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Her Hidden Children: The Rise of Wicca and Paganism in America
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The history of any religious movement can get murky. But the history of American Paganism--with so many invented lineages, so many solitary practitioners, so much resistance to staid definition, so much hiddenness--is especially hard to decipher. But here in Her Hidden Children Chas Clifton tells many never-before-told stories of the origins of Paganism and Wicca in the
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I picked this book up because, quite frankly, I don't read enough Pagan scholarship. I'm still looking for that perfect book that can describe my beliefs and not make me sound like a nutcase to my scientifically minded friends, but alas, in this, Prof. Clifton cannot provide me.
However, there is a lot worth considering here, especially in relation to American Paganism. I don't think I had ever truly considered that Atlantic divide prior to this book. Divide is probably a strong word, but at any ...more
However, there is a lot worth considering here, especially in relation to American Paganism. I don't think I had ever truly considered that Atlantic divide prior to this book. Divide is probably a strong word, but at any ...more
I finished this a while ago but I liked it. It’s well written and the author keeps a million strands of thought organized while drilling down into complex histories of pagan thought and origin stories of different and overlapping pagan traditions. Easy to read also!
As with other works by academics, this book could be rather dry and convoluted. Could be difficult to follow. Refers to Wicca and witchcraft interchangeably which I thought were supposed to be 2 different things.
As I read through this book, I have been unable to put it down as it recounts the history of modern Neo-Paganism in America. Clifton does a wonderful job at cutting through the camouflage that has long surrounded the Pagan community. Between false histories, poor scholarship, and an engaging mythic history, the Pagan community has grown and evolved. The "older" traditions that are lineage based often have only some semblance to the modern revival that has been immensely successful at meeting the
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A very good introduction to modern Wicca, by an author who has personal experience in the movement. Witches aren't always what they seem to be, and that includes being proponents of nature worship. Clifton provides useful information for anyone wanting to know more about this movement. Further remarks about it may be found on my blog: Sects and Violence in the Ancient World.
I learned so much from this book. I used it for a summer class, but I'm glad my teacher selected it, because it covers many of the categories of Paganism, and it is very detailed on history. A interesting, informative read.
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