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Pagan Theology: Paganism as a World Religion Hardcover – Download: Adobe Reader, April 1, 2003

by Michael York (Author)
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 23 ratings
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In Pagan Theology, Michael York situates Paganism—one of the fastest-growing spiritual orientations in the West—as a world religion. He provides an introduction to, and expansion of, the concept of Paganism and provides an overview of Paganism's theological perspective and practice. He demonstrates it to be a viable and distinguishable spiritual perspective found around the world today in such forms as Chinese folk religion, Shinto, tribal religions, and neo-Paganism in the West.
While adherents to many of these traditions do not use the word “pagan” to describe their beliefs or practices, York contends that there is an identifiable position possessing characteristics and understandings in common for which the label “pagan” is appropriate. After outlining these characteristics, he examines many of the world's major religions to explore religious behaviors in other religions which are not themselves pagan, but which have pagan elements. In the course of examining such behavior, York provides rich and lively descriptions of religions in action, including Buddhism and Hinduism.
Pagan Theology claims Paganism’s place as a world religion, situating it as a religion, a behavior, and a theology.

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    239 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    NYU Press
  4. Publication date
    April 1, 2003
  5. Dimensions
    6.02 x 0.83 x 9.4 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0814797024
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0814797020
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"This work will interest anyone investigating the nexus of science, social policy, and the law in modern America." ― Sociology of Religion

"An ambitious book, one that argues and then demonstrates that paganism is an important religious perspective by tracing specific themes through a surprisingly wide variety of spiritual traditions. This is the first successful attempt to articulate a theology that is based on what paganism is, rather than on what it is not when compared to Judeo/Christian traditions. York's work is an important contribution to the study of religion in general, and foundational for the emerging field of Pagan Studies. It is the beginning of a whole new dialogue." -- Wendy Griffin,editor of Daughters of the Goddess

"Michael Yorks audacious redrawing of traditional religious boundaries and scholarly categories reaffirms paganism's place both as legitimate spiritual expression and as a field of academic inquiry." -- Chas S. Clifton,Colorado State University-Pueblo

"Scholarly, but wholly accessible." -- Terry Gifford ,University of Leeds

"Folk religionists and those interested in placing 'pagan phenomena' in the context of worldwide religiousity will find York's book interesting." ― Missiology: An International Review

"I have little doubt that it will reinvigorate not only the debate over the definition of religion but, perhaps more significantly, the debate over where one religion starts and another ends" ― Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion

About the Author

Michael York is Principal Lecturer, Sophia Centre for the Study of Cultural Astronomy and Astrology, and Director of the Bath Archive for Contemporary Religious Affairs, Bath Spa University College, UK.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ NYU Press; First Edition (April 1, 2003)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 239 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0814797024
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0814797020
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.09 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.02 x 0.83 x 9.4 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 23 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
23 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Rachel
5.0 out of 5 stars Very informative
Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2010
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I purchased this book initially because as a Solitary Eclectic Wiccan I have found precious little material exploring Wiccan theology and wanted to condense my own ideas with the help of some good reference material.

This book does help me in that regard, but not as much as I had hoped. I would say the vast majority of the book deals with what Isaac Bonewits referred to as "Mesopaganisms" and their comparison/contrast with "Paleopaganisms", with Neopaganisms being the extreme minority of the topics under discussion. There, he uses somewhat odd definitions and lumps all of Witchcraft into the same framework as Wicca, which isn't accurate or fair, but may be a useful enough construct to form sweeping theories with. Basically the most of the text is dedicated to creating definitions.

That said, the book gave me lots to ponder that wasn't on my original shopping list so to speak, and the final, shortest, chapter DOES handle theology more directly. The presentation is generalizing and nonspecific but still helpful. I was most taken by his idea that the New Age movement, which he characterizes as Gnostic, is essentially at odds with the Witchcraft religions in their basic worldviews (Paganisms envisioning the world, the Gods, and the human race as codependent, while Gnostic philosophy sets apart the idea of the One from all lesser emanations; in the one, Nature is sacred, while in the other, Nature is illusion). He surmises that these two incompatible philosophies form loose alliances due to the shared experience of Christian condemnation.

All in all I recommend this book for advancing Neopagans who are looking to help firm up their definitions of broad terms and identify themselves with the religious movements around the world that share common themes with their own.
9 people found this helpful
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OliviaFightsNazgul
5.0 out of 5 stars Swift Delivery and Accurate Product Desc.
Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2021
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Great condition and as described! Thank you so very much!
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The Old Philosopher
3.0 out of 5 stars Off the mark on paganism
Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2003
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Michael York includes Buddhism, Hinduism, Shintoism, Yaruba, and just about everything else in his definition of "paganism." From reading the text its pretty clear that the working definition of "paganism" is "everything not Jewish, Christian, or Moslem." At one point he's even lumping Mormons and Adventists, non-main-steam Christians into "paganism." Very few practicing Pagans, Hindus, Buddhists or Mormons would accept that definition. I was left wondering if he has a clue what he's talking about. The back cover promises, "audacious redrawing of traditional religious boundaries," and York delivers that. So audacious is his redrawing that very few of the groups about which he writes would recognize or accept his audacity. At one point he says that contemporary western neo-paganism is less polytheistic than the Christian trinity. Who is he to redefine the ancient Hindu religion as "pagan"? Or Buddhism? No, I don't think it's scholarly, its not spiritual, and not much of anything else either. For [$$$] it's way over priced.
33 people found this helpful
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Elayne Glantzberg
5.0 out of 5 stars but I really enjoyed reading it
Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2014
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I was assigned this book for a class, but I really enjoyed reading it. I loved wandering through all the different cultures and their beliefs.
One person found this helpful
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Paganus
1.0 out of 5 stars Very far away from any real pagan knowledge
Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2016
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Mr. York lives in an academical world completely away from any real contact with any pagan tradition. His mind is full of the complexes that afflict the "modern citizen" away from the depth of any pagan cosmovision. The thesis of paganism as a "world religion" comes from a monotheistic background. Paganism is related to the earth, to holy places, to the sacredness of life, to a certain type of people. Diversity and many paths are the beautiful fruits of paganism. If you want to know about paganism, this is not the book for you. If you are looking for intellectual dry speculations, buy it!
5 people found this helpful
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Joel Schonbrunn
5.0 out of 5 stars great treatise!
Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2006
I strongly encourage anyone interested in this topic to give this book a try. An excellent monograph on the subject. The author has something interesting to share, and does it in a succinct way. Not a casual read, but very good nonetheless...
3 people found this helpful
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Ian C
4.0 out of 5 stars A Fine Study
Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2004
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This is a fine study of the ideas that lay behind ancient Paganism, and how they relate to and resemble the ideas of modern Paganism.
York proposes a model of Paganism which is pluralistic and polytheistic, nature-focused, human-focused and that seeks a good life on earth more than it does a specific sort of good afterlife.
He begins by examining some of the most well-preserved of ancient forms, those of China and India. He finds in traditional Taoist Paganism his first and most complete model. In Hinduism he has to choose among the many forms to find the (still fairly prominent) presence of Pagan ways. Having isolated the pagan remnants in those ways, he goes on to other world religions, including Japanese culture, European Catholicism and North American First Peoples. York makes fairly good use of material from the african world, including santeria, Lucumi, and the like.
After pointing out the Pagan ideas in the various world paths, he examines the neopagan movement, and reaches interesting conclusions.
I'd recommend this as a fine contribution to the development of Pagan theological thinking.
34 people found this helpful
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Yiota
5.0 out of 5 stars Used in very good condition
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 22, 2020
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I use this for personal research. Very pleased with the product. I liked it came earlier I expected.
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Maya
5.0 out of 5 stars Bonne référence
Reviewed in France on January 20, 2018
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Bonne référence pour les étudiants en sciences humaines travaillant sur le courant New Age ! Courage... il est facile et agréable à lire !
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Luke J-R
5.0 out of 5 stars Very good
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 26, 2013
Verified Purchase
York's book successfully attempts to readdress the paucity of serious academic study on Paganism. Although a little more in-depth studies of specific branches, rather than an overview of many, would have been welcome.
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