What is Reconstructionism?
Definitions of Reconstructionism vary, but here is mine: reconstructionism seeks to revive a religion based upon an ancient culture, and bring that religion into the modern day. Reconstructionism is meant as a lens through which a person can examine religious practice. This method is not intended to stagnate spirituality, but it can if taken to extremes. Many people often confuse reenactment with Reconstructionism. Reconstructionists are often not trying to reenact the past exactly as it was, because this is an impossible goal and an unrealistic standard. Instead, many Reconstructionists try to take what they know of an ancient religion and apply it to modern times. A Reconstructionist is often also known as a “recon”. Reenacting the Canaanite faith exactly as the ancients would have practiced it is neither feasible nor desirable. It is not feasible because so much information has been lost and destroyed throughout time, and it is not desirable because the cultures in which we live are
Reconstructionism, as used here, is a methodology for developing and practicing ancient religions in the modern world. Reconstructionists believe that the religious expressions of the ancients were valid and have remained so across time and space. We believe that it is both possible and desireable to practice ancient religions albeit in modified form in the modern world. (N.B. Polytheistic groups that describe themselves as “reconstructionist” should not be confused with Christian or Jewish groups using the same term.
