The Goddess Eostre:Bede's Text and Contemporary Pagan Tradition(s)

摘要: Modern Pagan groups often consult texts from the European Middle Ages and rely upon scholarly assessments of authenticity these traditions they contain. Often become 'scripture' for Pagans are thus vitally important identity community. This applies equally to Traditional Eclectic Pagans, although differ in their attitude past, former group engaging reconstruction where latter more flexible engage reinvention. article investigates sources a minor Anglo-Saxon goddess, Eostre, best known bestowing her name on Christian festival Easter. Eostre has been chosen precisely because obscurity; academic discourses studies unable reach agreement even concerning existence. In contrast cautious, sceptical, 'outsider' voices, 'insider' voices contemporary community celebrate perform rituals honour. It is here argued that there continuum interpretations Eostre/Ostara material, with scepticism at one end reinvention other end, while historically grounded found Asatru some Northern negotiate compromise between 'objective' scholarship 'subjective' faith.