Press release: What is paganism in the 21st century?

13 September 2024

Gresham Professor of Divinity, Ronald Hutton, to give lecture on Wednesday, 18 September, online and in central London 

Once, it was a term used to describe someone who was not a Christian, but our understanding of paganism has since evolved.  

This year, Gresham College’s Professor of Divinity, Ronald Hutton, is exploring what it means to be a pagan or practice witchcraft in today’s world.  

The series opens on Wednesday, 18 September, with an exploration of what modern paganism is.  

It includes a look at how paganism relates to witchcraft, Druidry and other phenomena, while also exploring the different traditions that comprise modern paganism.  

Professor Hutton will suggest the ways in which Paganism differs from other religious traditions and what it has especially to offer the modern world. It also addresses the question of its relationship with ancient paganism. 

Introducing his series, Professor Hutton said: “Paganism and pagan beliefs, including witchcraft, should be part of our study of religion and its history.  

“The pre-Christian religions of Europe were major components of human belief for thousands of years, and have left a rich heritage of literature, art and folklore for all subsequent periods including the present. 

“Modern Pagan religions, inspired by the ancient kind and embodying that heritage, have recently become an important dimension of contemporary spirituality, and this lecture series is devoted to exploring their nature, their history and their significance.” 

The lecture will be given at Gresham College’s base in Barnard’s Inn Hall, Holborn, London on Wednesday, 18 September. 

Starting at 6pm, entry is free, and it is also broadcast live online. It will last an hour.  

In-person places can be booked online via Gresham College’s website.  

https://www.gresham.ac.uk/whats-on/modern-paganism 

ENDS 

Notes to Editors  

Pictures available upon request.

For more information about this story or to arrange an interview with a Gresham Professor please contact: Phil Creighton press@gresham.ac.uk  

About Gresham College  
Gresham College has been providing free, educational lectures - at the university level - since 1597 when Sir Thomas Gresham founded the college to bring Renaissance Learning to Londoners. Our history includes some of the luminaries of the scientific revolution including Robert Hooke and Sir Christopher Wren and connects us to the founding of the Royal Society.  

Today we carry on Sir Thomas's vision. The College aims to stimulate intellectual curiosity and to champion academic rigour, professional expertise and freedom of expression. www.gresham.ac.uk  

Gresham College is a registered charity number 1039962 and relies on donations to help us encourage people's love of learning for many years to come. For more details or to make a gift, visit our website. 

About the series Modern Paganism and Witchcraft 
These lectures focus on the new historic role of Britain as the birthplace of a cluster of modern religions inspired by those of pre-Christian Europe, the first completely formed religions that Britain has ever given the world.  

They have spread across Western nations and now represent a major component of contemporary religiosity.  The lectures explain why, when, and how this happened, the characteristics of these modern Pagan traditions and their implications for society and culture.