Association of Polytheist Traditions
Annual Conference 13 May 2006

Issued by the APT, 7 May 2006
Email the APT
or email J. Blain

Polytheism and Animism in Today's Society

The Association of Polytheist Traditions brings together practitioners of 'alternative' religions and scholars to debate the place of Polytheism and Animism in today's Britain and elsewhere.

The keynote for the conference is set by Dr Graham Harvey (Open University), comparing Polytheist religions in Britain and Indigenous spiritualities elsewhere, and 'further refining the "new animism" in relation to possible relationships with significant others'. Dr Harvey defines animism as 'a worldview and lifeway which encourages people to respect a living, relational cosmos' where 'all persons (human and other-than-human) co-create the world moment by moment, act by act.' Does this enable us to re-think relationships with significant animal and plant persons, gods and ancestors - and with other humans?

Topics and talks include:

• Issues of polytheism in Russia and reconstructions in Malta
• Where do magic mushroom spirits come from?
• Religious tensions in Britain in the 5th century - are there lessons for today?
• Polytheism in the landscape
• 'Ancestors' ancient and modern - place, time and remembrance in living landscapes
• Roundtable discussion of 'Trickster' deities

For further information:
Final programme and abstracts for the Association of Polytheist Traditions conference are online at http://www.manygods.org.uk/conference.html

Conference doors open at 9.30 a.m. - Harrington Building, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, Saturday 13th May.
Details including directions are on the conference website.

Conference organised by the APT in association with the University of Central Lancashire Pagan Society.

Press contacts:
Dr. J Blain, 07919 556371

For further information on the APT, its aims and organisation: see www.manygods.org.uk