MICHAEL YORK
Cultural Astronomy and Astrology
Bath Spa University
Newton Park, Newton St. Loe
Bath BA2 9BN
Great Britain
-
18A Whitelands House
Cheltenham Terrace / King's Road
London SW3 4QX
Great Britain
home phone: (44) ‑ (0)20 ‑ 7730 0911
mobile: (44) – (0)7380 - 341133
Paris phone: (33) - 1 - 42.71.35.39
Amsterdam phone: (31) - (0)20 - 625 7662
Midi phone: (33) - 494.70.00.73
Midi fax: (33) - 494.84.01.13
e-mail: exchange@michaelyork.co.uk
EDUCATION:
King's College, University of London (1989‑92).
Ph.D. in Religious Studies (1992).
Thesis: A Sociological Profile on the New Age and Neo‑pagan Movements.
Supervisor: Dr. Peter B. Clarke.
Examiners: Dr. Bryan Wilson (All Souls College, University of Oxford) and Dr. Paul Heelas (University of Lancaster) (22 November 1991).
San Francisco State University (1965‑70).
M.A. in Social Science: International Relations.
Thesis: Political Integration of the Multilingual State Focussing on the Republic of India.
Supervisor: Dr. Devere Pentony.
University of California Santa Barbara (1959‑61).
B.A. in English.
Other educational institutions attended:
Mysore School of Traditional Indian Yoga, Mysore, India (1981).
University of California Los Angeles (1963‑1964).
The Goethe Institut, Graffing, Bavaria (1962).
University of California Berkeley (1960).
New York University (1959).
Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana (1957‑1959).
Specialized Doctoral Field: Sociology of new religious movements.
Contextual Fields: Sociology of Religion, History of Religions, Theology, Ethnology.
Related Interests: Religious Studies, Comparative Religion, Philosophy of Religion, Comparative Mythology, Indo‑European Studies, Postmodernism, International Relations.
ACADEMIC AND RELATED EXPERIENCES:
2002- 2004 Principal Lecturer/Professor, Centre for the Study of Cultural Astronomy and Astrology, Bath Spa University, Study of Religions
1996- 2002 Research Fellow, Bath Spa University College, Study of Religions
1994 Visiting Scholar, University of California Santa Barbara, College of Creative Studies.
1971 Visiting Scholar, Kosmos Centrum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
1966‑1967 Teaching Assistant, San Francisco State University.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS:
American Academy of Religion (http://www.aarweb.org/)
American Sociology Association (http://www.asanet.org/)
Association for the Sociology of Religion (http://www.sociologyofreligion.com/)
...........(Chair, International Coordination Committee 2004)
British Association for the Study of Religion (http://www.basr.ac.uk/)
British Sociological Association (http://www.britsoc.co.uk/)
International Society for the Sociology of Religion (http://www.sisr.org/)
Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (International Committee)(http://www.sssrweb.org/)
International Society for the Study of Religion, Nature and Culture (http://www.religionandnature.com/society/)
TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
At the Cherry Hill Seminary: World Religions from a Pagan Perspective (Department of Theology and Religious History)
At the Bath Spa University:
Sacred Geography, Contemporary Issues, Sociology of Religion, New Religions, New Religious Movements, Paganism and New Age, New Age, Contemporary Paganism (Study of Religions)
At the University of California, Santa Barbara:
Postmodern Indo‑European Studies (Creative Studies)
At the Himalayan Yogic Institute:
Sociology and Religion (Religious Studies, Sociology of Religion)
PUBLICATIONS:
Books
Pagan Mysticism: Paganism as a World Religion (Newcastle Upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2019) – a comparison of pagan mysticism with the mystical in the other world religions, how it is similar and what it offers that is different.
Pagan Ethics: Paganism as a World Religion (London: Springer, 2016) – an examination of pagan ethics and its contribution to the global debate on morality.
Historical Dictionary of New Age Movements (Lanham, MD: Scarecrow, 2004) – a reference on the New Age phenomena for scholars, practitioners and the curious.
Pagan Theology: Paganism as a World Religion (New York: New York University Press, 2003) – an investigation of paganism as a world religion and as an aspect of other world religions.
The Divine versus the Asurian: An Interpretation of Indo-European Cult and Myth (Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield, 1995) - a reconstruction of Proto‑Indo‑European religion and lifestyle through linguistic analysis, comparative mythology and a deconstruction of the cult practices belonging to the Indo‑European daughter cultures.
The Emerging Network: A Sociology of the New Age and Neo‑pagan Movements (Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield, 1995) - an investigation into the contemporary New Age, Neo-pagan and Human Potential movements as well as church-sect typology.
The Roman Festival Calendar of Numa Pompilius (New York: Peter Lang, 1986) [the American University Studies, Series XVII, Classical Languages and Literature, Vol. 2] ‑ an investigation into the religious beliefs, foci and practices of early Rome.
Journals
Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature and Culture 1.2: A Special Issue on Astrology, Religion and Nature, ed. Michael York (2007).
Chapters
“Magic, Astrology, Alchemy,” Science and Religion: One Planet, Many Possibilities, eds. Lucas F. Johnston & Whitney Bauman. London: Routledge (2015).
“Pagan Theology,” Handbook of Paganism, ed. James R. Lewis and Murph Pizza (Leiden: Brill, 2008).
“Neglect and Reclamation of Water as Sacred Resource,” Deep Blue: Reflections on Nature, Religion and Water, ed. Andrew Francis and Sylvie Shaw (London: Equinox, 2008).
“The New Age Movement as an Astrological Minority Religion with Mainstream Appeal,” Handbook of New Age, ed. James R. Lewis and Daren Kemp (Leiden: Brill, 2007:405-13).
“New Age and Magic,” Witchcraft and Magic: Contemporary North America, ed. Helen A. Berger (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2005:8-27).
“Shamanism and Magic,” Witchcraft and Magic: Contemporary North America, ed. Helen A. Berger (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2005:81-101).
“Defining Paganism in England and Wales,” in Defining Religion: Investigating the Boundaries Between the Sacred and Secular (Religion and the Social Order, Volume 10)(Rotterdam/New York: Elsevier, 2003:267-276).
“In Defense of Indo-European Studies: Ethical and Theological Implications from a Sociological Analysis of Terms for ‘god’, ‘worship’ and ‘awe’, in Gedenkschrift for Edgar Polomé (Fairview, NC: Pegasus Press, 2003).
“Etniskumas ir pagonbe XXI amziuje” (Ethnicity and Paganism in the 21st Century), in Globalizacija: Taikos Kultûra, Ziniu Visuomene, Tolerancija (Vilnius: Lietuvos teises universitetas, 2003:272-280).
“Contemporary Pagan Pilgrimage: Comparisons with Medieval Pilgrimage and Twentieth-Century Religious Tourism,” in Pilgrimage, ed. William H. Swatos and Luigi Tomasi (London: Praeger:2002:137-158).
“The Role of Fear in Traditional and Contemporary Shamanism,” in Miedo y religion, Francisco Diez de Velasco, ed. (Madrid: Ediciones del Orto, 2002).
“New Age Millenarianism and its Christian Influences,” in Christian Millenarianism: From the Early Church to Waco, ed. Stephen Hunt (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2001:224-238).
“The Nature and Culture Debate in Popular Forms of Emergent Spirituality,” in From Virgin Land to Disney World: Nature and Its Discontents in the USA of Yesterday and Today, ed. Bernd Herzogenrath (New York/Amsterdam: Editions Rodopi, 2001:277-296).
"Where's the Body?: A Comparison between Indian Vernacular and Western Pagan Practice," in Neo-paganism and Nature Religions around the World, ed. Shelley Rabinovitch - forthcoming.
"The New Age: Three European Snapshots," Beyond New Age: Exploring Alternative Spirituality, eds. Steven Sutcliffe & Marion Bowman (Edinburgh: U.P., 2000) pp.118-34.
“New Religious Movements and Youth Culture in Great Britain,” in Alternative Religions among European Youth, ed. Luigi Tomasi (Aldershot: Ashgate, 1999), pp. 83-90.
"Postmodernity, Architecture, Society and Religion: ‘A heap of broken images' or ‘a change of heart'," ch. 3 in Postmodernity, Sociology and Religion, ed. Kieran Flanagan and Peter Jupp (London: Macmillan and New York: St. Martin's Press, 1996), pp. 48-63.
"New Age and Paganism," in Paganism Today: Wiccans, Druids, The Goddess and Ancient Earth Traditions for the Twenty-first Century, ed. Charlotte Hardman and Graham Harvey (London & San Francisco: Thorsons, 1996), pp. 157-165.
"Pan-Baltic Identity and Religio-Cultural Expression in Contemporary Lithuania," Chapter 4 in New Religions and the New Europe, ed. Robert Towler, (Aarhus, Denmark: University Press, 1995), pp. 72-86.
"Deconstructing Waco," ch. 30 in From the Ashes: Making Sense of Waco, ed. James R. Lewis(Lanham, Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield, 1994), pp. 197‑200.
"Le néo‑paganisme et les objections du wiccan au satanisme," in Le Défi Magique: Satanisme, Sorcellerie, ed. Jean‑Baptiste Martin and Massimo Introvigne, Centre de Recherches et d'Études Anthropogiques (Presses Universitaires de Lyon, 1994), pp. 173‑182, Vol. 2.
Articles
“Paganism and the World Forum of Religions.” The Journal of the Irish Society for the Academic Study of Religions 3: Festschrift in Honour of Professor Brian Bocking (2016:42-58).
"An Intersubjective Critiqe of Pagan Scholarship," The Pomegranate 15.1-2 (2013:136-150).
“Idolatry, Ecology, and the Sacred as Tangible,” The Pomegranate 12.1 (2010:74-93).
With Mikirou Zitukawa: “Expanding Religious Studies: The Obsolescence of the Sacred/Secular Framework for Pagan, Earth and Indigenous Religion, Part 2” The Pomegranate 10.2 (2008).
“Introduction” and “Postscript: The Rise and Fall of the Sophia Centre,” Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature and Culture 1.2: A Special Issue on Astrology, Religion and Nature, ed. Michael York (2007).
With Mikirou Zitukawa: “Expanding Religious Studies: The Obsolescence of the Sacred/Secular Framework for Pagan, Earth and Indigenous Religion,” The Pomegranate 9.1 (2007:78-97).
“The Dynamics of Hope and Despair in Contemporary Spirituality,” Eva Rothschild (London: The Showroom, 2001).
“New Age Commodification and Appropriation of Spirituality,” Journal of Contemporary Religion 16.3 October (2001:361-372).
“Nature Religion as a Contemporary Sectarian Development,” Diskus 6 (2000) – Pagan Identities No. 60.
“Le supermarché religieux: ancrages locaux du Nouvel Age au sein du réseau mondial,” Social Compass 46.2 (1999:173-179).
"Invented Culture / Invented Religion: The Fictional Origins of Contemporary Paganism," Nova Religio September (1999:135-146).
"Response to Kim Knott," Method and Theory in the Study of Religion 10 (1998:291-296).
‘BACRA and the Media: Defending the Cult in the Politics of Representation', DISKUS 4.2 (1996).
"The Divine Twins in the Celtic Pantheon," Journal of Indo-European Studies 23.1-2:83-112 (Spring/Summer 1995).
"A Report on the Citizen Ambassador Program's Religion and Philosophy Delegation to the People's Republic of China," Journal of Contemporary Religion 10.2:197‑206 (May 1995).
"The Church Universal and Triumphant," Journal of Contemporary Religion 10.1:71‑82 (1995).
"New Age in Britain: An Overview," Religion Today: A Journal of Contemporary Religion 9.3:14‑22 (Summer 1994).
"The Mithraic Tauroctony as a Derivative of an Indo‑European Soma/Haoma Sacramental Cult," The Journal of Indo‑European Studies 21.3&4:193‑206 (Fall/Winter 1993).
"The World Parliament of Religions, Chicago, 1993," Religion Today: A Journal of Contemporary Religion 9.2:17‑20 (Spring 1994).
"Linguistic Reflections on an Indo‑European Terminology for the Sacred," Naos: Notes and Materials for the Linguistic Study of the Sacred 9.1‑3:5‑10 (Winter, Spring‑Summer, Fall 1993).
"Toward a Proto‑Indo‑European Vocabulary of the Sacred," Word: Journal of the International Linguistic Association 44.2:235‑254 (August 1993).
"The Keys of Enoch," Religion Today: A Journal of Contemporary Religion 7.3:17‑21 (Summer 1992).
"The New Age in Great Britain," Syzygy: Journal of Alternative Religion and Culture 1.2‑3:147‑158 (Spring/Summer 1992).
"The New Age and Neo‑Pagan Movements," Religion Today: A Journal of Contemporary Religion 6.2:1‑3 (1991).
With Elisabeth Arweck, “New Age Dimensions of Goddess Spirituality,” Religion Today: A Journal of Contemporary Religion 6.2:6f (1991). (http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13537909108580644)
"Mars and Quirinus, Romulus and Remus," Journal of Indo‑European Studies 16.1&2:153‑172 (1988).
“Indra,” “Agni,” “Rudra,” “Varuna,” “Ushas,” “Prithvi,” “Soma,” “Prajapati,” “Hiranyagarbha,” “Aditi,” “Maruts,” “Kubera,” “Surya,” “Vishvedevas,” “Vishvakarman,” “Mitra,” “Yama,” “Ashvins,” “Brihaspati,” “Dyaus Pitar,” “Vayu,” “Aryaman,” “Tvashtar” and “Hindu Influences on Western Culture,” Encyclopedia of Hinduism, (eds., Denise Cush , Catherine Robinson & Michael York), London & New York: Routledge, 2008.
“Age of Aquarius,” “Alice Bailey,” “Werner Erhard,” “Marilyn Ferguson,” “The Forum/est,” “Matthew Fox,” “Gaia,” “Louise Hay,” “James Lovelock,” “Shirley MacLaine,” “Ruth Montgomery” and “Starhawk,” Encyclopedia of New Religious Movements (ed., Peter Clarke), Routledge, Dec. 2005.
"New and Emerging Religions,” “Shamanism – Introduction & Traditional,” “Shamanism – Urban,” “Carlos Castaneda,” “Holidays and Nature,” “Demons,” “Geomancy,” “Marija Gimbutas,”, “Aldous Huxley,” “Prince Charles,” “Sigmund Freud,” “Max Müller,” “Proto-Indo-Europeans,” “Holidays & Nature,” “Pagan festivals (contemporary),” “Pagan Calendar,”, “Sun Worship,” “UFOs, Extra-Terrestrials, and Nature,” “Channeling,” “Stone Circles,” “Polytheism,” “pantheism,” “Astrology,” “New Age Religion and Nature,” “Magic,” “Complexity Theory,” Encyclopedia of Religion and Nature (eds., Bron Taylor & Jeffrey Kaplan), London/New York: Thoemmes Continuum, 2005.
“Maitreya and Benjamin Creme,” “New Age Network,” & “Santería,” New Religions: A Guide: New Religious Movements, Sects and Alternative Spiritualities (ed., Christopher Partridge & J. Gordon Melton), (New York: Oxford University Press/Oxford: Lion, May 2004).
"Neo-Paganism and the New Age," The Encyclopedia of Modern Witchcraft and Neo-Paganism, eds., Shelley Rabinovitch & James Lewis, Jr. (New York: Citadel Press, 2004:176-78).
Review articles
"Emergentism and Some post-Big Bang Perspectives," Journal of Contemporary Religion 14.2 (May 1999).
"New Age and the Late Twentieth Century: A Review Article," Journal of Contemporary Religion 12.3:401-419 (October 1997).
"Hypocrisy and Dissent within the Findhorn Foundation: Towards a Sociology of a New Age Community: Stephen J. Castro, Journal of Contemporary Religion 12.2:229-238 (May 1997).
"Urantia: The Great Cult Mystery: Martin Gardner," Journal of Contemporary Religion 12.1:87-97 (January 1997).
"A History of Pagan Europe: Prudence Jones and Nigel Pennick," Journal of Contemporary Religion 11.2:219-226 (May 1996).
"Lila: An Inquiry into Morals: Robert M. Pirsig," Religion Today: A Journal of Contemporary Religions 9.1:16‑19 (Autumn/Winter 1993).
"The Post‑Modern Reader: Charles Jencks," Religion Today: A Journal of Contemporary Religions 8.3:19‑21 (Summer 1993).
Reviews
Of Ronald Hutton, The Witch: A History of Fear, from Ancient Times to the Present (New Haven & London: Yale University Press), The Journal of Contemporary Religion 12.1 (2018).
Of Lee Gilmore, Theater in a Crowded Fire: Ritual and Spirituality at Burning Man (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2010), The Journal of Contemporary Religion 26.2 (May 2011:337-40).
Of Craig Wright, The Maze and the Warrior: Symbols in Architecture, Theology, and Music (Cambridge, MA & London: Harvard University Press, 2001), The Journal of Contemporary Religion 20.3 (October 2005:405-408).
Of Margaret Stutley, Shamanism: An Introduction (New York & London: Routledge, 2003), The Journal of Contemporary Religion 18.3 (October 2003:434-435).
Of Mikael Rothstein (ed.), New Age Religion and Globalization (Aarhus: Aarhus U.P., 2001), The Journal of Contemporary Religion 17.3 (October 2002:384-387).
Of Jon P. Bloch, New Spirituality, Self, and Belonging: How New Agers and Neo-Pagans Talk about Themselves (London: Praeger, 1998), in Sociology of Religion 62.3 (Fall 2001:403f).
Of Susan Greenwood, Magic, Witchcraft and the Otherworld: An Anthropology (Oxford: Berg, 2000), in Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 40.4 (December 2001:777f).
Of Nicholas Saunders, Anja Saunders & Michelle Pauli, In Search of the Ultimate High: Spiritual Experience Through Psychoactives (London: Rider, 2000), in The Journal of Contemporary Religion 16.2 (May 2001:272-274).
Of Ronald Hutton, The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Witchcraft (Oxfor: U.P.,1999), in The Journal of Contemporary Religion 16.1 (January 2001:146-148).
Of Willem De Blécourt, Ronald Hutton & Jean La Fontaine, Witchcraft and Magic in Europe: The Twentieth Century (London: Athlone, 1999), in The Journal of Contemporary Religion 15.2 (May 2000:296-298).
Of Peter Novak, The Division of Consciousness (Charlottesville, VA: Hampton Roads, 1997), in The Journal of Contemporary Religion 14.1 (January 1999:169-172).
Of Ninian Smart, Dimensions of the Sacred: An Anatomy of the World's Beliefs, in International Journal of Hindu Studies 1.3 (1997:633-4).
Of John A. Saliba, Perspectives on New Religious Movements (London: Geoffrey Chapman, 1995), in Religion (forthcoming)
Of Paul Heelas, The New Age Movement: The Celebration of the Self and the Sacralization of Modernity (Cambridge: Blackwell, 1996), in The Fair Newsletter (Winter 1996).
Of Wesley Carr, Manifold Wisdom: Christians in the New Age (London: SPCK, 1991) and Catherine L. Albanese, Nature Religion in America from the Algonkian Indians to the New Age (Chicago: Chicago Univeristy Press, 1991), in Religion Today: A Journal of Contemporary Religions 8.1:16‑21 (Autumn/Winter 1992)
Of Gerald A. Larue, The Supernatural, The Occult and The Bible (Buffalo, NY: Prometheus Books, 1990), in Religion Today: A Journal of Contemporary Religions 7.2:21‑22 (Spring 1992).
Of Robert Wuthnow, The Restructuring of American Religion: Society and Faith since World War II (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1988), in Religion Today: A Journal of Contemporary Religions 7.1:19 (1992).
Additional publications
“Michael York responds to Peter Kreeft,” Pantheon: The Pagan Blog At Patheos (13 September 2011).
“Defining Paganism,” The Pomegranate: A New Journal of Neopagan Thought 11:4-9 (February 2000).
“Should we Treat New Age beliefs with respect?” The Guardian: Saturday Review (dialogue with AC Grayling)(6 February 1999).
“Worship,” Talking Stick 23:44‑45 (Autumn 1996).
"Faeries versus Magic," Talking Stick 15:34‑35 (Summer 1994).
"Will Paganism Help Shape a New Baltic Identity?" Gnosis: A Journal of the Western Inner Tradition 31:6f (Spring 1994).
"The Indo‑European Heritage of Lithuanian Paganism," Romuva 10:2‑3 (Winter 1992).
"The Roman Festival Calendar," Talking Stick 8:34‑35 (Autumn 1992).
"The Dethronement of Odin," Talking Stick 3:10‑12 (Spring 1991).
CONFERENCE PAPERS:
‘Matter Matters: A War Baby’s Perspective and Reminisces on Pandora, Pandemia & Pagan Pluralism during a Brave New World of Extreme Change’ (“Brave New World: Contemporary Paganism During Extreme Change”), 17th Conference of Current Pagan Studies, Claremont College, Claremont, CA (16-17 January 2021).
‘Pagan elements of contemporary tomb pilgrimage’ (XXI World Congress), International Association for the History of Religion, Erfurt (23-29 August 2015).
‘Pagan Ritual Practices and Religious Celebrations Dedicated to a Changing “Nature”’, (“Sensing the Religious”), International Society for the Sociology of Religion, Louvain-la-Neuve (2-5 July 2015).
An Intersubjective Critique of “A Critique of Pagan Scholarship”’, (“What is Wrong with Pagan Studies? Critiquing Methodologies” session for the Contemporary Pagan Studies Group), American Academy of Religion Annual Conference, Baltimore, MA (23-26 November 2013).
‘Religion and Theology: A Contemporary Western Pagan Perspective on Identity Formation and Modern Policy’, (“Contemporary Paganism” session), Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Boston (8-10 November 2013).
‘Paganism as a Movement; Paganism as a Religion: Changes in Contemporary Western Paganism since the Late 1980s’, (“Authenticity and Change: Developments and Issues in Contemporary Western Paganism over the Last Twenty Years” session), Association for the Sociology of Religion, New York (10-12 August 2013).
Respondent for the Session on ‘Sex, Metaphor, and Sacrifice in Contemporary Paganism’, American Academy of Religion Annual Conference, Chicago (17-20 November 2012).
‘A Contemporary Mystery Religion: The Amsterdam Coffee Shop as a Pagan Praxis’, Contemporary Pagan Studies (‘Contemporary Pagan Theology and Praxology’ session), American Academy of Religion Annual Conference, Chicago (17-20 November 2012).
‘Religion versus Science; Science versus Religion: Whither Astrology; Whithersoever?’ Tenth Annual Sophia Centre Conference, Bath (23-24 June 2012).
‘Interfaith and an Evangelical Christian assessment of Pagan Druidry’, “Religion and Economy in a Global World, International Society for the Study of Religion" – 31st Conference, Aix-en-Provence (30 June – 3 July 2011).
‘Idolatry and Tangible Sacrality: The Conversation Continues’, Contemporary Pagan Studies Group (‘Idolatry’ session), American Academy of Religion Annual Conference, Atlanta (30 October – 1 November 2010 [31 Oct.]).
‘Polytheism at the Religious Roundtable’, “In Search of Sustainable Pathways,” Parliament of the World’s Religions, Melbourne (3-9 December 2009 [7 Dec.]).
‘Poetic Metaphor and Boundary Navigation: Complexity, Shamanism, Postmodernism and Idolatry’, “Tools of the Sacred, Techniques of the Secular: Awakening, Epiphany, Apocalypse and Doubt in Contemporary English-Language Verse,” Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels (4-7 May 2010).
‘Polytheism at the Religious Roundtable’, “In Search of Sustainable Pathways,” Parliament of the World’s Religions, Melbourne (3-9 December 2009 [7 Dec.]).
‘Idolatry, Ecology and the Sacred as Tangible’, Contemporary Pagan Studies Group (‘Idolatry’ session), American Academy of Religion Annual Conference, Montreal (7-10 November 2009 [8 Nov.]). [2]
‘Full of Sound and Fury; Signifying Nothing: Earth Religion and the Experiential’, “Pagan Perspectives on Progress,” The Third International Society for the Study of Religion, Nature, and Culture International Conference: “Religion, Nature, and Progress,” Amsterdam (23-26 July 2009 [24 Jul.]). [17]
‘Negotiating the Sacred and the Possibility of Indigenous and Pagan Discourse’, Indigenous Religious Traditions Group (‘Conceptualizing the Sacred’ session), American Academy of Religion Annual Conference, Chicago (31 October-3 November 2008 [3 Nov.]). [1]
‘The Pantheonic Challenge to “Deca-logic”: Polytheism as Contemporary Theology and the Issue of Human Sacrifice’, Contemporary Pagan Studies Group (‘Paganism in Theory’ session), American Academy of Religion Annual Conference, Chicago (31 October-3 November 2008 [2 Nov.]). [X]
‘One god, more than one god, all is god, no god: Paganism's natural perspective on the world's religions’, “The Re-Enchantment of Nature across Disciplines: Critical Intersections of Science, Ethics, and Metaphysics,” The Second International Society for the Study of Religion, Nature, and Culture International Conference, Morelia, Mexico (17-20 January 2008).
‘Channeling Selena Fox on the Pentacle Quest’, Religion, Politics, and the State Group, American Academy of Religion Annual Conference, San Diego (17-20 November 2007). [X]
‘An “Ex-Pat’s” View on the American Empire and Its Religious Divide with Europe’, “American Empire and Religion,” Open and Relational Theologies Consultation, American Academy of Religion Annual Conference, Philadelphia (19-22 November 2005
'The New Age and Contemporary Pagan Movements in Britain’, International Association for the History of Religion (IAHR) Conference, Tokyo (24-30 March 2005 [26 Mar.]). [14]
‘Middle Class/“Out Class” Roles for Pagans in Bridging Faith and Freedom’, “Taking Religious Pluralism Seriously: Toward a Democratic Spiritual Politics,” Religious Freedom, Public Life, and the State Group, American Academy of Religion Annual Conference, San Antonio (20-23 November 2004).
‘An Outsider Study of Cultural Astrology by Insider Astrologers: A Discussion of Some Methodological Problems’, British Association for the Study of Religion 50th Anniversary Conference, Oxford (13-16 September 2004).
‘Insider/Outsider Methodological Problems with the Study of Astrology’, Roundtable Session, American Association of Sociology, San Francisco (14-17 August 2004).
‘Idolatry and Ethics’, Association for the Sociology of Religion, San Francisco (12-15 August 2004). [8]
‘Paganism’, Parliament of the World’s Religions, Barcelona (7-13 July 2004).
‘Idolatry in the World Today’, Fourth International Colloquium of Aumism, Paris, France (13-14 March 2004). [9]
‘The Implications of the Nature Bias of Contemporary Paganism’, “Conference on Contemporary Pagan Studies,” American Academy of Religion Annual Conference, Atlanta (21 November 2003).
‘Civil Religion Aspects of Neo-paganism’, “The Sociology of Religion: Constructing an Agenda,” Association for the Sociology of Religion, Atlanta (15-17 August 2003). [4]
‘Returning Astrology to the Academy’, “Religion and Gender,” International Society for the Study of Religion – XXVIIth Conference, Torino (21-24 July 2003). [16]
‘Wanting to have your New Age cake and eat it too’, Keynote address for the “Alternative Spiritualities and New Age Studies” Conference, ASANAS/The Open University, Milton Keynes (30 May-1 June 2003).
‘The Pagan/Nature Religions Implications of Astrology’, Nature Religions Scholars Network, American Academy of Religion, Toronto (23 November 2002). [X]
‘The Place of Paganism among Abrahamic, Dharmic and Secular Religions’, “The Culture of Peace and Development of Civil Society,” Vilnius University of Law, UNESCO and Lietuvos Ramuvu Sajunga, Vilnius, Lithuania (19 April 2002).
‘Finding Religion between Postmodernism and Spirituality’, “Postmodernism and Spirituality Conference,” University of Central Lancashire (23-24 March 2002).
‘Understanding Religious Conflict in a World of Religious Diversity’, Third International Colloquium of Aumism, Paris, France (9-10 March 2002). [10]
‘Astrology and New Age: Minority Religion with Mainstream Appeal’, Special Session (organized by Helen Berger), American Sociological Association (co-sponsored by the Association for the Sociology of Religion), Anaheim (18 August 2001). [3]
‘Ethical Implications of the Atlantis Myth in New Age Thought’, “Cultural Studies Between Politics and Ethics,” Bath Spa University College (6-8 July 2001).
‘Selling Nature in the Spiritual Supermarket’, “The Spiritual Supermarket: Religious Pluralism and Globalisation in the 21st Century: the Expanding European Union and Beyond,” INFORM: the 2001 International Conference, London School of Economics (19-22 April 2001). [15]
‘Civilisation, Its Discontents and the Place of Nature’, Nature Religions Scholars Network, American Academy of Religion, Nashville, Tennessee (18-21 November 2000).
‘Problems Encountered in Teaching Religions Which Accept the Self as Decisive Authority’, “Religion and Transnationalism: Challenges of the 21st Century,” Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Houston, Texas (19-22 October 2000).
‘Defining Paganism: Conflicting Viewpoints between the Pagan Federation, the British Charity Commission, and an Academic Perspective’, “Religion and Transnationalism: Challenges of the 21st Century,” Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Houston, Texas (19-22 October 2000).
‘Explorations into European or Euro-American Interpretations of Indo-European Religion’, 18th Quinquennial Congress of the International Association for the History of Religions, Durban, South Africa (5-12 August 2000).
‘The Global New Age Movement’, Second International Colloquium of Aumism, Paris, France (3-5 March 2000).
‘The Role of Fear in Traditional and Contemporary Shamanism’, “Coloquio Milenio: Miedo y Religión,” IV Simposio Internacional de la Sociedad Española de Ciencias de las Religiones, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain (3-6 February 2000).
‘1993 and 1999: Assessments and Suggestions from a Sociological Viewpoint’ in ‘1993 and 1999: Assessments and Suggestions from a Sociological Viewpoint’, Dialogue Session (organized by Michael York), 1999 Parliament of the World’s Religions, Cape Town, South Africa (1-8 December 1999). [19]
‘Paganism: Serious Religion or Fantasy and Child’s Play?’ Identity Lecture, 1999 Parliament of the World’s Religions, Cape Town, South Africa (1-8 December 1999). [18]
‘Theological Considerations of the proto-Indo-Europeans’, Identity Lecture, 1999 Parliament of the World’s Religions, Cape Town, South Africa (1-8 December 1999).
‘Defining Paganism’, Nature Religions Scholars Network Session, the American Academy of Religion, Boston (20-23 November 1999).
‘New Age Commodification and Appropriation of Spirituality’, Session on ‘Paganism and New Age Spirituality’ (organized by Helen Berger & Michael York), "The Sacred in the Secular: Finding ‘Religious' Dimensions in the World beyond Religion;" Society for the Scientific Study of Religion Annual Meeting, Boston (5-7 November 1999).
‘Contemporary Pagan Pilgrimage: Comparisons with Medieval Pilgrimage and Twentieth Century Religious Tourism’, “From Medieval Pilgrimage to the Religious Tourism of the Twentieth Century,” Fifteenth International Conference of the Center for Euroasian Studies (A.C.S.A.), University of Trento, Trento, Italy (22-23 October 1999).
‘Shakti/Wicca Contrasts in Gender-based Social Integration’, Session on ‘The Goddess, The Gods and The Gendered Self (I)’ (convened & organized by Michael York); Respondent for the Session on ‘The Goddess, The Gods and The Gendered Self (II)’, “Religion, Gender and the 21st Century,” Association for the Sociology of Religion Annual Meeting, Chicago (5-7 August 1999).
‘Paganism and the Status Quo’, Nature Religions Scholars Network Session, the American Academy of Religion, Orlando (21-24 November 1998).
‘Paganism versus Neo-paganism', Session on ‘Diachronic and Synchronic Dimensions of Contemporary Paganism' (organized by Michael York and Helen Berger), "Voyager Savants: Following Religions Across Space and Time," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion Annual Meeting, Montreal (6-8 November 1998).
‘Contemporary Paganism as a Transnational Community', Special Session (organized by Helen Rose Ebaugh), American Sociological Association (co-sponsored by the Association for the Sociology of Religion), San Francisco (21-25 August 1998).
‘Missing the Mark: A Critical Examination of the 1993 Parliament of the World's Religions', Session on ‘Sociology and the Parliament of the World's Religions' (organized by Michael York), "Retrieval and Critique: Contributions of Sociology of Religion to a Critical Social Science," Association for the Sociology of Religion Annual Meeting, San Francisco (20-22 August 1998). [5]
'Paganism/Neo-Paganism in Conflict with Authority', NATFHE Conference on “Endangered Religions,” Bath Spa University College, Bath, United Kingdom (3-4 July 1998).
‘Socializing Insanity: Shamanism as Technique and Religion’, “Shamanism in Contemporary Society,” Department of Religious Studies, University of Newcastle (23-26 June 1998).
‘Cult/New Religious Movement Strategies in a Hostile Environment’, Round Table with Outside Specialists session, First International Colloquium of Aumism, Castellane, France (16-17 May 1998).
‘Paganism and the British Charity Commission: A Question of Restricting Boundaries?', Session on ‘Neo-paganism and the Status Quo' (organized by Michael York and Helen Berger), "Borders and Boundaries: Remapping Religion in a Changing World," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion Annual Meeting, San Diego (7-9 November 1997).
‘New Religious Movements and Youth Culture in Great Britain’, "New Religious Movements, Sects and Alternative Sacreds in European Youth," University of Trento: European Centre for Traditional and Regional Cultures, Trento, Italy (4-5 October 1997).
‘Going Native: Bathing and Prostration in Benares’, "Religious Experience," British Association for the Study of Religions Annual Conference, Harris-Manchester College, University of Oxford (11-13 September 1997).
'Self-Identity within a Virtual Pagan Community in Britain’, "Modeling Diversity, Understanding Religious Ecologies," Association for the Sociology of Religion Annual Meeting, Toronto, Ontario (8-10 August 1997). [6]
‘The Religious Consumer Supermarket: Local New Age Affirmations within the Global Network’, "Religion: The City and Beyond," International Society for the Sociology of Religion 24th Conference, Toulouse, France (7-11 July 1997).
‘The Moral Maze and Ethical Considerations of Modern/Postmodern Movements', "Religion, Modernity and Ethics," British Sociological Association: Sociology of Religion Study Group, University of Bristol (2-5 April 1997). [13]
‘Response to Martin Percy's Words, Wonders and Power: Understanding Contemporary Christian Fundamentalism and Revivalism', "Religion, Modernity and Ethics," British Sociological Association: Sociology of Religion Study Group, University of Bristol (2-5 April 1997).
‘Post-smallpox Survival of the Hindu Smallpox Goddess', "Ambivalent Goddesses" Colliquium, King Alfred's College, Winchester (25-27 March 1997).
‘Response to Kim Knott's "Issues in the Study of Religions in Locality"', Methodology in the Study of Religions, Bath College of Higher Education, Bath, U.K. (16 November 1996).
‘Invented Culture / Invented Religion: The Fictional Origins of Contemporary Paganism', the Annual Meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Nashville, Tennessee (8-10 November 1996).
‘Post-Media Achievement and Millennial Blood-Groundings in the New Belle Époche: Whatever Happened to the New Age?', Institute for the Study of American Religion, Nashville, Tennessee (10 November 1996).
‘BACRA and the Media: Defending the Cult in the Politics of Representation’, British Association for the Study of Religion, Bath, UK (15 September 1996). [12]
‘Is a Postmodern Sociology of Religion an Oxymoron?', "Making and Remaking the Sacred": Association for the Sociology of Religion Annual Meeting, New York (15-17 August 1996). [7]
‘Nature Religion as a Contemporary Sectarian Development', "Nature Religion Today: Western Paganism, Shamanism and Esotericism in the 1990s," conference sponsored by the Department of Religious Studies, Lancaster University, Lake District Campus (9 - 13 April 1996).
‘Ethics within the New Age Spectrum: Differentiations and Problems of Authenticity', Religious Studies/Theology and Philosophy Student Conference, sponsored by St. Brendan's College at the Broadmead Baptist Church, Bristol (30 January 1996).
‘New Age and Paganism', Conference on "Paganism in Contemporary Britain," sponsored by the Department of Religious Studies, University of Newcastle upon Tyne (12‑14 September 1994).
‘Reinvented Anglo‑American Neo‑paganism and Reinvigorated Baltic Paganism: Sociological and Ideological Comparisons', Association for the Sociology of Religion Fifty‑Sixth Annual Meeting: "Reinventing Religion: Old Religions, New Religions, New‑Old Religions, Old‑New Religions," Los Angeles (4‑6 August 1994).
‘The Greco‑Roman Interpretation of Indo‑European Demonology', presented at the Greco‑Roman Religions: Second Session on Demonology, Society of Biblical Literature National Meeting, Washington, D.C. (23 November 1993).
‘The Findhorn Intentional Community Model in Britain', Twentieth Annual Communal Studies Association Conference/Fourth Triennial International Communal Studies Conference, New Harmony, Indiana (14‑17 October 1993).
‘The Viability of a Pagan Theology in the Post‑Modern World', Major Presentation, 1993 Parliament of the World's Religions, Palmer House Hilton, Chicago, Illinois (28 August ‑ 5 September 1993). [21]
‘The Negotiation of World Peace through Religion: The Postmodern Cause?', The Academy, 1993 Parliament of the World's Religions, Palmer House Hilton, Chicago, Illinois (28 August ‑ 5 September 1993). Hilton, CIllinois (28 August ‑ 5 September 1993). [20]
‘The Ancestral European Religious Vocabulary', Seminar, 1993 Parliament of the World's Religions, Palmer House Hilton, Chicago, Illinois (28 August ‑ 5 September 1993).
‘The Ethical and Religious Consequences of Postmodern Self‑Emancipation', Centre for the Study of Cultural Values, International Conference: "De‑Traditionalization: Authority and Self in an Age of Cultural Uncertainty," Lancaster University (8‑10 July 1993).
‘New Age in Britain: An Overview', Opening address for the Bath College of Higher Education, Study of Religions' one day conference: "Contemporary and New Age Religions in the British Isles" (22 May 1993).
‘Postmodernity, Architecture, Society and Religion: "A Heap of Broken Images" or "A Change of Heart"?', British Sociological Association ‑ Sociology of Religion Study Group Conference: "Postmodernity and Religion," Churchill Hall, University of Bristol (29 March ‑ 1 April 1993).
‘Pan‑Baltic Identity & Religio‑Cultural Expression in Contemporary Lithuania', INFORM‑CESNUR‑ISAR International Conference on "New Religions and the New Europe," The London School of Economics (25‑28 March 1993).
‘New Age and Christianity', King's College London Theology and Religious Studies Society, Study Day on "New Age and Buddhism in the West and Christian Response" (24 October 1992).
‘The Mithraic Tauroctony as a Derivative of an Indo‑European Soma/Hoama Sacramental Cult', Fourth Annual UCLA Indo‑European Conference (21‑23 May 1992).
‘The New Age / Christian Overlap', The Ilkley Study Group Conference on "The Sociology of the New Age," Glastonbury, U.K. (8‑10 May 1992).
‘Neo‑Pagan and Wiccan Objections to Satanism', Sixth International CESNUR Seminar, "The Challenge of Magic," Lyon, France (6‑8 April 1992).
‘The New Age in Great Britain', the Santa Barbara/Solvang conference entitled "New Religions in Global Perspective" ‑ sponsored by the Santa Barbara Centre for Humanistic Studies (16‑18 May 1991).
‘American and British Parallels in Neo‑paganism', the Santa Barbara/Solvang conference entitled "New Religions in Global Perspective" ‑ sponsored by the Santa Barbara Centre for Humanistic Studies (16‑18 May 1991).
‘Toward a Proto‑Indo‑European Vocabulary of the Sacred', the 36th annual International Linguistic Association conference in New York (6 April 1991).
INVITED LECTURES:
‘The Semmelweis Effect: Challenges to the Throne of Heaven’, London Moot, (10 June 2020).
‘Cultural Astronomy’, Valentinian Meditation Circle, St. Peter’s Church, Clapham (17 February 2019).
‘The Future of Religion’ and ‘The History of New Age and Neo-paganism’, University of Florida, Gainesville (20 October 2010).
“Men Who Love the Goddess” (panelist), Parliament of the World’s Religions, Melbourne (3-9 December 2009 [5 Dec.]).
‘Art, Idolatry and Apotheosis: Restoring the Earth in Europe’ workshop, Pantheacon, San Jose (15-18 February 2008) [17 Feb.].
‘Deisms’ panelist (organized by Macha NightMare), Pantheacon, San Jose (15-18 February 2008) [15 Feb.].
‘World Religions from a Pagan Perspective’, Leadership Institute, Merry Meet 2007, University of Massachusetts, Amherst (2 August 2007).
‘Paganism’ for Bron Taylor’s class on “Radical Environmentalism,” University of Florida, Gainesville (24 January 2007).
‘The Spiritual Implications of Idolatry: Belief – Its Early Awakenings and Present Manifestations’, Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution, Belief Series Lecture (2 June 2004).
‘Sacred Geography’, University of Helsinki – Erasmus Exchange Programme, Helsinki (3 May 2004).
Seminar on ‘New Religious Movements’, University of Helsinki – Erasmus Exchange Programme, Helsinki (4 May 2004).
‘Insider/Outsider Methodological Problems with the Study of Astrology’, University of Helsinki – Erasmus Exchange Programme, Helsinki (5 May 2004).
‘The Implications of the Nature Bias of Contemporary Paganism’, University of Helsinki – Erasmus Exchange Programme, Helsinki (6 May 2004).
‘Paganism as a World Religion’ for Bron Taylor’s class on “Earth and Nature-Based Spirituality,” University of Florida, Gainesville (13 April 2004).
‘Buddhism’, Stetson University, De Land, Florida (30 April 2003).
‘Paganism and Academia’, Midgard’s Web, London (12 April 2003).
‘Ritual’, Pagan Federation International Conference – 30th Anniversary Celebration, Fairfield Halls, Croydon (24 November 2001).
‘Contemporary Mysticism and New Age Culture’, The Show Room Art Gallery, London (7 April 2001).
‘Civilisation and Its Discontents’, Dragon Tenth Anniversary Celebration, Conway Hall, London (22 July 2000).
‘Contemporary Pagan Pilgrimage’, “L’Europa medievale e il Giubileo,” il Progetto ‘Conoscere l’Europa religiosa’: Centro Studi Eurasiatici, Gruppo Culturale ‘I CARE’, Commune di Villa Lagarina, Villa Lagarina, Italy (23 October 1999).
‘New Age, Paganism and Eco-Feminism: Interaction and Shaping of Contrasting Perspectives’, Drew University, Madison, New Jersey (12 November 1998).
‘What is Paganism? An Introduction to the Pagan Beliefs’, Bath Spa University College Pagan Society, Bath, England (7 May 1998).
‘New Age Meets Neo-paganism’, University of South Florida Religious Studies Community Forum and United Pagan Allied Network, Tampa, Florida (21 April 1998).
‘Complexity Theory and Religion’, Department of Philosophy and Religion, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India (20 February 1998).
‘A New Typology of Religious Organisation’, World View Society, Bath College of Higher Education, Bath, England (15 April 1997).
‘The New Age Movement’, REL307: Varieties of American Religion, Stetson University, De Land, Florida (18 March 1997).
‘New Age, Paganism, and Everything You Wanted to Know About Religion’, University of Florida/United Church of Christ, Gainesville, Florida (17 March 1997).
‘Postmodernism and Feminist Research’, California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco (18 June 1996).
‘Cultivating Religion’, Kashi House, San Francisco (4 June 1995).
‘The Chicago Parliament of the World's Religions’, the Third Ramuva Annual Gathering, Plateliai, Lithuania (18 August 1994).
‘Recent Sociological Observations on Ethics, Dissent and Change’, College Hall, Humanities Department, New College, University of South Florida, Sarasota, Florida (18 March 1994).
‘A Postmodern Understanding of the Postmodern: Jacques Derrida and Social Policy’, Colloquium Seminar, Department of International Relations, San Francisco State University (7 May 1993).
‘The Reconstruction of Indo‑European Myths’, lecture and discussion for the Philosophy and Religion & Women's Spirituality Departments, California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, California (15 April 1993).
‘Waco and the Cult in the Postmodern Context’, Sayles Hall, Department of Religious Studies, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island (16 March 1993).
‘Religion and Postmodernity’, Cook Hall, Humanities Department, New College, University of South Florida, Sarasota, Florida (17 February 1993).
‘What is Postmodernity? The Current Sociological/Cultural Debate in the West’, Department of Philosophy and Religion, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India (6 January 1993).
‘The Indo‑European Heritage of Lithuanian Paganism’, the Ramuva Annual Gathering, Uzhuguostis, Lithuania (17 August 1992).
‘Researching the New Age Movement: Problems of Definition and Classification’, Social Science and Religion Seminars, King's College Strand (2 December 1991).
‘A Sociological Understanding of the New Age Movement’, the Ethical Society, Conway Hall, London (15 December 1991).
‘Examining the Fundamentals of Odinism’, London Earth Mysteries Circle, Maria Assumpta Centre, London (26 March 1991).
‘New Age and Neo‑paganism’, London School of Economics, Sociology of Religion Graduate Seminar (20 June 1990).
PROFESSIONAL HISTORY ‑ RELEVANT EXPERIENCES:
Academic
Workshop: ‘Roman Religion’, Pagan Spirit Gathering, Camp Zoe, Salem, Missouri (20-27 June 2010 [25 Jun.]).
Workshop: ‘Soul Talk’, Pagan Spirit Gathering, Camp Zoe, Salem, Missouri (20-27 June 2010 [24 Jun.]).
Workshop: ‘How Has Paganism Re-Entered the University?’, Pagan Spirit Gathering, Camp Zoe, Salem, Missouri (20-27 June 2010 [23 Jun.]).
Workshop: ‘A Polytheistic Mantra’, Pagan Spirit Gathering, Camp Zoe, Salem, Missouri (20-27 June 2010 [21 Jun.]).
Respondent for the “Challenging Boundaries of the Sacred and the Social” Session, for The Second International Society for the Study of Religion, Nature, and Culture International Conference: “The Re-Enchantment of Nature across Disciplines,” (17-20 January 2008 [18 Jan.]).
Respondent for the “Contemporary Western Paganism: Changes, Accommodations, Tensions” Session, Association for the Sociology of Religion (12 August 2007).
Respondent for the Contemporary Pagan Studies Consultation on “Boundaries and Paths to Authenticity,” American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, Philadelphia (21 November 2005).
‘Author meets critic session: Michael York’s Pagan Theology’, 2004 Conference on Contemporary Pagan Studies, San Antonio (19 November 2004).
Chairman of the International Cooperation Committee for the Association for the Sociology of Religion (2003-2004).
Examination of Betty Aitken’s MA thesis: “Reclaiming and Re-constituting the Self: Diverse Aspects in the New Age Spiritual Quest for Transformation,” University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne (28 January 2003).
Examination of Hildegard Van Hove’s doctoral thesis: “De weg naar binnen: Spiritualiteit en zelfontplooing,” Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium (16 May 2000).
Critic in ‘Author Meets Critics’ for Daughters of the Goddess (Wendy Griffin, ed.), "The Sacred in the Secular: Finding ‘Religious' Dimensions in the World beyond Religion;" Society for the Scientific Study of Religion Annual Meeting, Boston (5-7 November 1999).
Examination of Antonio Melichi’s doctoral thesis: “The Altered Mind: A Study of some forms of visionary intoxication,” University of York (27 October 1999).
‘Author Meets Critics: A Community of Witches by Helen Berger’, Society for the Scientific Study of Religion Annual Meeting, Montreal (6-8 November 1998).
Workshop: ‘Babylon Revisited: Spirituality and a World in Crisis', Himalayan Buddhist Meditation Centre, Kathmandu, Nepal (22 February 1998)
Student Fieldtrip: Chitrakoot, Maihar & Kharuraho, Academy for Cultural and Educational Studies, Varanasi, India (30 January - 6 February 1998)
Student Fieldtrip: Bodhgaya, Rajgir & Nalanda, Academy for Cultural and Educational Studies, Varanasi, India (16-19 January 1997)
Workshop: ‘Understanding the Forbidden: Ritual Idolatry and Intoxication', Academy for Cultural and Educational Studies, Varanasi, India (16 & 17 January 1998, 20-23 January 1997, 7-21 October 1995; 15 February - 1 March 1995)
Workshop: ‘Expanding Spiritual Perspectives and the Emerging Network in the Millennial Shift', Kashi House, San Francisco (5‑14 June 1995).
Workshop: ‘Celebration for the Modern/Postmodern Millennial Shift', Kashi House, San Francisco (5‑22 April 1995).
Teaching experience with the Cherry Hill Seminary, Bath Spa University, the University of California (Santa Barbara), King's College London, the Himalayan Yogic Institute (Kathmandu, Nepal), and the San Francisco State University.
Academic Member of the Religion and Philosophy Delegation to the People's Republic of China sponsored by the Citizen Ambassador Program (13‑28 June 1994).
Organized with Helen Berger the “Contemporary Paganism” session, Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Boston (8-10 November 2013).
Organized the “Authenticity and Change: Developments and Issues in Contemporary Western Paganism over the Last Twenty Years” session, Association for the Sociology of Religion (12 August 2013).
Steering Committee member for the Contemporary Pagan Studies Group, American Academy of Religion (2011-2014).
Co-chair of the Contemporary Pagan Studies Group, American Academy of Religion, Atlanta (30 October - 1 November 2010).
Co-chair of the Contemporary Pagan Studies Group, American Academy of Religion, Montreal (7-10 November 2009).
Organized the “Pagan Perspectives on Progress: The Technological Vortex versus Spiritual Achievement in the 21st Century” Session for The Third International Society for the Study of Religion, Nature, and Culture International Conference: “Religion, Nature, and Progress,” Amsterdam (23-26 July 2009 [24 Jul.]).
Co-chair of the Contemporary Pagan Studies Group, American Academy of Religion, Chicago (31 October-3 November 2008).
Co-chair of the Contemporary Pagan Studies Consultation, American Academy of Religion, San Diego (17-20 November 2007).
Organized with Helen Berger the “Contemporary Western Paganism: Changes, Accommodations, Tensions” Session, Association for the Sociology of Religion, New York (12 August 2007).
Co-chair of the Contemporary Pagan Studies Consultation, American Academy of Religion, Washington, D.C. (18-21 November 2006).
Co-chair of the Contemporary Pagan Studies Consultation, American Academy of Religion, Philadelphia (19-22 November 2005).
Organized the conference “Exploring Consciousness: With What Intent?” sponsored by the Sophia Centre for Cultural Astronomy and Astrology, Bath Spa University College; The Academy for Cultural and Educational Studies; and Psychonauts UK (24-26 June 2004).
Organized the conference “Astrology and the Academy,” sponsored by the Sophia Centre for Cultural Astronomy and Astrology, Bath Spa University College (13-14 June 2003).
Organized with Helen Berger the ‘Neo-paganism and the Status Quo' Session for the Annual Meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, San Diego (8 November 1997).
Coordinator of the Bath Archive for Contemporary Religious Affairs (BACRA), Corsham Court, Department for the Study of Religions, Bath College of Higher Education (since January 1996).
Organized the conference "Perspectives on the Dynamics of Sacred Space," sponsored by the Academy for Cultural and Educational Studies, held at King's College London (30 November 1996).
Organized the conference "Magic and Science," Fourth Annual Conference on Contemporary and New Age Religions in the British Isles, Bath College of Higher Education, Newton Park (11 May 1996).
Organized the conference "Christians and pagans: Can Divergent Traditions Converse? A Contemporary Dialogue," sponsored by the Academy for Cultural and Educational Studies, held at King's College London (2 December 1995).
Organized the conference "Dissent and Change: Sociological and Theological Issues" sponsored by the Academy for Cultural and Educational Studies, held at King's College London (1 October 1994).
Organized the conference "New Age Dimensions of Goddess Spirituality" sponsored by the Centre for New Religions and held at King's College London on the 15th of December 1990.
Director of the Amsterdam Center for Eurindic Studies, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (since 1981).
Director of the Academy for Cultural and Educational Studies, London, U.K. (since 1992).
Member of the Academic Advisory Board to the Association of World Academics for Religious Education, Santa Barbara/Goleta, California (since 1990).
Member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Contemporary Religion (since 1994).
Comparative cultural analysis: understanding religion as culture, understanding the dynamics of cultural formation, identity and interchange.
Sociological participation in and observation of various New Age and Neo‑pagan groups chiefly in Britain and the United States and including Findhorn (Forres, Scotland), Church Universal and Triumphant (Corwin Springs, Montana) and City of the Sun Foundation (Columbus, New Mexico) since 1986.
Annual/bi-annual sociological participation‑observation, yoga, Sanskrit and Hindi studies in Nepal and India since 1981.
Continual Indo‑European studies in Europe concentrating on the origins, social structure, lifestyle and religious beliefs of the Indo‑European and proto‑Indo‑European speaking peoples since 1970.
BBC Radio Five Live discussion with John Pinar and Ruth Gladhill on ‘Religion and New Religious Movements in Britain’ (10 September 2003).
Panelist on the Unthinkable Programme, Episode 5 – the Paranormal, Sci-Fi Channel (Fall 2002).
Academic contributor for the Radio Four program on "Angels," Broadcasting House, London (6 June 1997).
Expert witness on the Wiccan religion for the Metropolitan Police Service, Wimbledon Police Station, 15 Queens Road, London SW19 8NN (1993‑1994).
Expert witness on the Wiccan religion in the Art Quester Application for Staying Contact, Bolton County Court, Bolton, UK on behalf of Blackhurst, Parker & Yates, Solicitors, Mayo House, Meeting House Lane, Lancaster LA1 1GW on 6 July 1993.
http://www.paganliving.tv/index.php?option=com_youtubegallery&view=youtubegallery&Itemid=299 (01-04-2013).
SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY:
Volunteer worker and neighborhood team member for the London Lighthouse, a centre for people HIV+ and with Aids, 1989-1992.
STATEMENT OF INTENT:
Because of background and interest in archaeology and contemporary society, I want to share knowledge with others and, in particular, to encourage students to think, explore and discover for themselves. My chief orientation is toward stimulating others to sharpen their natural impetus to learn and to widen their intellectual horizons.