13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Interesting Book, April 27 2008
By a person who reads - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Cr FAQ - An Introduction to Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism (Paperback)
I really enjoyed reading this book and learned a lot about CR. I think that everything in this book is available on the web, but I am still glad that I bought the book, because reading it on the internet would have been overwhelming for me. Also, I think its great that the profits go to good causes.
I have a few issues with the book that I would like to address. The first is that there seems to be a lot of hostility towards eclectic neo-pagans. I agree with the authors that some eclectics do perpetuate a lot of cultural theft, but I also believe that it is possible to practice eclecticism ethically. The tone of the writing came off as a little self-righteous. For instance on page 74-75 the answer to a question about CRs stealing cultural elements from Native Americans, ends by saying "This is why we do our best to make a distinction between our approach and that of eclectics and "shame-ons." The authors seem to be implying that all eclectics steal cultural elements from Native Americans, because they leave out the word "some" before "eclectics". They also make the mistake of equating shamanism with Native Americans. If it is offensive to call Celtic spiritual practices shamanism, why is it ok to call Native American practices shamanism, when it is not a word from any Native American language? That just doesn't make sense to me.
My other problem with the book is with the reading list--which I really think is a great bunch of books. The problem for me is that the authors take pains to point out which books get a "qualified recommendation" and the reasons why those recommendations are qualified, but it doesn't go far enough. For instance "The Silver Bough" gets recommended without a qualifier, but in the first of the series F. Marian McNeill writes some outdated ideas about early Scots worshipping a "solar god". There are other books on the list that I feel could have used a qualifier and to give it to some and not others could be confusing to readers who may feel the absence of qualifiers mean that those particular books do not contain misinformation.
I do recommend this book highly (with the aforementioned "qualifiers") for anyone interested in Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism and related subjects.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
A note from one of the authors, Dec 2 2007
By Erynn Laurie "Professional Madwoman" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Cr FAQ - An Introduction to Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism (Paperback)
Yes, I helped write this book. It's currently the only book available that is specifically about the path of Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism. It covers a wide variety of topics of interest to anyone exploring this group of traditions, from who we are to how we celebrate our holy days. It showcases a number of different views within the movement and offers resources for getting into the community online and building a personal practice locally. There are ideas for practice, reading lists for folks from beginners to advanced practitioners, and discussions of issues from the place of clergy in CR to involving your kids in your practice.
I give the book four stars because there is so much else to be said that we really couldn't fit into this short volume.
All profits from the purchase of this book go to a Gaelic-language charity that promotes the language in Scotland and globally. None of the authors sees so much as a penny from this work, so in buying this not only can you learn about Celtic cultures and how the modern CR movement is working to reconstruct their polytheistic traditions, you're also supporting Gaelic-speaking communities directly.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Creating Understanding, May 27 2008
By Sandman - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Cr FAQ - An Introduction to Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism (Paperback)
I am Wiccan, but pride myself being a student of all religions. I was extremely happy to have come across this book, and to be able to have the opportunity to place CR in perspective.