Witchcraft and Paganism Today 1854791176, 9781854791177

Table of contents :
Contents
Introduction
The HistoricalBackground
The Revival
The Ethics of Witchcraft and the Realities of Magic
The Pagan Deities
Entry into the Craft
The Practice of the Craft
Sociology of Witchcraft
The Pagan Year
Witchcraft and Sex Magic
The Age of Aquarius
Suggestions for Further Reading
Index

Citation preview

Paganism is not to be confused with Satanism. Whereas Satanism is associated with child abuse, orgies and the worship of evil, Paganism may be seen to be a legitimate alternative to Christianity and the other mainstream religions. Anthony Kemp has undertaken a thorough investigation of Paganism in England and

provides an objective view of the practices and beliefs of witchcraft or wicca. Paganism begins with a reverence for nature, an emphasis on individual responsibility and a belief in the existence of God and Goddess. Paganism in Britain encompasses a number of strands of belief including druidism, Nordic religion, North American Indian shamanism and oriental mysticism. Anthony Kemp examines the historical background of Paganism in Britain and its revival. He looks at the ethics of witchcraft and describes in detail the rites and rituals of those who practise it. In particular he looks at sex magic - . including ritual nudity - a central part of witchcraft. He describes the various rituals of entry and dogma in detail and the relationship witches have with the natural world reflected in the Pagan Year with its eight festivals. Some of what Anthony Kemp describes will be seen as shocking and even threatening but he makes a convincing case for Paganism to be seen as a force for good. This is an intriguing and authoritative study of an important modern phenomenon - the rise of Paganism.

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WITCHCRAFT AND PAGANISM TODAY

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WITCHCRAFT AND PAGANISM TODAY ~ Anthony I