Calico/Being Viking, 5. Hard Polytheism in a Soft World

At the core of Heathen religious experience are the incredibly potent figures of the gods. This chapter examines Heathen theological approaches, including the contrast between ideas of hard and soft polytheisms. As new polytheistic religions such as Heathenry emerge in societies once dominated by monotheism, it has become increasingly important to understand the dynamics of polytheistic systems. In that context, I examine Heathenry as a developing polytheist culture.