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The author relates her own first-hand investigations, reporting on interviews and experiences with Wicca and other modern Pagan practitioners.  An excellent portrait, critical and sympathetic, by an accomplished journalist.

In recent decades an organized movement has developed to study and recover ancient practices of worship centered in the rhythms of the natural world, and involving mystical forces.  A multi-various movement of many formal and informal cultural or religious movements has developed, known by various names.

Prepare to exchange your stereotypes about Wicca for well-rounded details and explanations of current Wiccan and witchcraft practitioners, ex-practitioners who have abandoned the life and ex-Christians who have become Wicca followers.  Sanders takes an even-handed approach in presenting the faith or philosophy as seen and advocated by its practitioners.  She likewise expresses her own analysis and concerns about implications.

This review of an important cultural movement is very informative, insightful and challenging.  Too many people are unaware, or fail to take Wicca seriously or prefer to avoid the matter by a simplistic condemnation without knowledge.

Sanders' serious and helpful work here is an alert to the church to get their act together, or become further marginalized.

See related reviews and articles on this site:
Science, Magick and Faith in Hollywood
Spirit World in Cultural Comparisons
Sympathetic Insights towards Traditional Worldviews
Umbanda, Spirits and Demons and Christianity
Yoruba Religion in the Americas

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See my book reviews on Amazon.com
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OBJ

First reading notes written 19 December 2010
Reviewed on Amazon 31 January 2011
Developed 12 July 2011
Final review posted 16 July 2011

Orville Boyd Jenkins, EdD, PhD
Copyright © 2011 Orville Boyd Jenkins
Permission granted for free download and transmission for personal or educational use.  Please give credit and link back.  Other rights reserved.

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