Pagan Religions in Five Minutes - Suzanne Owen
27. What is Romuva in Lithuania?
Pagan Religions in Five Minutes - Suzanne Owen
Milda Ališauskienė [+]
Vytautas Magnus University
Dr Milda Ališauskienė is a professor at the Department of Sociology at Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania. She has published more than thirty social scientific research articles on religion in contemporary Lithuania and the Baltic States and contributed to collective monographs and studies on the social exclusion of minority religions and Lithuania’s secularization process.
Description
Romuva, a Lithuanian organisation dedicated to reviving ancient Baltic religious practices and beliefs, emerged in the Soviet era. Romuva's practices emphasise a close relationship with nature through a pantheon of deities. Romuva faces challenges in gaining legal recognition, reflecting Lithuania's religious and cultural identity issues. Interactions with Christianity and diverse political views among its members highlight the complex dynamics within modern Paganism.