Michael York is a UK-based American
Religious Studies scholar who specializes in the study of pre-Christian European religion and its relation to
contemporary Paganism
Modern paganism, also known as contemporary paganism and neopaganism, is a term for a religion or family of religions influenced by the various historical pre-Christian beliefs of pre-modern peoples in Europe and adjacent areas of North Afric ...
. In 2003, he published ''
Pagan Theology
''Pagan Theology: Paganism as a World Religion'' is a taxonomical study of various world religions which argues for a new definition of the word "paganism". It was written by the British religious studies scholar Michael York of Bath Spa Universit ...
'', in which he put forward the idea that the ancient pre-Christian and pre-Islamic religions of Eurasia, indigenous religions from across the globe, and contemporary Pagan faiths could all be constituted as forms of
paganism
Paganism (from classical Latin ''pāgānus'' "rural", "rustic", later "civilian") is a term first used in the fourth century by early Christianity, early Christians for people in the Roman Empire who practiced polytheism, or ethnic religions ot ...
. Michael York participated in TEDxLambeth 2019 as a speaker.
Personal life
Describing his own religious beliefs and his affection for paganism, York remarked that:
:If I had to name my own denominational predilection, I would say that I am a "religionist." I believe in religion itself and its central role in expanding human consciousness above and beyond immediate daily concerns. I see religion as an ongoing dialogue that questions the purpose of life and our terrestrial incarnations. In my own pursuit and love of religion as religion, I have been particularly attracted to paganism not only as the source and origin of all religion but also as an organic alternative to the institutionalized and parochial insularity that much religious expression has become.
[ York 2003. p. ix.]
Bibliography
Books
References
Footnotes
Bibliography
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{{DEFAULTSORT:York, Michael
Pagan studies scholars
American religion academics
Living people
American expatriate academics
American modern pagans
Modern pagan writers
Year of birth missing (living people)