Mesoamerican reconstructionism

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Mesoamerican Reconstructionism is the practice of reconstructing pre-Columbian Mesoamerican religious practices.

[edit] Reconstructionism

Main article: Polytheistic reconstructionism

In polytheism, Reconstructionism is a methodology which attempts accurately to base modern religious practice on culturally and historically genuine examples of ancient religious practices. Other polytheistic groups that frequently use Reconstructionist methodologies include Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism, Germanic Neopaganism, and Kemetic Orthodoxy.

Reconstructionism is a subset of Neopaganism, contrasting with syncretic or eclectic movements like Wicca and "inspired" or "channeled" movements like Germanic mysticism or Theosophy. By strict definition, Mesoamerican reconstructionism falls under this Neopaganism subset. However, due to the above contrast, some Mesoamerican reconstructionists resent being classified with non-reconstructionist Paganism.

[edit] Aztec reconstructionism

Aztec is a term used to refer to certain ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the Nahuatl language and who achieved political and military dominance over large parts of Mesoamerica in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, a period referred to as the Late post-Classic period in Mesoamerican chronology.

Often the term "Aztec" refers exclusively to the people of Mexico-Tenochtitlan, situated on an island in Lake Texcoco, who called themselves Mexica Tenochca or Colhua-Mexica. Sometimes it also includes the inhabitants of Tenochtitlan's two principal allied city-states, the Acolhuas of Texcoco and the Tepanecs of Tlacopan, who together with the Mexica formed the Aztec Triple Alliance which has also become known as the "Aztec Empire". "Aztec reconstructionism" refers to reconstructing the state religion of the Aztec Empire.