Abstract

The modern manifestation of paganism is called the neo-pagan movement to distinguish it from the great mass of ancient or aboriginal religions that are also lumped together as pagan. The distinguishing feature of the neo-pagan movement is that it can trace its roots through the publications of various authors beginning in the 19th century. One of the most important new religious movements is the Dianic tradition. It started in the United States in the 1960’s during the feminist movement. While it can claim its roots all the way back to Stone Age matrilineal cultures – and while goddess worshipping -it was really the combination of Starhawk and Z. Budapest that launched what is known today as the Dianic “tradition”. However, they stood on theshoulders of the neo pagan revival of the 19th and early 20th centuries. There have been tensions between neopaganism proper and feminist spirituality that have tended over the long run to make neopaganism even more tolerant, andfeminist spirituality more open.