Polish and Lithuanian Neopaganism: Some Differences and Similarities in the Light of Survey Research
Dr. Arkadiusz Sołtysiak
Department of Historical Anthropology
Institute of Archaeology UW
In the years 2001-2003, survey research was conducted among members of Polish and Lithuanian neopagan groups. The research used a questionnaire employed by Prof. Maria Libiszowska-Żółtkowska and Dr. Tadeusz Doktór for surveying participants in new religious movements, expanded with 16 questions specifically regarding neopaganism. We received 45 responses, including 16 from the Native Polish Church, 16 from the Association for Tradition and Culture "Niklot" and Rodzima Wiara, and 13 from the Lithuanian Romuva. The series is not large, but given the generally small size of neopagan groups, it is difficult to expect a larger one. The results of the preliminary analysis of responses to several selected questions will be used to attempt to determine the nature of the differences between the three neopagan movements taken into account.
The Rodzimy Kościół Polski (Polish Native Church) is a religious organization registered in 1995. Its leader is Lech Emfazy Stefański, best known as the president of the Polish Psychotronic Society. Much information about the doctrine of RKP can be found in Stefański's book „Wyrocznia słowiańska” [1993], in which he presents a vision of pre-Christian Slavic religion as a form of henotheism with Świętowit as a deity essentially identical to one God in Christianity or Islam. Members of the RKP organize eclectic rituals combining pagan motifs with psychotronics; this group can be classified as belonging to the broad New Age movement. It has around 200 members [Simpson 2000:134-139; Okraska 2001:75].
Association For Tradition and Culture "Niklot" refers to the pre-war Zadruga [Grott 1994] and belongs to the most numerous nationalist and anti-Christian neopagan trend in Poland. It was founded in 1998 by Tomasz Szczepański, the creator of the magazine "Trygław" and an active promoter of the New Right ideas in Poland. Association is closely associated with Rodzima Wiara, a religious association registered in 1996; the total number of members of the „Niklot” Association, Rodzima Wiara, and smaller groups referring to Zadruga is approximately 500 people [Simpson 2000:94-106].
