Product Description

A text on the academic study of contemporary wicca and paganism throughout the world.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1274860 in Books
• Published on: 2006-10-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 254 pages

Customer Reviews

Legitimizing The Craft ~ An Interdisciplinary Approach To Contemporary Paganism
`Introduction to Pagan Studies' is not the usual faire one has come to expect from books dealing with such subject matter. There are no intermittent "personal experiences" with non-human entities to be related to the spiritual thrill seeker, no emotive songs of praise, exotic spells or rituals to engage the reader into their own subjective flights of fancy.

This exhaustive 245 survey on contemporary paganism is in every way a textbook reminiscent of the wonderful volumes I'm sure you remember from your high school and college days. You know the ones I'm referring to, those books you carried around in your tote bag but never really opened. There is more history and sociology than magic and mystery here. This is not to be negative by any means because this was exactly the authors' intent. `Introduction to Pagan Studies' is designed to educate, not entertain so if you're willing to put in the time and effort to learn something of value here's the book with the information.

Author Barbara Jane Davy has provided us with an excellent text establishing a scholarly, systematic and interdisciplinary approach to the study of the ever growing pagan culture of the 21st century. Covering the entire spectrum of this widely diverse movement she explores;

Contents
Introduction
1- Beliefs
2- Social Organization
3- Individual and Family Practices
4- Group Practices
5- Myths and Historical Origins
6- Literary Origins and Influences
7- Social and Charismatic Influences
8- Denominations
9- Ethics and Politics
10- Current Issues
11- Research in Pagan Studies
Glossary
Bibliography
Index
About the Author

If you're looking for an emotional high or adrenaline rush reading about things that go bump in the night this is not the book for you. However if you're interested in understanding the historical framework, societal influences, psycho-philosophical considerations and environmental, Gaia concerns that serve as the foundation of all varieties of contemporary paganism than this is an excellent place to begin. Come on, give it a try. A little time in school never hurt anyone.

Refreshing text on Paganism
This is a refreshing text on Paganism. Written as a textbook for a university class of the same name, it portrays a very accurate picture of the Neo-pagan movement. I was delighted and will be using it as a reference for the classes I am teaching at our local Temple.