collapse

* Recent Posts

"Christ Is King" by Altair
[Today at 01:09:34 am]


Re: Cill Shift Schedule by SunflowerP
[Yesterday at 11:04:57 pm]


Re: Stellar Bling: The Good, the Bad, the OMG! by SunflowerP
[March 21, 2024, 11:21:37 pm]


Re: Spring Has Sprung! 2024 Edition by SunflowerP
[March 21, 2024, 10:24:10 pm]


Stellar Bling: The Good, the Bad, the OMG! by Altair
[March 21, 2024, 02:52:34 pm]

Author Topic: Books to Beware  (Read 37293 times)

Asch

  • Sr. Master Member
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jul 2011
  • Posts: 883
  • Total likes: 5
    • View Profile
Books to Beware
« on: July 08, 2011, 08:35:45 pm »
I thought it might be useful to have a list of books people here have found highly questionable (along with why of course). I know when I first started to investigate non-mainstream religion I was lead by some overly eager amazon reviews into books that I promptly turned around and sold as they had little bearing on my interests and were often historically / logically dubious.

Any takers?

RandallS

  • Site Admin
  • *
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Location: NE Ohio
  • Posts: 10311
  • Country: us
  • Total likes: 296
    • View Profile
  • Religion: Hellenic Pagan
Re: Books to Beware...
« Reply #1 on: July 08, 2011, 09:19:41 pm »
Quote from: Asch;3106
I thought it might be useful to have a list of books people here have found highly questionable (along with why of course).

Origins of Modern Witchcraft: the Evolution of a World Religion by Ann Moura. This book is full of poor history (to quote one review "Facts are not broadly evident in this work") and that is topped off by a heaping helping of religious bigotry.
Randall
RetroRoleplaying [Blog]: Microlite74/75/78/81, BX Advanced, and Other Old School Tabletop RPGs
Microlite20: Lots of Rules Lite Tabletop RPGs -- Many Free

Castus

  • Sr. Master Member
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jul 2011
  • Location: Virginia
  • Posts: 848
  • Country: us
  • Total likes: 101
    • View Profile
  • Religion: Happy Science
Re: Books to Beware...
« Reply #2 on: July 08, 2011, 09:23:46 pm »
Quote from: Asch;3106
I thought it might be useful to have a list of books people here have found highly questionable (along with why of course).

 
Anything written by Silver Ravenwolf; full of bullpuckey each and every one.
“Castus, meanwhile, goes straight for the bad theology like one of those creepy fish that swims up streams of pee.” — Darkhawk

“Believing in the Lord means you are connected to me no matter when you are poor, sick, or struggling in a relationship. I am always with you. I want you to believe that. The future is uncertain, and much suffering awaits. However, the mission of the believer is to live life doing their best, no matter what the circumstances.” — Ryuho Okawa

RandallS

  • Site Admin
  • *
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Location: NE Ohio
  • Posts: 10311
  • Country: us
  • Total likes: 296
    • View Profile
  • Religion: Hellenic Pagan
Re: Books to Beware...
« Reply #3 on: July 08, 2011, 09:38:44 pm »
Quote from: Castus;3128
Anything written by Silver Ravenwolf; full of bullpuckey each and every one.

Her fiction isn't too bad -- its readable, at least. Also, her books on magic are generally less annoying than her books on religion.
Randall
RetroRoleplaying [Blog]: Microlite74/75/78/81, BX Advanced, and Other Old School Tabletop RPGs
Microlite20: Lots of Rules Lite Tabletop RPGs -- Many Free

LadyBug

  • Master Member
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jul 2011
  • *
  • Posts: 290
  • Country: ca
  • Total likes: 48
    • View Profile
  • Religion: Lost/Searching
  • Preferred Pronouns: she/her/her
Re: Books to Beware...
« Reply #4 on: July 08, 2011, 10:33:57 pm »
Quote from: Castus;3128
Anything written by Silver Ravenwolf; full of bullpuckey each and every one.

 
I have a book by her. Teen Witch Wicca For A New Generation or something of the sort. I found it kind of funny to be honest. I'm not saying I have any more knowledge of Wicca then anyone else out there religion shopping but some of it seems like it is straight out of a fairytale.

Nyktipolos

  • Grand Master Member
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jul 2011
  • *
  • Posts: 1498
  • Total likes: 2
    • View Profile
Re: Books to Beware...
« Reply #5 on: July 08, 2011, 11:00:18 pm »
Quote from: RandallS;3137
Her fiction isn't too bad -- its readable, at least. Also, her books on magic are generally less annoying than her books on religion.

 
It's weird but... I've actually heard positive reviews on the book she did for Llewellyn's Wheel of the Year books (she did Samhain). I've never personally read it, so I don't know, but it's supposedly devoid of her usual drivel that's in her regular books.
"Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light;
I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night." - Sarah Williams
On the Rivers

RandallS

  • Site Admin
  • *
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Location: NE Ohio
  • Posts: 10311
  • Country: us
  • Total likes: 296
    • View Profile
  • Religion: Hellenic Pagan
Re: Books to Beware...
« Reply #6 on: July 09, 2011, 08:11:11 am »
Quote from: Nyktipolos;3187
It's weird but... I've actually heard positive reviews on the book she did for Llewellyn's Wheel of the Year books (she did Samhain). I've never personally read it, so I don't know, but it's supposedly devoid of her usual drivel that's in her regular books.

It wasn't bad. However, that entire series was more seasonal activities, recipes, etc. than religion.
Randall
RetroRoleplaying [Blog]: Microlite74/75/78/81, BX Advanced, and Other Old School Tabletop RPGs
Microlite20: Lots of Rules Lite Tabletop RPGs -- Many Free

LyricFox

  • Site Admin
  • *
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 388
  • Country: 00
  • Total likes: 0
    • View Profile
Re: Books to Beware...
« Reply #7 on: July 09, 2011, 12:43:57 pm »
Quote from: RandallS;3124
Origins of Modern Witchcraft: the Evolution of a World Religion by Ann Moura. This book is full of poor history (to quote one review "Facts are not broadly evident in this work") and that is topped off by a heaping helping of religious bigotry.

 
What was the name of that awful Grimassi book?

Oh. And Barbara Walker...her knitting books are great. Her Encyclopedia isn't.
Visit The Breast Cancer Site & Click to fund free Mammograms
Hosts\' Store: Doxy\'s Bazaar (w/Pagan Items)
Need Web Hosting? See The Cheap Web Hosting Report

RandallS

  • Site Admin
  • *
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Location: NE Ohio
  • Posts: 10311
  • Country: us
  • Total likes: 296
    • View Profile
  • Religion: Hellenic Pagan
Re: Books to Beware...
« Reply #8 on: July 09, 2011, 04:17:43 pm »
Quote from: LyricFox;3333
What was the name of that awful Grimassi book?

Which awful Grimassi book? IMHO, he has quite a few that qualify. He's probably best known for his "Wicca warmed over and called Strega" books, like [I]Italian Witchcraft: The Old Religion of Southern Europe[/I].
Randall
RetroRoleplaying [Blog]: Microlite74/75/78/81, BX Advanced, and Other Old School Tabletop RPGs
Microlite20: Lots of Rules Lite Tabletop RPGs -- Many Free

Lokabrenna

  • Sr. Master Member
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jul 2011
  • Posts: 829
  • Total likes: 2
    • View Profile
Re: Books to Beware...
« Reply #9 on: July 09, 2011, 04:51:10 pm »
Quote from: LyricFox;3333

Oh. And Barbara Walker...her knitting books are great. Her Encyclopedia isn't.


Barbara Walker seconded, I have her Essential Handbook of Women's Spirituality and Ritual and it can be summed up as: "We were fine worshiping the Goddess until the evil Christians came around!" and there is an atheistic undercurrent to that book, as if no "sensible" woman would ever believe in gods and goddesses and spirits and such.

I wasn't impressed by Sirona Knight, either. She describes herself as a "New Age Witch" and the books I have by her are certainly in the white light love and peace category.

Nyktipolos

  • Grand Master Member
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jul 2011
  • *
  • Posts: 1498
  • Total likes: 2
    • View Profile
Re: Books to Beware...
« Reply #10 on: July 09, 2011, 04:51:44 pm »
Quote from: RandallS;3278
It wasn't bad. However, that entire series was more seasonal activities, recipes, etc. than religion.


Ah. That would explain why then.
"Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light;
I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night." - Sarah Williams
On the Rivers

LyricFox

  • Site Admin
  • *
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 388
  • Country: 00
  • Total likes: 0
    • View Profile
Re: Books to Beware...
« Reply #11 on: July 09, 2011, 10:33:58 pm »
Quote from: RandallS;3375
Which awful Grimassi book? IMHO, he has quite a few that qualify. He's probably best known for his "Wicca warmed over and called Strega" books, like [I]Italian Witchcraft: The Old Religion of Southern Europe[/I].

 
No that wasn't it. "History" something or other.
Visit The Breast Cancer Site & Click to fund free Mammograms
Hosts\' Store: Doxy\'s Bazaar (w/Pagan Items)
Need Web Hosting? See The Cheap Web Hosting Report

SunflowerP

  • Host
  • *
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Location: Calgary AB
  • Posts: 9909
  • Country: ca
  • Total likes: 732
  • Don't teach your grandmother to suck eggs!
    • View Profile
    • If You Ain't Makin' Waves, You Ain't Kickin' Hard Enough
  • Religion: Eclectic religious Witchcraft
  • Preferred Pronouns: sie/hir/hirs/hirself
Re: Books to Beware...
« Reply #12 on: July 10, 2011, 04:42:17 am »
Quote from: LyricFox;3464
No that wasn't it. "History" something or other.

 
I'd be inclined to just say, "Doesn't matter; if it has his byline, it needs plenty of salt," but I went and looked, and am not seeing anything with "History" in the title (or subtitle).  Perhaps it's something even he doesn't want to admit to:D?

Sunflower
I'm the AntiFa genderqueer commie eclectic wiccan Mod your alt-right bros warned you about.
I do so have a life; I just live part of it online!
“Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live, it is asking others to live as one wishes to live.” - Oscar Wilde
"Nobody's good at anything until they practice." - Brina (Yewberry)
My much-neglected blog "If You Ain't Makin' Waves, You Ain't Kickin' Hard Enough"

xerces_blue

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Join Date: Jul 2011
  • Posts: 9
  • Total likes: 0
    • View Profile
Re: Books to Beware...
« Reply #13 on: July 10, 2011, 09:58:52 am »
Quote from: Asch;3106
I thought it might be useful to have a list of books people here have found highly questionable (along with why of course). I know when I first started to investigate non-mainstream religion I was lead by some overly eager amazon reviews into books that I promptly turned around and sold as they had little bearing on my interests and were often historically / logically dubious.

Any takers?


The first one that came to mind for me is Diane Stein's Essential Reiki.

It's not a bad book about Reiki, but it contains things that are, well, not Reiki, like Tantra and such. Some people might want that extra information, and she clearly states in the book when something is "not Reiki," or at least not traditional Reiki, but I bought the book for information on Reiki, not things which are... not Reiki.

Another problem for me is a part in the history of Reiki section where she cites information acquired through channeling. Some people might believe in channeling, and might not think much about citing channeled history about Pleadians bringing Reiki to earth, but other people might read that and put the book down and say no thank you.

Also, the Dianic Wiccan overtones are very strong. I'm not Dianic Wiccan, and it doesn't bother me, but I could see it bothering someone else.

Like I said, it does have very valuable information, but it also has stuff that's a bit shifty, and you have to skip through some dubious information to get to the good parts.

LyricFox

  • Site Admin
  • *
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 388
  • Country: 00
  • Total likes: 0
    • View Profile
Re: Books to Beware...
« Reply #14 on: July 10, 2011, 10:48:27 am »
Quote from: Lokabrenna;3380
Barbara Walker seconded, I have her Essential Handbook of Women's Spirituality and Ritual and it can be summed up as: "We were fine worshiping the Goddess until the evil Christians came around!" and there is an atheistic undercurrent to that book, as if no "sensible" woman would ever believe in gods and goddesses and spirits and such.


Yep. And virtually any weird belief that just doesn't ring true has me running to my copy of her "Encylopedia", where 8 times out of 10, I find it listed there.

Quote
I wasn't impressed by Sirona Knight, either. She describes herself as a "New Age Witch" and the books I have by her are certainly in the white light love and peace category.


We had a long time member who had a rant reserved specifically for her.
Visit The Breast Cancer Site & Click to fund free Mammograms
Hosts\' Store: Doxy\'s Bazaar (w/Pagan Items)
Need Web Hosting? See The Cheap Web Hosting Report

Tags:
 

Related Topics

  Subject / Started by Replies Last post
8 Replies
2727 Views
Last post December 29, 2011, 11:31:25 pm
by SunflowerP
12 Replies
2224 Views
Last post April 03, 2012, 12:53:41 am
by MadZealot
3 Replies
1678 Views
Last post November 19, 2018, 06:57:55 pm
by SatAset
2 Replies
1550 Views
Last post January 11, 2018, 06:53:36 pm
by Sefiru
2 Replies
2263 Views
Last post November 24, 2020, 01:41:23 am
by anubisa

Beginner Area

Warning: You are currently in a Beginner Friendly area of the message board.

* Who's Online

  • Dot Guests: 186
  • Dot Hidden: 0
  • Dot Users: 1
  • Dot Users Online:

* Please Donate!

The Cauldron's server is expensive and requires monthly payments. Please become a Bronze, Silver or Gold Donor if you can. Donations are needed every month. Without member support, we can't afford the server.

* Shop & Support TC

The links below are affiliate links. When you click on one of these links you will go to the listed shopping site with The Cauldron's affiliate code. Any purchases you make during your visit will earn TC a tiny percentage of your purchase price at no extra cost to you.

* In Memoriam

Chavi (2006)
Elspeth (2010)
Marilyn (2013)

* Cauldron Staff

Host:
Sunflower

Message Board Staff
Board Coordinator:
Darkhawk

Assistant Board Coordinator:
Aster Breo

Senior Staff:
Aisling, Allaya, Jenett, Sefiru

Staff:
Ashmire, EclecticWheel, HarpingHawke, Kylara, PerditaPickle, rocquelaire

Discord Chat Staff
Chat Coordinator:
Morag

'Up All Night' Coordinator:
Altair

Cauldron Council:
Bob, Catja, Chatelaine, Emma-Eldritch, Fausta, Jubes, Kelly, LyricFox, Phouka, Sperran, Star, Steve, Tana

Site Administrator:
Randall

SimplePortal 2.3.6 © 2008-2014, SimplePortal