Happy Ostara !!!!!! Pg17 Formerly Blessed Solstice and Merry Yule

[deb1]

I am not certain if this would be considered a book about paganism but my interest in paganism has led me to want this book.

http://www.amazon.com/Julians-Again...=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261833919&sr=1-4

It is about the Emperor Julian, sometimes called the apostate. He was a Chrisitan but became a pagan. Instead of using violence against Christians, he tried to use reason and this book lists some of his arguments. What is interesting is that we have been taught that pagans were against early Christians but there are writings by some like Celesus and Julian that show that there was an intellictual debate going on between the two groups. So, I am going to eventually buy some of the recreations of those debates just to see how early pagans felt about the new religion.

I think that this book, although it is a history book, might be good also.

http://www.amazon.com/God-Against-Gods-Monotheism-Polytheism/dp/0142196339/ref=pd_sim_b_3#noop

You can read the first few pages of this book on Amazon and the beginning sounds amazing.

Sorry, I love history and reading the other side of the story, how pagans themselves felt about the new religion, amazes me.

both books sound friendly to paganism in general.

 

[CoopCrazy]

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Wow Thanks soo much .. I am gonna have to read these .. I read alot of books like these just finished .. When the Gods came down .. Very cool book and covers the syncronicities between ancient texts.. It gets a lil honky when he is saying that the gods where Meteorites.. But all in all cool to see how the Koran, Dead Sea scrolls, Meso., Bablyonian and Biblical share so many stories and myths.....

 

[deb1]

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Wow Thanks soo much .. I am gonna have to read these .. I read alot of books like these just finished .. When the Gods came down .. Very cool book and covers the syncronicities between ancient texts.. It gets a lil honky when he is saying that the gods where Meteorites.. But all in all cool to see how the Koran, Dead Sea scrolls, Meso., Bablyonian and Biblical share so many stories and myths.....

That sounds interesting. I might look into that book.

I have always found it interesting that most religions have a concept of the golden rule-do onto others as you would have them do onto you-in their teachings.

 

[Kanchii]

Those books look very interesting. I was actually just in Rome last month, and the paganism vs christianity was everywhere in the architecture of the city, it was amazing to look at. The Pantheon, for example, was one of my favorite places on the whole trip. That strangely perfect circle laid in brick by hand by the pagans, which they think would be impossible to redo in such perfect symmetry today even with our technology.

 

[deb1]

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I have always wanted to visit Rome. You are so lucky.

 

[WhiteWingedDove]

Happy belated Yule and Solstice everyone.

I've noticed some great book and website recommendations here!

I do want to remind everyone to remain open-minded and hearted and, as CrazyCoop mentioned, one person's opinion or beliefs are going to be different from the next persons.

And to point out that a single book or website on a belief system or religion cannot even match the emotions and soul of being a part of the living world and body of these traditions and beliefs.
You must find these things within your soul and not in a book.

That said, I've been to many of the mentioned sites and heard of or read some of the books, and having something to fall back on and a written piece of art and life is also a great thing and often a great tool to becoming youself.

One book that I would recommend is Drawing Down the Moon; Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers and Other Pagans in America by Magot Adler. It goes into detail and myths and facts about some of the variaties of these beliefs and how some of the newer strains came to be. Possibly a good book for those looking to find their own path.

 

[fordmommy]

Beautiful pic! Bring on the light!

 

[Hoosiermomma]

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Well said WWD!

 

[CoopCrazy]

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Beautifully said.. I Love Drawing Down The Moon! It was one of my first books and i still reference it today,,,

 

[BarkerChickens]

Another great introductory book about paganism is "Pagamism: An Introduction to Earth-Centered Relgions" by Joyce and River Higginbotham.