''The Pomegranate: The International Journal of Pagan Studies'' is a
peer-reviewed
Peer review is the evaluation of work by one or more people with similar competencies as the producers of the work (peers). It functions as a form of self-regulation by qualified members of a profession within the relevant field. Peer review ...
academic journal
An academic journal or scholarly journal is a periodical publication in which scholarship relating to a particular academic discipline is published. Academic journals serve as permanent and transparent forums for the presentation, scrutiny, and d ...
covering the field of
Pagan studies including historical, sociological, and anthropological studies dealing with
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 ...
and other forms of
pagan
Paganism (from classical Latin ''pāgānus'' "rural", "rustic", later "civilian") is a term first used in the fourth century by early Christians for people in the Roman Empire who practiced polytheism, or ethnic religions other than Judaism. ...
religion. Since 2004 the journal has been published by
Equinox Publishing and the
editor-in-chief
An editor-in-chief (EIC), also known as lead editor or chief editor, is a publication's editorial leader who has final responsibility for its operations and policies.
The highest-ranking editor of a publication may also be titled editor, managing ...
is
Chas S. Clifton
Chas S. Clifton (born 1951) is an American academic, author and historian who specialises in the fields of English studies and Pagan studies. Clifton currently holds a teaching position in English at Colorado State University-Pueblo, prior to which ...
(
Colorado State University–Pueblo
Colorado State University Pueblo (CSU Pueblo) is a public university in Pueblo, Colorado. It is a member of the Colorado State University System (CSU System) and a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI).
History 1933 to 1959
The idea for startin ...
).
The journal was established as a scholarly but not fully peer-reviewed publication in 1996 by
Fritz Muntean and
Diana Tracy with the subtitle ''A New Journal of Neopagan Thought''. In 2001 the production of the journal was put on hiatus, as Muntean stepped down as editor, to be replaced by Clifton when it resumed publication, this time as a fully peer-reviewed academic publication and with its current subtitle.
History
The idea for ''The Pomegranate'' was initially developed by Fritz Muntean, a graduate student in
religious studies at the
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a public university, public research university with campuses near Vancouver and in Kelowna, British Columbia. Established in 1908, it is British Columbia's oldest university. The university ranks a ...
in Canada, who started the venture with his friend Diana Tracy, who was then living in Oregon in the United States.
[ Clifton 2004. p. 5.] Initially naming their work ''The Pomegranate: A New Journal of Neopagan Thought'', the stated intention of the publication was to "provide a scholarly venue for the forthright and critical examination of Neopagan beliefs and practices".
From 1996 to 2001, Muntean published 18 issues of ''The Pomegranate'' on a quarterly basis, gaining a growing readership as time went on, particularly after Muntean and Tracy introduced the journal to the assembled members at the third Nature Religions Scholars Network (NRSN), a group which met in conjunction with the annual San Francisco meeting of the
American Academy of Religion
The American Academy of Religion (AAR) is the world's largest association of scholarly method, scholars in the List of academic disciplines, field of religious studies and related topics. It is a nonprofit member association,
serving as a profes ...
.
Muntean eventually decided to move on from his work as editor of ''The Pomegranate'', leaving that position to be occupied by Clifton. Together, Muntean and Clifton searched for a new publisher, in 2003 eventually signing an agreement with Equinox Publishing.
Under Clifton's control, the journal's subtitle was changed to ''The International Journal of Pagan Studies'' and it adopted a peer review structure for the papers which it published.
[ Clifton 2004. p. 6.]
Abstracting and indexing
The journal is abstracted and indexed in
Religious and Theological Abstracts
Religious and Theological Abstracts is a database that indexes many religious and theological journals and other literature. In 2005, one ''Guide to Research'' described it as a "popular reference" , covering more than 600 periodicals in most ma ...
,
Arts & Humanities Citation Index,
Current Contents
''Current Contents'' is a rapid alerting service database from Clarivate Analytics, formerly the Institute for Scientific Information and Thomson Reuters. It is published online and in several different printed subject sections.
History
''Cur ...
/Arts & Humanities, and
Academic Search Premier
Academic Search is a monthly indexing service. It was first published in 1997 by EBSCO Publishing in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Its academic focus is international universities, covering social science, education, psychology, and other subjects. Pu ...
and other
EBSCO databases
EBSCO Information Services, headquartered in Ipswich, Massachusetts, is a division of EBSCO Industries Inc., a private company headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. EBSCO provides products and services to libraries of very many types around the ...
.
See also
*''
Aries: Journal for the Study of Western Esotericism''
*''
Magic, Ritual, and Witchcraft
''Magic, Ritual, and Witchcraft'' is a peer-reviewed academic journal that focuses on magic scholarship. It is published triannually (spring, summer, winter) by the University of Pennsylvania Press. The founding editors were Michael Bailey (Iowa S ...
''
*''
Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions''
References
Footnotes
Bibliography
*
External links
Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pomegranate
Archaeology journals
Religion history journals
Religious studies journals
Biannual journals
Western esotericism studies journals
Equinox Publishing (Sheffield) academic journals
Pagan studies
1990s in modern paganism