Overview

Paganism is one of the world's fastest-growing religions, practised in a huge variety of ways. The Paganism Reader provides a definitive collection of key sources in Paganism, ranging from its ancient origins to its twentieth-century reconstruction and revival. Chronologically organized sections include extracts from ancient Greek, Norse and Celtic literature, inspirational texts from the early twentieth-century, writings by leaders of the Pagan revival, and newer perspectives showing the diversity of Paganism today. Witchcraft, nature religion, shamanism and goddess worship are considered, as is the influence of environmental and feminist movements. Fully introduced, with editors' prefaces to all extracts and suggestions for further reading, this comprehensive book is an invaluable guide to Paganism and critical issues in its study.

Full Product Details

Author:   Chas Clifton ,  Graham Harvey (University of Winchester, UK)
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint:   Routledge
Dimensions:   Width: 17.40cm , Height: 2.20cm , Length: 24.60cm
Weight:   0.740kg
ISBN:  

9780415303538

ISBN 10:   0415303532
Pages:   400
Publication Date:   11 March 2004
Audience:   General/trade ,  College/higher education ,  General ,  Undergraduate
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

Acknowledgements; General introduction; Part 1: Classical texts; 1. Jeremiah, 'Cakes for the Queen of heaven'; 2. 'The Hymn to the Mother of the Gods' and 'The Hymn to the Moon' from The Homeric Hymns; 3. Isis' speech from Apuleius Golden Ass; 4. Pliny the Elder, 'Mistletoe'; 5. Julian the Hellene, 'Letter to a Pagan Priest'; 6. 'The Thunder: Perfect Mind' from Nag Hammadi; 7. Havamal. Stanzas; 1-20 and; 138-145; 8. Eirik's Saga; 9. 'Math Son of Mathonwy' from The Mabinogion; 10. Marie Heaney, 'Over Nine Waves'; 11. Geoffrey of Monmouth; Part 2: Proto-revival texts; 12. 'How Diana Gave Birth to Aradia (Herodias)'; 13 Aleister Crowley, The Book of the Law; 14. Rudyard Kipling, 'A Tree Song'; 15. Kenneth Grahame, 'The Piper at the Gates of Dawn'; 16. Margaret Murray, 'Witchcraft'; 17. Col C.R.F. Seymour, 'The Old Gods'; 18. Robert Graves, 'The Triple Muse'; Part 3: Revival and diversification texts; 19. Gerald Gardner, 'Living Witchcraft'; 20. Robert Heinlein, 'Thou art God'; 21. Paul Huson, 'Preliminary Preparations'; 22. Hans Holzer, 'Isus abd Ishtar: The Comeback of Ancient Cults'; 23. Raymond Buckland, 'As It Was: As It Will Be'; 24. Doreen Valiente, 'Working with Gerald' and 'Robert Cochrane, Magister'; 25. Evan John Jones, 'The Nature of the Rites'; 26. June Johns, 'A Magic Childhood'; 27. Michael McNierney, 'The Stoic Way of Nature: A Pagan Spiritual Path'; 28. Heather O'Dell, 'The Solo Witch'; 29. Judy Harrow, 'Initiation by Ordeal: Military Service as a Passage into Adulthood'; 30. Tony Kelly, 'Pagan Musings'; 31. Asphodel Long, 'The Goddess Movement in Britain Today'; 32. Marion Bradley, Initiations in The Mists of Avalon; 33. Wren Sidhe, 'Drawing Down the Moon'; 34. Chas S. Clifton, 'Nature Religion for Real'; 35. Chas S. Clifton, 'What Happened to Western Shamanism'; 36. Barry Peterson, Finding your way in the Woods; 37. Gordon MacLellan, 'Entertaining Faeries'; Further study; Index

Reviews

The Paganism Reader is the first to bring together some of the formative writings that have given birth to the Pagan revival and gives readers a fascinating insight into influences on contemporary Pagan thought. <br>-Vivianne Crowley <br> The Paganism Reader is easy to read and utterly fascinating--I think it should be on every Witch's bookshelf. <br>- Witchcraft, May-June 2005 <br>

Author Information

Chas Clifton, Graham Harvey

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