Product Description

This is the essential introduction for anyone with an interest in the ideals and traditions of this ancient religion. It starts by dispelling the myths about Paganism and defining the groups of religions including Wicca, Druid and Asatru. It explores beliefs, practices, celebrations and tools. The role of magic, sexual mores, the place of ritual and participating in pagan gatherings is looked at in-depth in this book.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #113468 in Books
• Published on: 2006-05-26
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

Customer Reviews

Paganism for teenagers?
A good introduction to Paganism, but one that won't satisfy the academically inclined. It would seem that Paganism has undergone a sea-change as it travelled from Europe to North America as it is about the latter's form that this book is written. Its scope is wide, but very shallow; although that is probably acceptable in what is really only an introduction to what is, after all, a very broad 'church'. I think that the would-be believer should delve much deeper into the chosen Pagan practices and beliefs before final commitment.

Druidism is dealt with, but the account of its modern reinvention by a series of very strange people is largely ignored. That failure leads the uncritical acceptance of an almost invent-your-own, pick-your-own, pick'n mix religion. This is hardly the solid faith that nearly defeated the Romans two thousand years back and that still underpins what is really meant by being British!

The other fault that glared out at me is talk about the Celts. Modern historians deny that there ever was such a culture, the word being the Greek for the hotch-potch of tribes living north of the Alps. The Gaels on the other hand are plausibly the group that Caesar encountered in what was then Picti, or Pritti or Britti or, finally, Briton.