The Paganism Reader / Edition 1

by Chas Clifton, Graham Harvey

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415303521
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	03/11/2004
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	6.88(w) x 9.69(h) x (d)

About the Author

Chas Clifton, Graham Harvey

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. Eirík'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

Editorial Reviews

'The end result is an overview of paganism and neo-paganism that provides some interesting insights and comparisons between ancient and modern views. Highly recommended.' - The Cauldron

'The Paganism Reader is a laudatory first attempt at summarizing via primary texts the scope of revived Paganism/Neopaganism. It will be useful not only for undergraduate and graduate courses, but undoubtedly for thoughtful Neopagans interested in the history and diversity of their worldviews.' - W. Michael Ashcraft, Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions

From the Publisher