Magick Circles in Ivy: A Phenomenological Content Analysis of Pagan College Student Organizations

Abstract

This study examines documents from 23 Pagan college student organizations recognized at universities across the United States. These documents were analyzed for information they contained about the explicit missions and purposes for Pagan college student clubs, and how those articulations align with in-group or out-group foci in accordance with social identity theory (SIT) and social categorization theory (SCT). Findings indicate an overall slight emphasis toward in-group mission foci, and the strong influence of anti-Pagan social stigma throughout the documents.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Gordon Wilson Maples

Gordon Maples ([email protected]) is a higher education scholar who studies religious accommodation policies and leadership communications. He is currently a qualitative research project manager with the Odum Institute at UNC-Chapel Hill.