Studies and statistics continue to be issued confirming the decline in the phenomenon of religiosity and faith in the West, and the drop in the percentage of Christian converts to less than half.

While most researchers turn their attention to indicators of the increase in the number of atheists and irreligious people, some turn to a more strange phenomenon, which is the spread of ancient pagan and magical sects, including Shamanism.

According to the latest population census in Britain, which was published two months ago by the government Office of National Statistics (ONS), the percentage of Christian converts in England and Wales decreased during the past decade (2011-2021) from 59.3% to 46.2%, compared to an increase in the percentage of those who do not profess any religion. 25.2% to 37.2%.

It is remarkable that the percentage of adherents of other religions for citizens of immigrant origins increased, in contrast to the British abandoning their Christian religion. While the percentage of Hindus and Sikhs increased by slight numbers (about 0.01%), the percentage of Muslims increased from 4.9% to 6.5%.

As for the most strange observation, it is the increasing popularity of extinct religions and sects that contradict both Christianity and secularism, as 74 thousand people defined themselves as followers of pagan religions (Paganism), and 13 thousand classified themselves as followers of Wicca, a magical religion that appeared in the century 20 to restore pre-Christian heritage, while 8,000 people said they were followers of shamanism.

The authors of the statistical study said that shamanism thus becomes the fastest spreading "religion" in Britain, although the number of its followers is small, but it has multiplied more than 10 times over the past decade.

We've released new #Census2021 data on religion in England and Wales.

46.2% said they were "Christian" - less than half of the population for the first time.

This was a decrease from 59.3% in 2011, but still the most common response.

➡️ https://t.co/Nv6VDkSO9i pic.twitter.com/HtoYJl7jkn

— Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) November 29, 2022

Prehistory

Researchers do not agree on the terminological and historical origin of shamanism. Some of them suggest that the name derives from Mongolian linguistic roots and is intended to refer to the "shaman", meaning the possessor of knowledge. There are those who attribute it to an Indian-Sanskrit origin that was called the mystic hermit, and others attributed it to other Asian and African linguistic origins. .

The shaman is the sorcerer whose existence was almost a common factor among the tribes in ancient times, especially in the prehistoric stages that preceded the emergence of states and civilizations.

In the absence of prophetic messages and revelations, before the emergence of great temples and organized religious structures, the shaman used to present himself to the tribe as a mediator between them and the world of spirits, whether he was a man or a woman, and often he was entrusted with the tasks of treatment, divination and astrology, and he might have a real connection with the demons - which Spirits are called - by magic, or perhaps a charlatan who practices sorcery.

In addition to the spiritual tasks, the shamans employed dance and music in their work, and they also took advantage of the medical knowledge that was circulating in their culture using herbs, and often added metaphysical (mystical) dimensions to it.

Shamanism divides existence into 3 equal parts, namely, the earthly world with its material components, the human world, and the cosmic world that includes stars and planets.

Each of these worlds has its own spirit, and the shaman undertakes to communicate with these spirits in order to seek treatment and rain, or to ward off disasters, and other goals.

According to historians and archaeologists, indications indicate the presence of shamanism in earlier ages among the tribes of Australia, Siberia, Korea, Japan and Indochina, throughout the Americas and Africa, and in separate regions of Europe and North Scandinavia, and their presence still exists today in a smaller percentage in tribal and rural societies.

International experts have unanimously agreed that the meadows of Hulun Pu'er (northeast China) are the main source of ancient shamanic culture in the world.

Magical practices are gaining more popularity in Western countries (Shutterstock)

Revive

Shamanism is characterized by simplicity and lack of organization, as it relies mainly on individual experience, and on resorting to consulting or assisting the shaman, which does not require reliance on an organized structure or religious institution, so the role of the shaman diminished in civilizations that took for themselves temples and complete mythological systems, and magicians remained working in them on the fringes of this system.

With the spread of major religions, the role of shamans in most civilizations diminished, and their contradictory ideas were fought with new faiths such as Islam and Christianity, or they were reintegrated into other sects that emerged within the official religions, as happened in Hinduism and Buddhism.

In the modern era, secularism and irreligion began to spread at the expense of religions in large regions of the world, and ancient spirituality was considered a kind of quackery in the scientific system and the prevailing culture, but the rapid decline of Christianity in Western countries during the last two decades provided a remarkable margin for reviving these practices that were considered Just a few years ago the myths defunct.

Shamanism is concerned with the issue of balance between man's inner self-power and the external spiritual forces surrounding him.

It gains its influence today from its direct connection with personal experience, as it reinforces the individualism tendency, which is one of the most important features of modern civilization, as the practice does not require affiliation with a church or recognition of a priest. Any rites of worship or restrictive legislation.

Moreover, shamanism satisfies the innate need for belonging, for although it does not conflict with individualism, it organizes its followers into small groups, and thus offers an alternative to fraternal religious groups, but it is not binding, so belonging to it does not constitute a burden on the member wishing to experiment, even if it was Out of curiosity at first.

Shamanism also offers an opportunity to fill the spiritual void created by a consumer lifestyle, and its practices are presented in a recreational framework full of dance and music, and are often combined with the use of hallucinogenic drugs, such as Ayahuasca, which was common in the Amazon region, and it is made from mixing two local plants, as it is believed It gives users temporary entry into an alternate state of consciousness, called a shamanic trance.

Celebrations in Moscow of "Maslenitsa", which dates back to pagan traditions preceding Christianity (European - archive)

The attitude towards shamanism

Although the spread of pagan tendencies is accelerating in Europe, it is still limited to very small minorities, so it does not arouse the interest of followers even today, especially as it appears closer to individual spiritual experiences than organized movements.

In terms of politics and religion, churchmen and conservatives may express their resentment of some young people flocking to it, but secularists and liberals show greater tolerance towards it, even though it radically contradicts the materialistic position on the world. The culture of preserving the environment and addressing the climate crisis.

On the seventh of January, several Russian politicians sparked controversy when they participated in the shamanic celebrations called the "Saami" rituals, which coincided with the Orthodox Christmas, which angered the Orthodox Christians, who saw in these posts a contradiction with the "agenda." orthodoxy" of the federal government.

On the other hand, others justified these ceremonies as a restoration of traditional national cultures, and that they are acceptable behavior in the time of the war currently taking place in Ukraine, according to what was reported by the Eurasia Review newspaper, according to Roman Chezinsky, a professor of religions at the Baltic Federal University.

And in Norway, Princess Martha (51 years) was forced to give up her royal titles last November, after she insisted on sticking to her engagement to the American Doric Verrett, who calls himself "Shaman", and who gained wide fame in Hollywood circles by providing his treatments. Spirituality" for celebrities.

Senior politicians in Norway had issued anti-American statements, accusing him of promoting conspiracy theories and myths. On the other hand, Verrett saw that he was subjected to racial persecution because of his African origin.

Doctors warn of the danger of promoting the so-called alternative treatment, especially attempts to persuade patients to give up treatment for cancer and mental and mental illnesses, and others justify their drug use and shamanic practice by treating psychosis or schizophrenia, which worsens their condition.