Teheuti
Sounds like you've been reading wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-processual_archaeology.
The point you seem to be missing is that whatever approach to history that is adopted, it is still based on primary sources of historical evidence, which become the basis for one's critique. Also, that history is constantly being re-written as new evidence appears - rather than it being static due to being based on beliefs.
For instance, in the 1970s cultural-historical feminist historians came up with the idea of a mass slaughter of women during the "Burning Times." All of that had to be radically reconsidered subsequently in light of specific town records across Europe. Far fewer people were killed; in some areas it was mostly men; and midwives (despite a modern tendency to think of midwives and herbalists as witches) were as likely as any other, and, in some cases, more likely, to have turned in people in their communities.
I'd like to recommend a trip to PantheaCon in San Jose CA next February, if you want to see dialogs among academics and pagans - many of whom are both - about so-called Pagan history. Or read the works of Ronald Hutton (a practicing Druid last I heard and outstanding academic historian). Sure there have been critiques of Hutton, but none that have withstood the test of time (other than new evidence that has emerged).
The point you seem to be missing is that whatever approach to history that is adopted, it is still based on primary sources of historical evidence, which become the basis for one's critique. Also, that history is constantly being re-written as new evidence appears - rather than it being static due to being based on beliefs.
For instance, in the 1970s cultural-historical feminist historians came up with the idea of a mass slaughter of women during the "Burning Times." All of that had to be radically reconsidered subsequently in light of specific town records across Europe. Far fewer people were killed; in some areas it was mostly men; and midwives (despite a modern tendency to think of midwives and herbalists as witches) were as likely as any other, and, in some cases, more likely, to have turned in people in their communities.
I'd like to recommend a trip to PantheaCon in San Jose CA next February, if you want to see dialogs among academics and pagans - many of whom are both - about so-called Pagan history. Or read the works of Ronald Hutton (a practicing Druid last I heard and outstanding academic historian). Sure there have been critiques of Hutton, but none that have withstood the test of time (other than new evidence that has emerged).