Never Again the Burning Times: Paganism Revived

by Loretta Orion

A fascinating scholarly look at witchcraft in American society! Why do some individuals in American society resort to the magical beliefs and practices of the occult while the majority do not? Contemporary witches say that witchcraft is a revival of a European Pre-Christian religion called Wicca. Practitioners of Wicca believe the world is alive, interconnected, and responsive to attempts to manipulate invisible, occult forces. These efforts constitute their magic, the "craft" of witchcraft. In the United States, Wicca has become the core of a collection of other pagan traditions, religions, and magical systems. This fascinating ethnography by an anthropologist explores contemporary witchcraft from the unusual perspective of self-identified witches and magicians. Readers have the opportunity to learn what kinds of individuals engage in radical thought movements such as this and view the ideas of witchcraft and magic from the vantage point of those who profess to be witches and practice magic. A description of the demographic characteristics of the group combined with an analysis of their complex belief system provides insight into the unusual behaviors shared by participants in this subculture within American society.

Genres: Nonfiction, Wicca

322 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1994

Reviews

[Melanie Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fell absolutely in love with this books title. Never again the burning times. How freaking powerful! The burning times were one of our worlds darkest eras. People and especially women were tortured and killed for an absurd plethora of ridiculous reasons. claiming that our world, our species has moved beyond such a genocide was such an important thought for me at that time. This book is Not that.
This book is an anthropological study of neo-paganism. If you're not an anthropology student (which I was at the time) it isn't exactly a bedside table kind of book.

[Jeb Card · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn't terribly impressed with this. I can't use it for a general anthropology class, just one on magic, witchcraft, and religion, and I wouldn't want to assign all of it. I found the detour into high Renaissance magic particularly tedious. I'm also not convinced of the massive importance of healing across Neopaganism.

There are good things about it, and I definitely learned a lot, but it actually turned me off the subject somewhat.

[Stephanie Cottom · Rating 3 out of 5]

something of a "never on a broomstick" lite with a modernization/feminism slant to it. at least it isn't drier than day old toast.