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bunnyjadwiga) wrote2007-07-13 03:07 pm
bunnyjadwiga) wrote2007-07-13 03:07 pm
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Reference works on neopagan, wicca and other new religious movements
I started doing research for a library instruction session for a seminar on magic/witchcraft in whose title "medieval or modern" appeared. It turned out that modern 'witchcraft' would not be covered, but I thought I would note down the useful references I encountered on the subject here, in case I or someone else needed 'em.
James R. Lewis, Witchcraft Today: An Encyclopedia of Wiccan and NeoPagan Traditions. 1999.
Solid in social terms, though perhaps not in information about practices. While the author is appropriately sceptical about Robert Graves, the Gospel of Aradia, etc., I feel this book is hampered by an excessively Gardnerian worldview. Entries such as "great rite" and "degrees" simply omit the notion that these concepts are of limited use outside the Gardnerian and Gardner-derived traditions. Ecofeminism and Goddess religions are covered in terms of their social groups (Dianic Wicca, Reclaiming tradition) rather than in terms of practices. There are both practical and social references to Afro-Caribbean traditions. Asatru is covered primarily statistically and in the political history sense. In general, in fact, this text is excellent in covering the religio-political history of specific movements and of defining terms related to standard esotericism (cabalic terms, i ching, ghosts).
The Chronology section and resources are good; cross referencing in entries and the index are extremely poor. Does not cover individuals as well as other sources, but does cover churches/movements. Further reading for entries is general and/or popular.
J. Gordon Melton, The New Age Encyclopedia. 1990.
Much solider than you'd think. Begins with a very good overview of the history, development and elements of the New Age movements, which identifies transformative experience as a defining characteristic of such people and movements. Covers methods and trends as well as people and named movements. Excellent embedded cross-references are noted in bold in the entries. Descriptions of such elements of Tarot are historically accurate as well as giving information about modern New Age beliefs on the subject in an objective manner. Covers topics back into the 19th century as the beginnings of the New Age. Weakened by a lack of running page headers; the index is not very subject oriented.
Entries include further reading of an academic nature; some entries are signed.
Peter B. Clarke, ed. Encyclopedia of New Religious Movements, 2006.
Covers new religious movements of all different backgrounds, Christian, Hindu, New Age, Islamic, Buddhist, Neopagan, and even psychological (Maslow's work, for instance), alphabetically arranged. Summarizes in an objective manner the key beliefs of the movements and differences from mainstream and other new offshoots. Political and news developments of the movements are also summarized. African and Middle Eastern movements are covered in more detail than in other sources. General topics, such as "literature on new religious movements in Spanish," "Vegetarianism," "New Religions and Violence," "Deprogramming" are also given good entries. Indexing by subject and embedded cross-references is fair to good; entries are signed and include further reading.
Christopher Partridge, ed. New Religions: A guide-- New Religious Movements, Sects and Alternative Spiritualities, 2004.
This colorfully-illustrated work is arranged by 'source' religious basis: sections on Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Zoroastrianism, Indian Religions, Religious of East Asia, Indigenous and Pagan Traditions, Western Esoteric and New Age Traditions, Modern Western Cultures. As a result, users will need to consult the Detailed Contents and Chronology p. 7-9 to find out where a movement is covered. Neopaganism and Wicca are tucked under Indigenous and Pagan Religious Traditions, along with African Traditional Religions, Shamanism, Asatru (as Heathenism) and, curiously, Druidry, while Golden Dawn and its relatives are under Western Esoteric & New Age Traditions. The arrangement does lend itself to seeing connections between offshoots of the same religion, and perhaps some sympathy for the diversity of 'mainstream' offshoots. "Features" on groups of religions and concepts ('Communal Groups," "Anti-Cult Movements" are worth browsing. Articles are signed and give some details of belief and history; further reading is not given. The indexing is good. Best for overviews.
James R. Lewis, ed. The Oxford Handbooko of New Religious Movements. 2004.
This discursive overview tackles new religious movements in the mass, rather than in the specific, though the signed articles certainly do address specific cases. The four main categories include I. Modernization and New Religions, II. Social Conflict, III. Social and Psychological Dimensions, IV. Neo-Pagans, UFOs, and other Heterodoxies. It's worth noting that there is an entire, fascinating article on "Witches, Wiccans, and Neo-Pagans: a Reveiw of Current Academic Treatments of Neo-Paganism." This is a book to peruse, rather than to look things up in, and best for a solidly academic, theoretic treatment.. Articles have excellent notes and references. The indexing is fair.
Michael Jordan. Witches: an Encyclopedia of Paganism and Magic.
This charming if not highly academic volume combines alphabetical entries with interviews with four major figures of modern witchcraft/neopaganism: Vivienne Crowley, Olivia Durdin Robertson, Maxine Sanders, and Doreen Valiente. Despite a very British paganism, author has taken pains to cover historical witchcraft as well as early esoteric movements from a historical perspective. Elements of historic witchcraft beliefs and witch persecutions are covered in an even-handed way. People, movements and religious and magical elements are discussed. Asatru, Hedgewitches, and Dianic Wicca are covered, as well as historical ideas such as the ordeal by water or image magic. Gods, goddess and mythic figures also appear. Photographic spreads are charming in a Britishly quaint way but don't add much to the text. There is a very short bibliography for the text and no index.
James R. Lewis, Witchcraft Today: An Encyclopedia of Wiccan and NeoPagan Traditions. 1999.
Solid in social terms, though perhaps not in information about practices. While the author is appropriately sceptical about Robert Graves, the Gospel of Aradia, etc., I feel this book is hampered by an excessively Gardnerian worldview. Entries such as "great rite" and "degrees" simply omit the notion that these concepts are of limited use outside the Gardnerian and Gardner-derived traditions. Ecofeminism and Goddess religions are covered in terms of their social groups (Dianic Wicca, Reclaiming tradition) rather than in terms of practices. There are both practical and social references to Afro-Caribbean traditions. Asatru is covered primarily statistically and in the political history sense. In general, in fact, this text is excellent in covering the religio-political history of specific movements and of defining terms related to standard esotericism (cabalic terms, i ching, ghosts).
The Chronology section and resources are good; cross referencing in entries and the index are extremely poor. Does not cover individuals as well as other sources, but does cover churches/movements. Further reading for entries is general and/or popular.
J. Gordon Melton, The New Age Encyclopedia. 1990.
Much solider than you'd think. Begins with a very good overview of the history, development and elements of the New Age movements, which identifies transformative experience as a defining characteristic of such people and movements. Covers methods and trends as well as people and named movements. Excellent embedded cross-references are noted in bold in the entries. Descriptions of such elements of Tarot are historically accurate as well as giving information about modern New Age beliefs on the subject in an objective manner. Covers topics back into the 19th century as the beginnings of the New Age. Weakened by a lack of running page headers; the index is not very subject oriented.
Entries include further reading of an academic nature; some entries are signed.
Peter B. Clarke, ed. Encyclopedia of New Religious Movements, 2006.
Covers new religious movements of all different backgrounds, Christian, Hindu, New Age, Islamic, Buddhist, Neopagan, and even psychological (Maslow's work, for instance), alphabetically arranged. Summarizes in an objective manner the key beliefs of the movements and differences from mainstream and other new offshoots. Political and news developments of the movements are also summarized. African and Middle Eastern movements are covered in more detail than in other sources. General topics, such as "literature on new religious movements in Spanish," "Vegetarianism," "New Religions and Violence," "Deprogramming" are also given good entries. Indexing by subject and embedded cross-references is fair to good; entries are signed and include further reading.
Christopher Partridge, ed. New Religions: A guide-- New Religious Movements, Sects and Alternative Spiritualities, 2004.
This colorfully-illustrated work is arranged by 'source' religious basis: sections on Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Zoroastrianism, Indian Religions, Religious of East Asia, Indigenous and Pagan Traditions, Western Esoteric and New Age Traditions, Modern Western Cultures. As a result, users will need to consult the Detailed Contents and Chronology p. 7-9 to find out where a movement is covered. Neopaganism and Wicca are tucked under Indigenous and Pagan Religious Traditions, along with African Traditional Religions, Shamanism, Asatru (as Heathenism) and, curiously, Druidry, while Golden Dawn and its relatives are under Western Esoteric & New Age Traditions. The arrangement does lend itself to seeing connections between offshoots of the same religion, and perhaps some sympathy for the diversity of 'mainstream' offshoots. "Features" on groups of religions and concepts ('Communal Groups," "Anti-Cult Movements" are worth browsing. Articles are signed and give some details of belief and history; further reading is not given. The indexing is good. Best for overviews.
James R. Lewis, ed. The Oxford Handbooko of New Religious Movements. 2004.
This discursive overview tackles new religious movements in the mass, rather than in the specific, though the signed articles certainly do address specific cases. The four main categories include I. Modernization and New Religions, II. Social Conflict, III. Social and Psychological Dimensions, IV. Neo-Pagans, UFOs, and other Heterodoxies. It's worth noting that there is an entire, fascinating article on "Witches, Wiccans, and Neo-Pagans: a Reveiw of Current Academic Treatments of Neo-Paganism." This is a book to peruse, rather than to look things up in, and best for a solidly academic, theoretic treatment.. Articles have excellent notes and references. The indexing is fair.
Michael Jordan. Witches: an Encyclopedia of Paganism and Magic.
This charming if not highly academic volume combines alphabetical entries with interviews with four major figures of modern witchcraft/neopaganism: Vivienne Crowley, Olivia Durdin Robertson, Maxine Sanders, and Doreen Valiente. Despite a very British paganism, author has taken pains to cover historical witchcraft as well as early esoteric movements from a historical perspective. Elements of historic witchcraft beliefs and witch persecutions are covered in an even-handed way. People, movements and religious and magical elements are discussed. Asatru, Hedgewitches, and Dianic Wicca are covered, as well as historical ideas such as the ordeal by water or image magic. Gods, goddess and mythic figures also appear. Photographic spreads are charming in a Britishly quaint way but don't add much to the text. There is a very short bibliography for the text and no index.