Linzie (2004) enumerates the difference between modern reconstructionist polytheism, such as modern
Hellenismos or
Nova Roma, and "classical" paganism as found in eighteenth to mid-twentieth century movements, including
Germanic mysticism, early
Neodruidism and
Wicca. Aspects of the former, not found in the latter, are as follows: • There is no attempt to recreate a combined pan-European paganism. • Researchers attempt to stay within research guidelines developed over the course of the past century for handling documentation generated in the time periods that they are studying. • A multi-disciplinary approach is utilized capitalizing on results from various fields as historical literary research, anthropology, religious history, political history, archaeology, forensic anthropology, historical sociology, etc. with an overt attempt to avoid pseudo-sciences. • There are serious attempts to recreate culture, politics, science and art of the period "in order to better understand the environment within which the religious beliefs were practiced". Emphasis has been added to show that the recreation of pre-Christian social conditions are done so with the intent of understanding the religious practices and beliefs, not in order to recreate or revive a pre-Christian society either to replace modern society or to exist in parallel to modern society. The latter intention would be more indicative of a traditionalist or a
historical reenactment approach, and not specifically a reconstructionist neopagan. The goal of these methods is to create a set of rituals, rites and practices which facilitate a harmonious relationship between the gods (and other good spirits like
landwights or
others) and the belief-community. Reconstructionist neopagans hope that this harmony both within the belief-community itself and between the gods and the community brings some kind of tangible or intangible good. As in Germanic Heathenry, proper offerings (
blót) to the gods are thought to bring about "peace and plenty" (). The use of the terms "pagan" and "neopagan" to refer to polytheistic reconstructionists is controversial. Some reconstructionist religious groups take great issue with being referred to as "pagan" or "neopagan," viewing "pagan" as a pejorative term. Even among those reconstructionist groups who see themselves as part of the broader, pagan or neopagan spectrum, they may refuse the terms and their associations with the more problematic aspects of that community, such as eclecticism,
cultural appropriation or Wiccan-inspired ritual structures. == References ==