Greetings

Polytheism has constituted the predominant religious worldview for the majority of human civilizations throughout history. As a multifaceted system of belief and practice, it has provided interpretative frameworks through which societies have sought to comprehend the natural world, the divine order, and humanity’s place within the Cosmos.

From the monumental Sacred Temples of Egypt, Greece, and Rome to the enduring traditions of India, Scandinavia, the Baltic regions, and other parts of the world, polytheistic systems have articulated complex theological and cosmological understandings that reflect the plurality and dynamism of life.

Polytheistic traditions emphasize multiplicity, complementarity, and interrelation among the Gods and Goddesses. These systems promote a worldview grounded in balance, reciprocity, and aesthetic appreciation of the sacred as manifested in the Cosmos.

In contemporary scholarship, polytheism continues to offer valuable insights into the study of religion, philosophy, and cultural history, illuminating alternative paradigms of thought that challenge monolithic conceptions of the divine.

Application Form

Seminar Program

January 30, 2026: Introductory Free Lesson

PART A

February 8, 15, and 22 at 18:00 (Riga time): Latvian Religion — Dievturība - Dr. Uģis Nastevičs (Mg. paed., Ph.D.)

March 8, 15 and 22: Roman Religion - Giuseppe Barbera (Pontifex Maximus of Pietas Gentile Community for the roman tradition)

April 12, 19 and 26: Ásatrú - Koenraad Logghe (founder and former chairman of Traditie vzw – Ásatrú in the Low Countries (Flanders and the Netherlands))

May 3, 10 and 17: Egyptian Religion - Dr Marios Koutsoukos (Department of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology (ACE), University of Liverpool)

June 7, 14 and 28: Hellenic Religion / Hellenism - Elena Petri (High Priestess of Hellenic Ethnic Religion, author, scholar of theology) & George Lizos (spiritual teacher, healer, author and priest of the Hellenic Ethnic Religion in Cyprus)

PART B

September: Indigenous Religions of Amazonia & Oceania - Dr Evgenia Fotiou (Assistant Professor of Social Anthropology, University of Crete)

October: Japanese Religion — Shintō - Dr. Uģis Nastevičs (Mg. paed., Ph.D.)

November: Lithuanian Religion — Romuva - Gailė Vanagienė

December: Sami Shamanism - Kyrre Gram Franck (founder of the Sjamanistisk Forbund / Norway)

Objectives

Basic principles of Polytheism
The difference between polytheism and monotheism
Common themes that unite polytheistic traditions (e.g., hierarchies, local deities, creation myths).
Examination by religion of the main deities, their functions and qualities, as well as their cult practices.
The value system and virtues. Divine qualities reflected in the human world.
Polytheism in the 21st century.
Understanding and clarifying the significance of ethnic religions and traditions
Analyzing key meanings of polytheistic religions
Historical evolution of ethnic religions and their meanings over time
Rites of passage and views on the afterlife
Sacred rites and the significance of their rituals
Historical and contemporary challenges faced by by polytheists
What is the current institutional situation in their country and how does it affect society?
Sacred sites and their significance
Getting to know spiritual leaders and important figures who have contributed to the preservation and dissemination of ethnic traditions
Hymns and their role in worship

Outcomes

To clearly understand what polytheism is and how it differs from other worldviews (such as monotheism, pantheism, etc.)
Become familiar with the worldview, theology, the structure of polytheistic systems, such as the hierarchies of deities, their fields of action, and the interaction between them.
To broaden their knowledge by clearly understanding the significance of ethnic religions and traditions, as well as their role in history and contemporary society.
Learn about the historical evolution of religions and their traditions, the challenges they have faced and continue to face, and their relationship with society.
To understand the significance of Sacred in polytheistic religions and learn about sacred rites, rites of passage, and hymns in worship practices.
To understand the current institutional status of religions in their country and their contribution to the shaping of social and cultural life.

Course Includes

27 live interactive sessions, up to 90 hours of teaching
Access to recorded sessions
Suggested readings
Extra workshops
Certificate upon successful completion

Date & Time

From January 30 2026

To December 18 2026

Language of the Course

English

Method of Implementation

Online through Zoom

Price

Entire Course Fee: 100 € (Total)

The fee must be paid in advance.

Bank Details:

Recipient:
ECER

Legal address:
Brīvības gatve 356-40, Rīga, LV-1006, Latvia

Registration number:
40008332223

SEPA identifier:
LV95ZZZ40008332223

Account number (IBAN):
BE57967927947735

SWIFT/BIC:
TRWIBEB1XXX

Bank:
WISE (Legal address: Wise Europe SA, Rue du Trône 100, 3rd floor, Brussels, 1050, Belgium)

Refund Policy:
In case that a scheduled lecturer is unable to conduct their seminar and the lecture cannot be rescheduled, a partial refund corresponding to that specific module will be issued. We are committed that we will ensure you are notified promptly regarding any changes to the schedule.

GDPR Clause

ECER holds and processes your personal data for specific purposes. ECER will use your personal data only on their behalf and only for tasks related to their purposes, including to inform you about the actions they have carried out, about their activities or to invite you to upcoming events they organise or in which they participate. The information relating to your personal data is secure and no distribution is made to third parties without your consent.

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