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Living With Honour
Living With Honour is a provocative and uncompromising exploration of how Paganism can provide the philosophical guidance to live honorably in a twenty-first Western society. Part One explores the history of Paganism, its undercurrents of anarchy, heresy, environmentalism and animism, finding its place within the history of Western philosophy. Part Two addresses key moral issues from that animistic perspective, beginning with the foundation of human relationships and attitudes towards the Other. It book explores how we value life, and firstly human life, looking at dying, suicide and euthanasia, birth, abortion and IVF. It then examines the human abuse of nonhuman animals, discussing sentience, personhood and inherent value. Finally, it focuses on current global crises, exploring need as opposed to desire.
360 pages, Paperback
First published April 25, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 13, 2012
My first thought on stepping into ‘Living with Honour’ was that so many contemporary members of pagan society are NOT going to like this book. It is indeed sorely needed, as it challenges the current trend for woolly thinking and blindly following ‘tradition’ (spiritual, political and social). It demands from the first that any readers WILL pay attention and relate the questions being asked to their own situations, in order that they may truly live with honour, plotting an honest and unique path through the tangles of modern life.
Without going into too much unnecessary academic detail, the book takes us on a journey through traditional modes of thinking, so ingrained that we don’t even notice them but which are instantly familiar. The reader is inspired to ask themselves why they hold their beliefs, from everyday issues to deep fundamental philosophies of life. Pagan ‘traditions’ (old and new) are naturally a yardstick, but the need to question is paramount, to investigate in a manner that should be familiar from Bobcat’s previous work, but which is easy to forget when stuck in a ‘normal’ 21st century environment.
It takes time to absorb – regular pauses are necessary during reading, to go away, consider, sometimes come to realizations, and then continue. So much is contained in these pages, that a second reading is already on the cards!
Emma’s Paganism demands to be lived, with all of its pitfalls and promise. It is not light and easy, but can be dark, bloody and difficult – but then, so is life. While her previous works were guidebooks, this takes the next step, asking the hard questions that must be addressed if we are to live in a truly ‘pagan’ way, with everything that entails. As representatives of our beliefs, and so of our own selves, ancestors and land, we cannot live by blinding obeying as we are told. We make our ethics, and this book gives us the equipment with which to do so.
Without going into too much unnecessary academic detail, the book takes us on a journey through traditional modes of thinking, so ingrained that we don’t even notice them but which are instantly familiar. The reader is inspired to ask themselves why they hold their beliefs, from everyday issues to deep fundamental philosophies of life. Pagan ‘traditions’ (old and new) are naturally a yardstick, but the need to question is paramount, to investigate in a manner that should be familiar from Bobcat’s previous work, but which is easy to forget when stuck in a ‘normal’ 21st century environment.
It takes time to absorb – regular pauses are necessary during reading, to go away, consider, sometimes come to realizations, and then continue. So much is contained in these pages, that a second reading is already on the cards!
Emma’s Paganism demands to be lived, with all of its pitfalls and promise. It is not light and easy, but can be dark, bloody and difficult – but then, so is life. While her previous works were guidebooks, this takes the next step, asking the hard questions that must be addressed if we are to live in a truly ‘pagan’ way, with everything that entails. As representatives of our beliefs, and so of our own selves, ancestors and land, we cannot live by blinding obeying as we are told. We make our ethics, and this book gives us the equipment with which to do so.
July 12, 2012
Beyond the fluff, velvet dresses and plastic flower headdresses is this book, a work aimed at truely living paganism, living ethically and considerably. There are choices to be made in this life and how you intend on living it and to be concious of these choices.
In my opinion a must read for anyone who calls themself pagan or such, and wants more then just the "glamourous" image to it in their life.
In my opinion a must read for anyone who calls themself pagan or such, and wants more then just the "glamourous" image to it in their life.
July 17, 2008
This is an incredibly challenging, thought provoking book. It's not an easy read in any sense - intellectually demanding it's the sort of philosophical work where you read a few pages, and then have to take a break and digest it all. This is much heavier going than Emma Restall Orr's other books, and as such I very much enjoyed it - I like all her stuff and this makes a fascinating contrast to her previous work. Exploring in detail the ethics and morals touched on in her other writings, this is a book that really requires you to take a good hard look at your own life, values and assumptions. None of us are perfect, all of us could do better.
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October 26, 2015An old review and a new review Living with Honour is a courageous attempt to deliver something that has not been offered by a pagan author before - a realistic and thoroughly honest evaluation of the path she has made her own. Potential readers will be sent on a breathtaking journey into the oft misunderstood world(s) of paganism and what it actually means to take that world seriously: to live in it, celebrate it, dance with it, argue with it, and allow its charms as well infuriations to mould one's life. This book will help any reader not just to understand paganism at a deeper level, but also to make meaning out of life on this beautiful, yet messy and painful planet. The author leaves no stone un-turned and, while seeing all such stones as strangely sacred, does not shirk at offering necessary criticisms as well as hearty praise. Finally, as with all of Bobcat's books, this volume is written with poetry and warm humanity that makes it sumptuous and quite uncommon for the world of theoretical non-fiction. ~ Mark Townsend, priest, magician and author of The Wizard's Gift, The Magician's Tale and other titles
Living with Honour was published in 2008, and at the time of publishing, Mark Townsend's review, as quoted above, was very much a representation of where this book fitted into then-contemporary Pagan writing. Since then, a lot of other writers have been inspired to start talking about Paganism as a lived path. Emma Restall Orr's work has, no doubt, contributed to this flourishing of subsequent Pagan writing, showing that it made sense to replace dogma and how-to approaches with experiential, person and reflective writing that leaves the reader with plenty of room for whatever differences there are between the wiring and their own lived experiences.
Living with Honour was published in 2008, and at the time of publishing, Mark Townsend's review, as quoted above, was very much a representation of where this book fitted into then-contemporary Pagan writing. Since then, a lot of other writers have been inspired to start talking about Paganism as a lived path. Emma Restall Orr's work has, no doubt, contributed to this flourishing of subsequent Pagan writing, showing that it made sense to replace dogma and how-to approaches with experiential, person and reflective writing that leaves the reader with plenty of room for whatever differences there are between the wiring and their own lived experiences.
February 17, 2010
Paganism needs more substantive works such as this. Emma Restall Orr does a very nice job of showing how modern paganism is related to the strands of classical and modern western philosophy. She then derives a number of baseline ethical principles for modern pagans focusing primarily on relationship and personal honor. Her stances on vegetarianism and relationships with animals may tread a little further than many people may want to go. But on the whole this is a thoughtful and humane effort that maps out a workable relationship with nature and other humans suitable for creating a sustainable personal and social ethic in a world of declining resources.
January 5, 2015
An excellent guide for contemporary pagans who want to use their brains while constructing personal codes of conduct. Begins by unpacking the definition of "pagan" and its philosophical implications, which, for the thinking person, should be enough of a vote of confidence to continue on. Will help you put your money where your mouth is.
August 14, 2018
It is hard to write a review about this book, because there is SO much in it. The form of it is clear, the text is a pleasure to read, even as the subject matter is challenging. It is easy to understand, but is beautifully written at the same time. The author tries to frame the ethics of the pagan community in Great Britain. I had no idea they are so many and they have even gotten organized. I also wonder how much there is a discussion and push and pull of the certain issues mentioned in this book. Restall Orr mentions herself, that this book is by no means the authority of things.
She writes that paganism is non-dual. All through the book, though, the author emphasizes the 'tribe'- belonging to your tribe, remembering the ancestral heritage. It seems to me to be in a bit of a conflict with the non-dual part. The best possible ecological mentality for this planet at the moment is to recognize we are inhabitants on this rock floating in space, probably heading towards a huge ecological crisis. Also, if you are born in the city, or moved to another country for compelling reasons,what is your tribe then? One cannot always choose to be with people who have the same ethics. Not everyone has an ancestral home in the meadows or the possibility of getting one. But all in all, this book is a great start for discussion and the forming of relationship which rightly is important in our lives. There is a important ecological issues brought to light. I had a moment with the 'cat issue'. I love cats, but it is true that having a cat means supporting the factory meat industry. Orr states that at least the dogs are useful(clearly a dog person, ha ha), but this made me think about the movie Children of Men, where, actually our humaneness depends upon the child, that reminds us of innocence, and I think the pets do the same, they make us love. A critical point could have been added about the pet market and especially breeding. Let's adopt not buy. I also return the critique: if you care about the nature so much, then making children is out of the question. And indeed overpopulation is mentioned as one of the ecological problems, as well.
This book gives a bit of history of different philosophies, and ethics, and it makes you reflect your own views. The goal painted in words such as courage, generosity, loyalty, honesty, responsibility and respect is not bad at all, and definitely not set in stone.
She writes that paganism is non-dual. All through the book, though, the author emphasizes the 'tribe'- belonging to your tribe, remembering the ancestral heritage. It seems to me to be in a bit of a conflict with the non-dual part. The best possible ecological mentality for this planet at the moment is to recognize we are inhabitants on this rock floating in space, probably heading towards a huge ecological crisis. Also, if you are born in the city, or moved to another country for compelling reasons,what is your tribe then? One cannot always choose to be with people who have the same ethics. Not everyone has an ancestral home in the meadows or the possibility of getting one. But all in all, this book is a great start for discussion and the forming of relationship which rightly is important in our lives. There is a important ecological issues brought to light. I had a moment with the 'cat issue'. I love cats, but it is true that having a cat means supporting the factory meat industry. Orr states that at least the dogs are useful(clearly a dog person, ha ha), but this made me think about the movie Children of Men, where, actually our humaneness depends upon the child, that reminds us of innocence, and I think the pets do the same, they make us love. A critical point could have been added about the pet market and especially breeding. Let's adopt not buy. I also return the critique: if you care about the nature so much, then making children is out of the question. And indeed overpopulation is mentioned as one of the ecological problems, as well.
This book gives a bit of history of different philosophies, and ethics, and it makes you reflect your own views. The goal painted in words such as courage, generosity, loyalty, honesty, responsibility and respect is not bad at all, and definitely not set in stone.
October 24, 2025
If animist pagans and Druids had a Bible, this might be it. For me, at least, that is the closest parallel I can put my finger on. This is a deep dive into pagan philosophy and morals, the basis for a love of all existences that goes far beyond the human species and embraces the more-than-human world with reverence instead of the thoughtless contempt typical of Judeo-Christian organized religion. I can't recommend it highly enough, but it will certainly not be for everyone.
September 2, 2020
extremely involving and surprisingly passionate, you will be hooked when you read this - an absolute must have. i don't think there is much that emma restall orr does not go into.
April 10, 2010
Please read my review: Living with Honour
Currently reading
September 6, 2010interesting...very interesting...
October 8, 2013
The most challenging piece of writing I have ever read.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews