Ross Downing is a Religious Studies PhD student based at the University of Highlands & Islands in the United Kingdom. His educational background is cross-disciplinary, grounded in Scandinavian Studies, Sami Studies, Medieval Studies and Religious Studies. His work in Old Norse and Old English Paganism and its relationship with early Christianity has included field experience in archaeology, and his second interest led him to ethnographical fieldwork in Contemporary Paganism.
In this podcast, Ross Downing discusses personal and communal narratives, online mythology and the grey areas between religion and media with Vivian Asimos. Miss Asimos' work has investigated the potentiality of video games as contemporary mythology in popular culture. In the broader context of BASR 2018, the overall theme of boundaries and categories is explored and the possible insights online movements can yield in the perception and application of theories of religion.
Ross Downing interviews academic and vlogger Áine Warren about her research and fieldwork experience of the Dark Goddess; a contemporary Pagan feminist figure being fed into by women from all over the world and from many religious backgrounds. The inspiration of Jungian psychology is discussed and the development of a media-based theology or thealogy.
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