Academia & the Goddess Movement

As an academic it is important for me to know, for knowledge's sake, what practices and beliefs are authentic to the past and which ones are modern developments. Those involved with the NeoPagan Goddess movement often rely on research regarding ancient religions that interest them, in an attempt to imitate them as authentically as possible. Others may take note of information, from both academic and popular sources, and redirect it for their own interepretations and uses, without much focus on historical authenticity or active debates. The purpose of this thesis is not to analyse which of these approaches is the more valid or spiritually fulfilling; instead it aims to identify the relationship between followers of the Goddess cults and academic research, both in ideology and practice. This will highlight the impact that this relationship has had on contemporary western perceptions of the ancient Mediterraean.

Contemporary Goddess Cults - Titles

Historical reconstructionism and the contemporary innovation of ancient Mediterranean religion in the Western NeoPagan Goddess Movement.

The NeoPagan Goddess movement and its relationship between historical reconstructionism and contemporary innovation regarding ancient Mediterraean Goddess cults and archaeology.

The modern interpretation and revival of ancient Mediterranean Goddess cults in the Western world.

The impact of archaeology and scholarly research on the modern manifestation of Goddess cults inspired from the ancient Mediterraean. 

The relationship between the archaeology and research of the ancient Mediterranean, and the modern NeoPagan Goddess movement in the west.  

The NeoPagan Goddess movement in the western world* and its relationship with the field of archaeology and the interpretation of ancient Mediterranean religion/religion in the ancient world.**


*What cultural groups will I be focusing on specifically? The UK/ US / Western Europe / Mediterranean?
**Initially planning to study Mediterranean Goddess cults - which in itself constitutes many countries. If I am focusing on the interaction with academia though then there may be space to open this up to other cults from Western Europe?

I am particularly interested in how the old meets the new. I have found that modern worshippers/practitioners/devotees/clergy often find value in the perceived antiquity of their spiritual path. I am interested in identifying the authentic and the contemporary, with it in mind that both could be valid and fulfilling. I also question why these people are called to practice/worship something antique in the first place, and what relevance they find in their modern lives.

Questions: 

1. To what extent are these cults being revived or re-interpreted today?
2. Why are these ancient, foreign cults being revived and interpreted today?
3. What is the impact of this revival on literature, politics and social identity?