Recommended Reading List

[guardian_rose]

TeaDidikai

guardian_rose

I always figured that an occult practice was one that was done by a cult.

Where does this figuring come from?

Quote:

Cults are usually religions that are either unpopular, go against cultural norms, or have few followers.

That's not what cult means.

Quote:

According to some religious leaders, such as those of the Church of Mormon, Paganism is considered a cult.

They're wrong. ~shrugs~

That all depends on who's in charge, now doesn't it.

cult–noun
1. a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies.
2. an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, esp. as manifested by a body of admirers: the physical fitness cult.
3. the object of such devotion.
4. a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc.
5. Sociology. a group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols.
6. a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader.
7. the members of such a religion or sect.
8. any system for treating human sickness that originated by a person usually claiming to have sole insight into the nature of disease, and that employs methods regarded as unorthodox or unscientific.

The definition is from dictionary.com. I bolded number 6 for you. This is what I am getting at. Unorthodox. Compared to contemporary religions, wicca and paganism fit in this definition.

On another note... how weird that sociology would come up.  

[Collowrath]

It's saying that it's the sociological definition, as opposed to a regular usage.  

[Violet Song jat Shariff]

guardian_rose

That all depends on who's in charge, now doesn't it.

cult–noun
1. a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies.
2. an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, esp. as manifested by a body of admirers: the physical fitness cult.
3. the object of such devotion.
4. a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc.
5. Sociology. a group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols.
6. a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader.
7. the members of such a religion or sect.
8. any system for treating human sickness that originated by a person usually claiming to have sole insight into the nature of disease, and that employs methods regarded as unorthodox or unscientific.

The definition is from dictionary.com. I bolded number 6 for you. This is what I am getting at. Unorthodox. Compared to contemporary religions, wicca and paganism fit in this definition.

On another note... how weird that sociology would come up.

Just because you focus on one definition, it doesn't make the other definitions invalid neutral I have underlined the definitions (in case you didn't happen to see them when you posted your message) that don't hold the negative "drinking special kool-aid and wear blue jogging suits" connotation. Those definitions still fully apply in terms of religion being a cult.  

[starpocalypse]

I love this! Thank you so much! ^^
Ahh, yes, err... I have a question.

Anything covering Buddhism or other pagan religions? o.o;;

 

[River_Moonwolf]

Looked at the first post, not sure if this has been covered, but Madeleine L'Engle's work covers more than those two. A Swiftly Tilting Planet carries the story forward, and as I recall, the twins get a couple of books themselves  

[starpocalypse]

May I suggest novels?

Angels and Demons -- Dan Brown
Da Vinci Code -- Dan Brown

They're more science related than pagan, but still going against Christianity and Catholicism. In the Da Vinci Code, it's very similiar to some pagan religions.

OOO! I also recommend The Unholy Grail -- I forget the author. ._.

FABULOUS. ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS.

They even make a connection to Baphomet! : D

 

[TeaDidikai]

City Dreamer

May I suggest novels?

Angels and Demons -- Dan Brown
Da Vinci Code -- Dan Brown

They're more science related than pagan, but still going against Christianity and Catholicism. In the Da Vinci Code, it's very similiar to some pagan religions.

What pagan religions?
And Brown's writing style is craptastic.  

[redtearsblackwings]

A couple of really good books that I've read.
Wicca: A guide For the Solitary Practioner - I can't remember ht author.
Goth Craft - Raven Digitalis  

[TeaDidikai]

redtearsblackwings

Wicca: A guide For the Solitary Practioner - I can't remember ht author.

Scott Cunningham. It's an okayish book for magic and eclectic neo-paganism 98, but it isn't actually about Wica and it doesn't offer a whole lot more than the basics of Standing Stone tradition.

Quote:

Goth Craft - Raven Digitalis

It's basically a Hot Topic version of Cunningham's book.

The understanding is poor, except for a small commentary on goth fashion, but I find that leaves something to be desired as well.  

[Nines19]

City Dreamer

They're more science related than pagan, but still going against Christianity and Catholicism.

...is this seen as a good thing?

redtearsblackwings

Goth Craft - Raven Digitalis

I literally could not force myself to sit through that book. I ended up giving it to a friend who told me he probably wouldn't ever read it either.  

[rmcdra]

Nines19

City Dreamer

They're more science related than pagan, but still going against Christianity and Catholicism.

...is this seen as a good thing?

I second that and would also like to point out that Catholicism is a branch of Christianity, not a separate religion. Also I would like to know how exactly does Brown's books go against Christianity?  

[DemoniaFairy]

I apologize ahead of time if this is a repeat, but does anybody know if Konstantinos' books are any good?  

[TeaDidikai]

DemoniaFairy

I apologize ahead of time if this is a repeat, but does anybody know if Konstantinos' books are any good?

He tends to get mixed reviews around here.

To a lot of folks, he comes across as having more to say about style than substance.
Myself, I think some of the kernels of truth in his books are worth sifting through the rest of the book, but it would be best to keep a salt lick handy.  

[Nines19]

TeaDidikai

Myself, I think some of the kernels of truth in his books are worth sifting through the rest of the book, but it would be best to keep a salt lick handy.

This is my (very limited) understanding as well.  

[iSpikeDog]

i can't see "wicca - a guide for the solitary practioner" on your list... it guided me quite well.. and it did not tell me to do everything the book said... it said it had to come from my mind, soul, and heart... it was very accurate... my gf used the same book and she's been practicing for about 5 or 6 years.... still... brightest blessing brothers and sisters