Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion: An Anthropological Study of the Supernatural

by Arthur C. Lehmann

A comprehensive anthology containing essays by many anthropologists include Claude Levi-Strauss, Peter Furst, Francis Huxley, Bronislaw Malinowski, Carl Sagan, Lawrence Wright and others. This edition includes nine new articles. Among the sections are those on shamans, on the religious use of drugs, and on ethnomedicine. Map, an extensive bibliography, glossary and index. Slightly oversized square format. 474 pp.

Genres: Anthropology, Nonfiction, Religion, History, Reference, Mythology, Spirituality

474 pages, Paperback

First published January 28, 1985

Reviews

[Christine]

I had to pick this up for my anthropology class. I was excited to learn about the subject, but I was dismayed when I saw this book. It's dense, with no pictures. I started reading it because I had to and I was surprised at how interesting it was. It covers a very wide range of topics, from the classics to somewhat modern ones.

This textbook is really just a bunch of articles bound up as a textbook, with a couple introductions. (Which are one of the best parts.) So don't expect it to be some kind of 101 book for the subject.

Keep in mind that this book is a compilation of essays from many different well-known experts on the subject, some of which aren't too neutral in their opinions. Also, some of these opinions might be a bit dated.

Even though it is intended as a textbook for people who have been studying the subject, it's interesting enough, and readable enough that you can pick it up without any previous knowledge and still enjoy it.

[Jacia’s Paper Trail]

Literally, this book is wonderful for anthropological introductions to religion. However the class accompanying it was so terrible that I doubt I’ll ever look at this book again after this semester lol.

[E.M. White]

Magic, Witchraft, and Religion is an eye-opening dive into the motivators and possible origins of magical and religious practices from a worldwide perspective. Though I read this many years ago for a summer community college course, I recall the authors taking a clear-eyed yet respectful approach to analyzing these cultural practices. This is a splendid resource for those who want to understand or write about magical practices (and religious traditions) and the thought process behind those who believe in them.

[Gypsysoul_]

Several excellent articles, however, now are outdated. It would be interesting to see follow-up data on a few of the topics, and also more article on current NRM.

[Anne]

Extremely information-packed resource on various stories of the supernatural, different magical practices, forms of witchcraft, and religions around the world.

[Saturn pożerający własne dzieci]

Good introduction to the subject

[AF]

For a textbook, it is excellent.

[Daliserx]

Quite an interesting read. Though, i have read only certain chapters, most of them were very informative.

[Audrey]

Required text for Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion.

[Heather]

This is my favorite textbook of all time.

[Becky Mcdaniel]

Read this for a class back in school and it was a great book.

[Dejanira Dawn]

.*still reading just dont feel like keeping track since it's a college textbook*

[tessa]

This book is great for an anthropological look at religion! One of my favorite “school” books where I found myself just picking it up to read because I couldn’t put it down.

[Tyna]

Old textbook. Good collection of articles.