Vernacular Religion, Contemporary Spirituality and Emergent Identities: Lessons from Lauri Honko

Marion Bowman

doi:10.30664/ar.67542

Abstract

This article examines lessons which can still be learned from Professor Lauri Honko’s research and writings, particularly for those working at the interstices of folklore and religious studies who appreciate the mutually enriching relationship between the two fields which has been the hallmark of modern Finnish and Nordic scholarship. Three broad areas are considered here by way of illustration: the importance of studying belief and the continuing utility of genre as a tool of research; the use of folklore and material culture in the formation of cultural and spiritual identities in the contemporary milieu; and tradition ecology in relation to Celtic spirituality.

Highlights

In the course of the 2013 conference ‘The Role of Theory in Folkloristics and Comparative Religion’, it became clear that there were many personal experi ence narratives (PENs) – and possibly even legends – concerning Professor Lauri Honko
We can see issues raised and factors highlighted by Lauri Honko, such as the importance of both natural environment and cultural context; the significance of individual creativity and instrumen tality in relation to tradition; the stress on process and practice
I suggest that vernacular religion builds on expertise and insights from both fields, which in many ways complements issues raised and factors highlighted by Lauri Honko

Summary

Lessons from Lauri Honko

This article examines lessons which can still be learned from Professor Lauri Honko’s research and writings, for those working at the interstices of folklore and religious studies who appreciate the mutually enriching relationship between the two fields which has been the hallmark of modern Finnish and Nordic scholarship. Three broad areas are considered here by way of illustration: the importance of studying belief and the continuing utility of genre as a tool of research; the use of folklore and material culture in the formation of cultural and spiritual identities in the contemporary milieu; and tradition ecology in relation to Celtic spirituality

Introduction

Vernacular religion

Genre and the study of belief

One reason to be aware of the nuances of narrative

From fakelore to tradition

Conclusion