Phoenix: The World of the Witches

by Julio Caro Baroja

Book Overview

Dr. Caro Baroja is well known as the author of the classic ethnography of the Basques, whose activities in witchcraft inspired this book. Beginning with an analysis of the basic aspects of the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1842122428
• ISBN13: 9781842122426
• Release Date: June 2001
• Publisher: Phoenix
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.76 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Extremely interesting and well documented

What is a witch? Well as the book will explain in great detail, that the answer depends on the time and place one might be thinking about. There has always been a close relation between religion and magic as both systems claim to have a special connection with forces or energies which are beyond a person sphere of influence. Priest and witches will offer to their followers their special services to make the believer wishes come true by prayers and by submitting to powers outside their grasp. Before Christianity the image of the witch or the sorcerer, was not particularly separated from that of a priest. However, after Christianity gains political power the "witches" become prosecuted as they are the last remains of paganism (must of them use to praise the forces of nature and follow fertility rites) and if they claim to have "powers" those must be diabolic. Why? as it needs to establish that Jesus is the only source of "legitimate" power to provide a solution to a person needs and desires. It's fascinating to see how by means of propaganda both Catholics and protestants create a whole set of images and beliefs so that the failures and frustrations of everyday life must be answered not by a useless god or his son but by poor and uneducated women, and then how when reason starts to prevail over superstition the belief in the powers of the witches begins to fade.

An acedemic approach to the subject of witchcraft

I found this book entirely informative filled with facts and beliefs of witchcraft throughout the world. Without all the fluff and "new age" bright blessings this is what the real wica and witchcraft is about. I doubt seriously if those who claim an understanding of the subject will notice the difference in the term. A throughly good read for someone who truely wants to learn about the subject with more meat on the bone and less hype. Baroja talks about the nature of the witch from the earliest historical period through the middle ages to the present and side steps the quamire of "new age" hokum to present an illuminating account gathered from art,literature,ecclesiastical and historical-legal documents. His presentation is thankfully free of the "blessed bes" and Dianic tripe and is a refreshing read in this age of socalled spell books an fabricated wicca.

Assigned reading in college.

I wrote a review of this book, but when I tried to edit it, I was accused of performing an illegal act, and the review was wiped out. I was trying to get it back, but apparently cannot. Ken

Excellent

& #65279;Excellent, thorough, scholarly work. Of special interest to those interested in culturalanthropology.