Contemporary Tree Lore and the Ancient Worship of Trees : The Contributions of James Frazer to the Contemporary Study of Religion and Ecology
(2024) p.265-287- Abstract
This chapter argues that Frazer's writings on the worship of trees contribute to the discussion on religion and ecology within the environmental humanities. Frazer's idea that animism and seeing trees as living and worthy of respect supports an ethical relation to trees has been furthered in a contemporary context where sentient trees support an ecological ethos. Frazer's idea is related to Lynn White's argument on ancient pagan animism and ecological protection and to the work of contemporary scholars on animism and Paganism, such as Christopher Partridge, Bron Taylor, and Graham Harvey. This chapter also presents a case study of modern tree lore in Druidry, and the Charter for Trees, Woods and People's initiative to protect woods in... (More)
This chapter argues that Frazer's writings on the worship of trees contribute to the discussion on religion and ecology within the environmental humanities. Frazer's idea that animism and seeing trees as living and worthy of respect supports an ethical relation to trees has been furthered in a contemporary context where sentient trees support an ecological ethos. Frazer's idea is related to Lynn White's argument on ancient pagan animism and ecological protection and to the work of contemporary scholars on animism and Paganism, such as Christopher Partridge, Bron Taylor, and Graham Harvey. This chapter also presents a case study of modern tree lore in Druidry, and the Charter for Trees, Woods and People's initiative to protect woods in Britain. Finally, Frazer's ideas are significant to current scholarly discourse on animism and Paganism in relation to the ecological crisis and help us to approach modern tree lore.
(Less)
- author
- Brissman, Ive LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2024
- type
- Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
- publication status
- published
- subject
- host publication
- A Century of James Frazer's The Golden Bough : Shaking the Tree, Breaking the Bough - Shaking the Tree, Breaking the Bough
- pages
- 23 pages
- publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85213562376
- ISBN
- 9781032695631
- 9781040183045
- DOI
- 10.4324/9781032695655-22
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 6584746d-b4e8-446b-949c-20b2044a347c
- date added to LUP
- 2025-02-25 12:19:55
- date last changed
- 2025-07-01 23:18:59
@inbook{6584746d-b4e8-446b-949c-20b2044a347c,
abstract = {{<p>This chapter argues that Frazer's writings on the worship of trees contribute to the discussion on religion and ecology within the environmental humanities. Frazer's idea that animism and seeing trees as living and worthy of respect supports an ethical relation to trees has been furthered in a contemporary context where sentient trees support an ecological ethos. Frazer's idea is related to Lynn White's argument on ancient pagan animism and ecological protection and to the work of contemporary scholars on animism and Paganism, such as Christopher Partridge, Bron Taylor, and Graham Harvey. This chapter also presents a case study of modern tree lore in Druidry, and the Charter for Trees, Woods and People's initiative to protect woods in Britain. Finally, Frazer's ideas are significant to current scholarly discourse on animism and Paganism in relation to the ecological crisis and help us to approach modern tree lore.</p>}},
author = {{Brissman, Ive}},
booktitle = {{A Century of James Frazer's The Golden Bough : Shaking the Tree, Breaking the Bough}},
isbn = {{9781032695631}},
language = {{eng}},
pages = {{265--287}},
publisher = {{Taylor & Francis}},
title = {{Contemporary Tree Lore and the Ancient Worship of Trees : The Contributions of James Frazer to the Contemporary Study of Religion and Ecology}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781032695655-22}},
doi = {{10.4324/9781032695655-22}},
year = {{2024}},
}