Why did national romanticism complicate the study of Baltic religion?

National romanticism complicated the study of Baltic religion by fostering an uncritical approach that sought to identify Baltic culture directly with that of the ancient Indo-Europeans following the region's independence after World War I.1

This ideological drive led researchers to introduce "gods" into the historical record that were, in reality, merely etymological derivations of names for Christian saints. By prioritizing a romanticized connection to an ancient past, this perspective often bypassed the necessary critical analysis required to distinguish authentic indigenous religious concepts from later religious influences. Consequently, this trend created significant scholarly hurdles, as it obscured the actual historical development of Baltic beliefs and necessitated a more rigorous, objective methodology to separate genuine traditions from modern, nationalistic projections.1