Books to Beware...

[Asch]

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]

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.

[Castus]

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.

[RandallS]

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.

[LadyBug]

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]

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.

[RandallS]

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.

[LyricFox]

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.

[RandallS]

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 Italian Witchcraft: The Old Religion of Southern Europe.

[Lokabrenna]

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.