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Theory Proposal:

Neopagan Identity
Development

Dean Paulk
Spring 2018
1.
Why Neopagan
Identity
Development?
What is neopaganism?
“spiritual practice associated with
one or more of the indigenous (i.e.
pre-Judeo-Christian-Islamic) faiths
of Europe” and “is a subset of the
broader aggregation of ethnic/
indigenous polytheistic, pantheistic,
shamanistic, and animistic belief
systems found around the world”
(Saunders, 2012, p. 788)

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71.2% Catholic/Christian

“Other” religions 0.8%


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2.
D’Augelli’s Theory
of LGB Identity
Development
(1994)
6 Stages of Development
exiting heterosexual identity

developing a personal LGB identity

developing a LGB social identity

becoming a LGB offspring

developing a LGB intimacy status

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entering a LGB community
3.
Smith’s Theory of
Atheist Identity
Development
(2011)
4 Stages of Development
1. the ubiquity of theism

2. questioning theism

3. rejecting theism

4. “coming out” atheist

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4.
Neopagan
Identity
Development
(Proposed)
6 Stages of Development
implicit religious identity

questioning religious identity

exiting previous religious identity

developing a personal neopagan identity

“coming out” as neopagan

entering a neopagan community


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Thanks!
ANY QUESTIONS?

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References
Clair, J. A., Beatty, J. E., & Maclean, T. L. (2005). Out of sight but not out of mind: Managing invisible social identities in the

workplace. Academy of Management Review, 30(1), 78-95.

D’Augelli, A. R. (1994). Identity development and sexual orientation: Toward a model of lesbian, gay, and bisexual

development. In Trickett, A. J., Watts, R. J., & Birman, D. (Eds.), Human diversity: Perspectives on people in context (pp.

312-333). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Gallup U.S. Daily. (2017). 2017 update on Americans and religion [Survey report]. Retrieved from

http://news.gallup.com/poll/224642/2017-update-americans-religion.aspx

Patton, L. D., Renn, K. A., Guido, F. M., & Quaye, S. J. (2016). Student development in college: Theory, research, and practice.

San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Pew Research Center. (2015). The future of world religions: Population growth projections, 2010-2050 [Survey report].

Retrieved from http://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/other-religions/

Saunders, R. A. (2012). Pagan places: Towards a religiogeography of neopaganism. Progress in Human Geography, 37(6),

786-810.

Smith, J. M. (2011). Becoming an atheist in america: Constructing identity and meaning from the rejection of theism. Sociology

of Religion, 72(2), 215-237.


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