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The Cult of the Balts : Mythological lmpulses and Neo-Pagan Practices in the touristic Clubs of the LSSR in the 1960s and 1970s

Rudling, Odeta LU (2017) In Region: Regional Studies Of Russia, Eastern Europe, And Central Asia 6(1). p.87-108
Abstract
In the 1960s, Soviet Lithuania witnessed the rise of an intensied interest in paganism. Aiming to diminish the infuence of the Roman Catholic Church, the Communist Party promoted Lithuanian pre-Christian customs and rituals that, in turn, not only became a successful instrument against Catholicism but also an effective stimulus of nationalism. Arising within the framework of academic touristic clubs, this interest turned into a deep study of the proto-Balts, their mythology, and their way of life, soon becoming the basis for an entire system of values based upon the superiority of Lithuanian ancestors. The biography and works of Vilhelmas Storostas (German: Wilhelm Storost), a.k.a. Vydūnas, a writer, theosophist, and nationalistic... (More)
In the 1960s, Soviet Lithuania witnessed the rise of an intensied interest in paganism. Aiming to diminish the infuence of the Roman Catholic Church, the Communist Party promoted Lithuanian pre-Christian customs and rituals that, in turn, not only became a successful instrument against Catholicism but also an effective stimulus of nationalism. Arising within the framework of academic touristic clubs, this interest turned into a deep study of the proto-Balts, their mythology, and their way of life, soon becoming the basis for an entire system of values based upon the superiority of Lithuanian ancestors. The biography and works of Vilhelmas Storostas (German: Wilhelm Storost), a.k.a. Vydūnas, a writer, theosophist, and nationalistic activist in the late 19th and early 20th century in Eastern Prussia, played a central role in the development of their world views. The newfound popularity of Vydūnas’s thinking as well as the infuential writings on the proto-Balts and their Indo-European links by the American scholar Marija Gimbutas (Lithuanian: Gimbutienė) were essential in the creation of a new, primordialist concept of Lithuanianhood. The infuence of their work was felt not only in the self-reflection of the movement but also in the construction of their religious neo-pagan practices. (Less)
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author
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Region: Regional Studies Of Russia, Eastern Europe, And Central Asia
volume
6
issue
1
pages
19 pages
publisher
Slavica Publishers
external identifiers
  • scopus:85023612146
ISSN
2166-4307
DOI
10.1353/reg.2017.0004
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
46fbe80c-3652-438a-ba02-1845168f1c1c
alternative location
https://www.jstor.org/stable/26377362
date added to LUP
2022-11-25 22:07:47
date last changed
2023-02-28 15:52:41
@article{46fbe80c-3652-438a-ba02-1845168f1c1c,
  abstract     = {{In the 1960s, Soviet Lithuania witnessed the rise of an intensied interest in  paganism. Aiming to diminish the infuence of the Roman Catholic Church, the Communist Party promoted Lithuanian pre-Christian customs and rituals that, in turn, not only became a successful instrument against Catholicism but also an effective stimulus of nationalism. Arising within the framework of academic touristic clubs, this interest turned into a deep study of the proto-Balts, their mythology, and their way of life, soon becoming the basis for an entire system of values based upon the superiority of Lithuanian ancestors. The biography and works of Vilhelmas Storostas (German: Wilhelm Storost), a.k.a. Vydūnas, a writer, theosophist, and nationalistic activist in the late 19th and early 20th century in Eastern Prussia, played a central role in the development of their world views. The newfound popularity of Vydūnas’s thinking as well as the infuential writings on the proto-Balts and their Indo-European links by the American scholar Marija Gimbutas (Lithuanian: Gimbutienė) were essential in the creation of a new, primordialist concept of Lithuanianhood. The infuence of their work was felt not only in the self-reflection of the movement but also in the construction of their religious neo-pagan practices.}},
  author       = {{Rudling, Odeta}},
  issn         = {{2166-4307}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{87--108}},
  publisher    = {{Slavica Publishers}},
  series       = {{Region: Regional Studies Of Russia, Eastern Europe, And Central Asia}},
  title        = {{The Cult of the Balts : Mythological lmpulses and Neo-Pagan Practices in the touristic Clubs of the LSSR in the 1960s and 1970s}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/reg.2017.0004}},
  doi          = {{10.1353/reg.2017.0004}},
  volume       = {{6}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}