Neo-Paganism, Native Faith and indigenous religion: a case study of Malta within the European context

Abstract

This article surveys European neo‐Pagan and Native Faith movements that have emerged in the context of pan‐regional developments, new political configurations, environmental concerns and globalisation. While all engage with indigeneity, two broad trends are identified under the Pagan/Native Faith umbrella: (1) the adaptation of Anglo‐American Pagan traditions (e.g. Wicca, Druidry, neo‐shamanism, Goddess spirituality) to local contexts, thereby indigenising them in various ways, (2) the reconstruction of indigenous European religious traditions in connection with contemporary identity politics. Against this backdrop, the paper discusses the indigenising project of Maltese neo‐Pagans, a project characterised by adaptation and inventiveness within the local Catholic context.