The Sophia Centre was founded in the School of Historical and Cultural Studies at Bath Spa University in 2002, as the first University centre in the world to teach cultural astronomy (defined as "the study of the application of beliefs about the stars to all aspects of human culture, from religion and science to the arts and literature") and the history and culture of astrology.
5-762: In 2004, Michael York , the centre's director, was appointed the world's first professor of cultural astronomy and astrology. In 2008 the Centre transferred to the University of Wales, Lampeter . The centre is now in the Department of Archaeology, History and Anthropology at the renamed University of Wales Trinity Saint David (formed by the merger of the University of Wales, Lampeter and the Trinity College Carmarthen. The current director of
10-436: A "religionist." I believe in religion itself and its central role in expanding human consciousness above and beyond immediate daily concerns. I see religion as an ongoing dialogue that questions the purpose of life and our terrestrial incarnations. In my own pursuit and love of religion as religion, I have been particularly attracted to paganism not only as the source and origin of all religion but also as an organic alternative to
15-600: Is associated with the Sophia Centre Press and publishes the bi-annual journal, Culture and Cosmos . Volumes of conference proceedings include: Michael York (religious studies scholar) Michael York is an American religious studies scholar, based in the United Kingdom, who specializes in the study of pre-Christian European religion and its relation to contemporary Paganism . In 2003, he published Pagan Theology , in which he put forward
20-636: The Sophia Centre is Nicholas Campion . The centre's teaching, via the MA in Cultural Astronomy and Astrology, is based in a wide view of astronomy and astrology as providing a framework for culture, and the analysis of the way in which cosmos provides a reference for human activity. The centre began teaching archaeoastronomy in 2010 and holds an annual conference from which several volumes of proceedings have been published (see below). The centre
25-490: The idea that the ancient pre-Christian and pre-Islamic religions of Eurasia, indigenous religions from across the globe, and contemporary Pagan faiths could all be constituted as forms of paganism . Michael York participated in TEDxLambeth 2019 as a speaker. Describing his own religious beliefs and his affection for paganism, York remarked that: If I had to name my own denominational predilection, I would say that I am
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