Symposium presented by
South Carolina Institute of Archaeology & Anthropology (SCIAA)
USC Department of Religious Studies
Cherry Hill Seminary
"Sacred Lands and Spiritual Landscapes"
April 12-13, 2013
FEATURED PRESENTERS
Ronald Hutton
Wendy Griffin
University of Bristol
Cherry Hill Seminary
English historian who specializes in
the study of Early Modern Britain,
British folklore, pre-Christian
religion and contemporary
Paganism.
One of the first American
academics to publish field work in
Pagan Studies, founding co-chair
of Pagan Studies Group for the
American Academy of Religion.
Abstract and bio sketches – page 2
APRIL 13
LOCATION: GAMBRELL 250
The following are public events for USC faculty and students without fee.
10:00
Opening of Program
Begin Presentation of Papers
10:00
Wendy Griffin
"Traveling the Land Within"
1:30
Symposium
Continued Presentations of Papers
Participants
Keynote address: Ronald Hutton
"BRITAIN’S PAGAN HERITAGE"
"Syncretism, Landscape, and Belief:
Jonathan Leader
Anthropology and Pagan Studies"
4:00
See Cherry Hill Seminary symposium page for more details
Symposium:
"Sacred Lands and Spiritual Landscapes"
Abstract:
In today’s post-modern, urbanized world, where everything is a commodity, how do
people find their spiritual and sacred places? Modern paganism has had a profound
albeit rarely credited impact on this area of discourse. Mainstream faith traditions have
incorporated concepts, liturgy and rituals that have alternative roots. Syncretism in
religion is not new. All groups engage in it to various extents and reasons. The research
and interest in this area is at an all time high and the Humanities provide necessary
focus. The Sacred Lands and Spiritual Landscapes Symposium brings together three
noted scholars for a day and a half of presentations, paper panels and discussion that
are open to the public, interactive and hosted at the University of South Carolina.
Featured Presenters:
Ronald Hutton, Professor of History in the University of Bristol, a Fellow of the Royal
Historical Society, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, a
Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales, and formerly a Fellow of
Magdalen College, Oxford. Hutton is a historian on the
commission which runs English Heritage, and has published
fourteen books on aspects of political, social, cultural and
religious history, including a monograph on the English Civil
War, a narrative history of the Stuart Restoration, a biography of
Charles II, a survey of what is thought about the pagan religions
of the ancient British Isles, two large-scale studies of the history
of the ritual year in Britain, an analysis of Siberian shamanism, the first history of
modern paganism in Britain, and a survey of the treatment of Druids in British culture
over the centuries. Hutton is perhaps best-known in wider Pagan studies circles as the
author of the much-acclaimed Triumph of the Moon.
Wendy Griffin Academic Dean of Cherry Hill Seminary and Professor Emerita from
California State University, Long Beach, where she taught for 26
years and served the last five as Chair of the Department of
Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies. Griffin is one of the very
first American academics to publish field work in Pagan Studies,
was the founding co-chair of the Pagan Studies Group for the
American Academy of Religion, and the co-editor of the first
academic series in Pagan studies, published by AltaMira Press.
She has published numerous articles and book chapters and is
the editor of the anthology “Daughters of the Goddess: Studies
of Healing, Identity and Empowerment.” Griffin received her Ph.D. in the interdisciplinary
social sciences from the University of California at Irvine. Griffin is a member of the
Editorial Board of Pomegranate: The International Journal of Pagan Studies. When not
limning the halls of academia, Griffin is a songwriter, musician, and published novelist.
Jonathan Leader is the Co-Chair of the "Sacred Lands and
Spiritual Landscapes" symposium being held at USC Columbia
Campus. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Florida
Gainesville, and heads the S.C. Office of the State Archaeologist
located at the University of South Carolina. His research
interests and background include the ancient Near East,
Micronesia and Polynesia, and the pre- and proto-archaeology
of Meso and North America. Jonathan has conducted field work
among native healers and other religious indigenous specialists
in a variety of settings. He teaches and lectures across several departments at the
University of South Carolina.