accompanied by an increased interest in different belief systems. One of these new religious movements that began spreading in the Western world in the 1960s is modern paganism, also known as Neopaganism. This new religious movement, which has emerged through the reinterpretation of ancient pagan beliefs in the modern world, enables individuals to construct a new religious identity shaped around themes such as integration with nature, a turn toward polytheistic systems, and spiritual freedom. The aim of this study is to examine selected modern neopagan traditions such as Wicca, Neo-Druidism, Heathenry, and the Church of All Worlds in the context of their cultural references, historical foundations, and belief systems. The study also analyses the connection these movements establish with ancient pagan traditions and their position within contemporary religious structures. In this regard, the research employs qualitative document analysis, systematically reviewing and evaluating relevant primary texts and secondary academic sources. The findings reveal that Neopaganism began to take shape in Europe, particularly from the late nineteenth century onwards, under the influence of the Renaissance, the Reformation, the Enlightenment, folklore studies, anthropology, and various secret societies. Although the Neopagan traditions examined draw inspiration from ancient Celtic, Germanic, Greco-Roman, and Mesopotamian belief systems, it is concluded that these structures are shaped within a modern context rather than representing direct cultural continuity, and that this shaping process is still ongoing. While environmentalism, polytheism and a focus on freedom stand out as common themes among Neopagan traditions, they exhibit significant diversity in terms of historical references, theological content and organisational structures. The study also highlights the role Neopaganism plays in the construction of individual identity and the development of alternative community forms in the post-secular period. Building on the importance of academically studying new religious movements for understanding how belief, identity, and culture are reshaped in modern societies, this study aims to offer a contemporary contribution to the understanding of modern religious formations within the discipline of the history of religions.

Anahtar Kelimeler

History of Religions , Neopaganism , Wicca , Neo-Druidism , Heathenry , Church of All Worlds

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