Editing Modern paganism (section)

===Eclectic and reconstructive===

{{Quote box|width=25em|align=right|quote="We might say that Reconstructionist Pagans romanticize the past, while eclectic pagans idealize the future. In the first case, there is a deeply felt need to connect with the past as a source of spiritual strength and wisdom; in the second case, there is the idealistic hope that a spirituality of nature can be gleaned from ancient sources and shared with all humanity."|source=— Religious studies scholar Michael Strmiska{{sfn|Strmiska|2005|p=22}} }}

Modern pagan attitudes differ regarding the source material surrounding pre-Christian belief systems.{{sfn|Strmiska|2005|p=18}} Strmiska notes that pagan groups can be "divided along a continuum: at one end are those that aim to reconstruct the ancient religious traditions of a particular ethnic group or a linguistic or geographic area to the highest degree possible; at the other end are those that freely blend traditions of different areas, peoples, and time periods."{{sfn|Strmiska|2005|p=19}} Strmiska argues that these two poles could be termed ''reconstructionism'' and ''eclecticism'', respectively.{{sfnm|1a1=Strmiska|1y=2005|1p=19|2a1=Doyle White|2y=2016|2p=6}} Reconstructionists do not altogether reject innovation in their interpretation and adaptation of the source material, however they do believe that the source material conveys greater authenticity and thus should be emphasized.{{sfn|Strmiska|2005|p=19}} They often follow scholarly debates about the nature of such pre-Christian religions, and some reconstructionists are themselves scholars.{{sfn|Strmiska|2005|p=19}} [[Eclectic pagans]], conversely, seek general inspiration from the pre-Christian past, and do not attempt to recreate past rites or traditions with specific attention to detail.{{sfn|Strmiska|2005|pp=19–20}}

On the reconstructionist side can be placed those movements which often favour the designation "Native Faith", including [[Romuva (religion)|Romuva]], [[Heathenry (new religious movement)|Heathenry]], [[Reconstructionist Roman religion|Roman Traditionalism]] and [[Hellenismos|Hellenism]].{{sfn|Doyle White|2016|p=7}} On the eclectic side has been placed [[Wicca]], [[Thelema]], [[Adonism]], [[Druidry]], the [[Goddess Movement]], [[Discordianism]] and the [[Radical Faeries]].{{sfn|Doyle White|2016|p=7}}
Strmiska also suggests that this division could be seen as being based on "discourses of identity", with reconstructionists emphasizing a deep-rooted sense of place and people, and eclectics embracing a universality and openness toward humanity and the Earth.{{sfn|Strmiska|2005|pp=21–22}}

Strmiska nevertheless notes that this reconstructionist-eclectic division is "neither as absolute nor as straightforward as it might appear".{{sfn|Strmiska|2005|p=21}} He cites the example of [[Dievturība]], a form of reconstructionist paganism that seeks to revive the pre-Christian religion of the Latvian people, by noting that it exhibits eclectic tendencies by adopting a monotheistic focus and ceremonial structure from [[Lutheranism]].{{sfn|Strmiska|2005|p=21}} Similarly, while examining neo-shamanism among the [[Sami people]] of Northern Scandinavia, Siv Ellen Kraft highlights that despite the religion being reconstructionist in intent, it is highly eclectic in the manner in which it has adopted elements from [[shamanism|shamanic]] traditions in other parts of the world.{{sfn|Kraft|2015|p=28}}
In discussing Asatro – a form of Heathenry based in Denmark – Matthew Amster notes that it did not fit clearly within such a framework, because while seeking a reconstructionist form of historical accuracy, Asatro strongly eschewed the emphasis on ethnicity that is common to other reconstructionist groups.{{sfn|Amster|2015|pp=44, 59}} While Wicca is identified as an eclectic form of paganism,{{sfnm|1a1=Strmiska|1y=2005|1p=21|2a1=Doyle White|2y=2016|2p=7}} Strmiska also notes that some Wiccans have moved in a more reconstructionist direction by focusing on a particular ethnic and cultural link, thus developing such variants as Norse Wicca and [[Celtic Wicca]].{{sfn|Strmiska|2005|p=21}} Concern has also been expressed regarding the utility of the term "reconstructionism" when dealing with paganisms in Central and Eastern Europe, because in many of the languages of these regions, equivalents of the term "reconstructionism" – such as the Czech {{Lang|cs|Historická rekonstrukce}} and Lithuanian {{Lang|lt|Istorinė rekonstrukcija}} – are already used to define the secular hobby of [[historical re-enactment]].{{sfn|Simpson|Filip|2013|p=39}}