Booknote:Paganism

Joyce Higginbotham and River Higginbotham, Paganism: an Introduction to Earth-Centered Religions. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn, 2002. ISBN: 978-0-7387-0222-3.

Genre: nonfiction, religion studies, spirituality
Subgenre: paganism, textbook, reference book
Format: trade paperback
Source: Hutchins Library, Berea College

This book is a good and basic introductory textbook on the topic of paganism. While it does have pluses and minuses, it works well in introducing a basic understanding of what paganism is, its diverse forms, and what it is not. If you need a place to start out given the many options available (or options you can create), then this book is a good starting point.

The book is arranged into 7 major chapters:

• What is paganism? Answers questions such as what does "pagan" mean?, what do pagans believe?, and principles of paganism. 
• You are what you believe. Goes over things like "what is a belief system?" and "claiming the power to choose your beliefs." 
• A pagan view of deity.
• What about Satan? This prepares you for the inevitable question of the clueless, Christians, etc. that think paganism and Satan are the same (actually, answers can vary but most pagans do not believe in Satan and may view it as a Judeo-Christian-Muslim concept if they even view it at all). 
• The Living Universe.
• Magick, including why it is spelled "magick" with a "k."
• Ethics and personal responsibility.

The book also features an introduction, notes, a glossary of terms, a bibliography, and a list of recommended readings for every chapter.

My issues with the book were mainly that the authors seem way too idealistic at times, and their apparent emphasis on group dynamics. Even when they speak of solitary practitioners, they always go back to "discuss with  your friends," or at times worse, "the family." Not every family will be supportive let alone safe for any pagan to go discussing their beliefs. In some cases, pagans do need to cut off family or parts of their past in order to move forward in their paganism and overall growth. In other words, it is not going to be all "honky dory" as the authors appear to suggest. You see this in their various discussion questions and exercises presented in the book. While many can be for individual reflection, the overall emphasis on groups-- find a group, visit a group, get together with friends to discuss, so on-- is heavy. For solitaries who really want to be solitary (for a variety of reasons), that heavy group emphasis can be a significant issue. Add to it the often way too cheery tone the book has at times, and the value of the book can become a bit limited.

On the positive, the book offers a lot. It provides a look at paganism in broad terms. This is good as it is important to understand that paganism is many things, and it has many forms. For those seekers considering a pagan path, and this is a big part of the book's audience, the book provides a lot of guidance, questions, and exercises for reflection to help those seekers decide if a pagan path is for them, and if it is, ideas and resource lists to steer them to the best path for them. This is also a book just for general readers as well as those in mainstream or "traditional" (read here in organized religions mainly) seeking to learn what paganism really is. For those already well into the pagan path, this book may be too basic, and that is OK. For those in the path, there are plenty of more advanced and/or specialized books they can read and use. For others I've described, this text does the job pretty well.

Despite the issues I've mentioned, this is a good choice for public and academic libraries needing an introductory text on the topic. While librarians may want to supplement, if you can only get one, or your are literally starting out adding pagan materials, this is a good and reliable starter choice.

In the end, I liked it, and I would recommend it. I also made notes and copied a few pages so I could try some of the exercises in my journal later.

3 out of 5 stars.

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Additional reading notes:

I liked that the author's encourage journaling. As I mentioned in my review, I photocopied some pages so I could do some exercises in my journal later:

"We also highly recommend that you acquire a journal or notebook before getting started, especially if you are using this book as an aid to spiritual development. A journal is an ideal place to take notes, write down your thoughts, answer the discussion questions, and do the journaling exercises" (xiii).

What being pagan is about:

"Unlike some religions, 'becoming' a Pagan is not about accumulating facts or knowledge, becoming theologically adept, memorizing holy text, or adopting a predetermined belief system. Instead, becoming Pagan often involves learning how to let go of attachment to dogma, to approach belief systems as objectively as possible, to accept responsibility for the beliefs and ethics you choose to adopt, and to take responsibility for the consequences of your beliefs as exhibited in your behavior. Spiritual development in some religions is measured by the degree to which you know the belief system and adhere to it in your daily life. Spiritual development in Paganism can be measure by the maturity of your actions and the degree to which you participate in the interconnectedness of the universe" (xv).