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Title: Pagans & Christians: The Personal Spiritual Experience by Gus, Ph.D. Dizerega ISBN: 1567182283 Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd. Pub. Date: 01 February, 2001 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.12
Rating: 3
Summary: Biased, but read it anyway. Both sides need an open mind.
Comment: I expect that more Pagans than Christians are going to read this book, but as the title and introduction indicate, it's meant for both and valuable to either side, provided that the Christians involved maintain open minds. For the Pagans reading it, the open mind will come naturally, not simply because Pagans tend to be very good at being open to new things, but because the author is a Pagan and his writing makes that fact fairly obvious. Perhaps DiZerega should have collaborated with a Christian minister or writer -- he would better reach the full intended audience, and some of his commentary on Christianity would sound less accusative (I do not think it was intended that way, but the perception remains) if it was endorsed by a Christian authority.
As one who has been both Christian and Pagan (and still worships with both), I generally approve of the book's representation of both spiritual types, but there are problems. The author does seem to "pick on" Christianity a little bit more, though part of that is the literal and exclusionist nature of that religion, as opposed to the extreme openness of Paganism, where there's less to pick on because less is held literally. Also, there is an explanation of Pagan spirituality but none of Christian spirituality. Admittedly, Pagans lack any sort of set-in-stone dogma and are a diverse lot that can be difficult to cover thoroughly, but that doesn't excuse the glaring admission here. Most Christians know little or nothing about any sort of Pagan belief; hence part of the need for this book. While DiZerega certainly points out aspects of Pagan belief where they differ from Christian tenets, he needs to include a full chapter sketching out some of the more generally held Pagan ideas for the benefit of the Christians he hopes will read his book. (It wouldn't kill Pagans to read such a chapter either.)
Pagans and Christians is meant to challenge the beliefs of Christians about Pagans and of Pagans about Christians, but in all fairness, there is not enough of the latter included. As Pagans, we are all about growing in our spirituality and expanding our awareness, so we should be challenging ourselves to do exactly what we say we do: understand and accept other people's belief systems. Many Pagans dislike Christianity because it is the 'mainstream' that so many of us fled from, longing for the freedom to connect with Divinity in our own way. What we may forget is that Christians, too, are connecting with their God in a very real and beautiful way; their God is just the aspect of Diety that they see, much in the same way that some of us might pray to Isis or Brighid or Zeus.
Dealing with issues like the nature of evil, ideas of the self and diety, and reasons for suffering and death, Pagans and Christians attempts to fill a real void in our literature and our culture by pointing out not only the differences but the commonalities between our belief systems, and stating firmly that the two are perfectly compatible in our world. While this is a true statement and an excellent effort of scholarship and fellowship, DiZerega is Pagan-biased and it shows. If you have Christian friends or family, or you want to understand the realities of Christianity and how it compares with your own practice, this book is a good read. I would not, however, suggest handing it over to a Christian parent (for example) or friend, because its treatment of the two religions is lopsided enough that it is more likely, unless you are already dealing with a Pagan-friendly Christian, to burn bridges than to build them.
Rating: 4
Summary: A much needed look into the theology of Trad Wicca
Comment: Most of the literature currently available about Wicca is being presented in a watered-down, unattractive, regurgitated manner that offers the practitioner very little in the way of solid theology for personal growth. This book makes a delightful exception to the bland standard set by the publishing world.
DiZerega wrote this book with the intention of creating points of dialgoue between Christians and Pagans (especially Wiccans) so that each group might better understand the other, and in turn, enrich their personal spiritual experiences. This is probably the one way in which the book doesn't quite succeed--although there is a fountain of deep analysis of Wiccan ideas and philosophies, the book is heavily biased toward Wicca, and at times almost dismissive of Christian beliefs. However, if one reads this book as a study of Traditional Wiccan beliefs and theology, it is invaluable.
Much of the market is saturated with books on Ecelectic Wicca 101, so much so these days that if you've read two or three, you've read them all. "Pagans & Christians" is a much needed departure from that, offering the reader insight, thoughts to chew on, and perhaps most necessary, a peek into the philosophy of Traditional Wicca. This is an important book for the Wiccan religion, and one that all serious students should have on their bookshelves.
Rating: 4
Summary: Too bad the people who SHOULD read it, WON'T read it!
Comment: The basic premise of this book is that both Paganism and Christianity can be "right". DiZerega posits that the two traditions have more in common than they realize, and that both paths are valid for those who follow them. There is a place in this world for both religions.
Being a Wiccan himself, diZerega focuses mainly on Pagan beliefs. He explains what Pagans believe, and rebuts Christian misconceptions of Paganism, in a well-documented text that is intelligently written and yet not pedantic. He also challenges the belief that Christianity is the one true way, using both Scripture and his own beliefs to back up his claim.
I would recommend this book to any Christian who has a Pagan child, significant other, or friend. Unfortunately, the Christians who truly need this book are of the closed-minded variety and wouldn't be listening anyway. If you believe that all Pagans are going to Hell, you aren't going to read this book, and even if you do, you won't consider its arguments. "Satanic propaganda, no doubt." And the open-minded Christians who are willing to accept Paganism as a valid spiritual path for some? They don't need this book. They already know there is a placxe in the world for many different belief systems. If certain uber-conservative political figures were to read this book and truly consider it, the US might be a better place. But they won't. Mostly, Pagans and open-minded Christians will read it. DiZerega is preaching to the choir.
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Title: The Truth About Witchcraft by Scott Cunningham ISBN: 0875423574 Publisher: Llewellyn Publications Pub. Date: May, 1998 List Price(USD): $1.99 |
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Title: Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America Today by Margot Adler ISBN: 014019536X Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: March, 1997 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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Title: A Witches' Bible: The Complete Witches Handbook by Janet Farrar, Stewart Farrar ISBN: 0919345921 Publisher: Phoenix Publishing, Inc. Pub. Date: August, 1996 List Price(USD): $23.95 |
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Title: Spiral Dance, The - 20th Anniversary : A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Goddess: 20th Anniversary Edition by Starhawk ISBN: 0062516329 Publisher: Harper SanFrancisco Pub. Date: October, 1999 List Price(USD): $17.00 |
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Title: Philosophy of Wicca by Amber Laine Fisher ISBN: 1550224875 Publisher: ECW Press Pub. Date: April, 2002 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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