Booklist
Seeking to reconcile Christianity and paganism, diZerega regards both as "unique and valuable" ways of knowing "the Sacred," and he disarmingly grants grievous moral failures in practitioners of both. But what is best about the book is its unwaveringly ameliorative, peacemaking tone. DiZerega, a modern wiccan, first explains the faith that more needs explaining, paganism. Pagan spirituality's distinctive characteristics are pantheism (all that is, is divine) or panentheism (divinity is immanent and transcendent); animism (the divine is manifest in everything); polytheism, which doesn't, however, deny a single source of all being; "the Eternal Present" (spiritual reality is cyclical and mythical); and nondualistic morality (there is no Satan or principle of evil). In discussing these characteristics, diZerega demonstrates that all of them can be found within Christianity, too, which is one reason Christians ought to tolerate paganism. The Christian tenet that powers antipagan feeling is the claim that Christianity is the one true religion (Islam is similarly, and Judaism differently, exclusive), and the great dissipater of antipaganism should be the divine immanence recognized by panentheism and by Christian mystical concepts of indwelling divinity. Besides this main argument, diZerega ponders four particular Christian criticisms of wicca and two wiccan objections to Christianity. This personal and experiential book won't convince those who prefer scholarly and intellectual religious disputation, but they, too, will appreciate its warmth and nobility. Ray Olson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Book Description
Although Christianity is still a major religious force, there are growing numbers of people in other faiths, including the various Pagan traditions. Some Christians have responded to this trend with fear and derision, while some Pagans have reacted to that fear with anger and mistrust.
Much of the problem is due to misunderstandings and lack of communication. This can change with Gus diZerega's Pagans & Christians. Here you will find a penetrating and illuminating comparison, showing that neither path has the single correct approach to the Divine. Rather, either or both can be authentic and legitimate expressions of the appreciation of the Ultimate Source of All.
Pagans & Christians is an ideal way to help bridge what at time seems a wide chasm between Christian and Pagan beliefs. By sharing core ideas of both paths, this book provides a way to give deeper mutual understanding and unity among the religions of the world.
Although Pagans & Christians accepts both paths as valid, the book provides a more in-depth explanation of Paganism ó the minority religion because in some ways, Paganism demands a greater defense and explanation of its beliefs and ideas to dispel misunderstandings. The author is a Third Degree Gardenerian Elder and in Pagans & Christians has presented nothing less than a brilliant defense of Paganism, clearly showing how it should stand beside all of the major religions of the world as an equal. As part of this defense, diZerega gives a listing of biblical contradictions and Christian philosophical difficulties which can help any Pagan responding to a negative attack, and will help any Christian to view his or her religion as a way, not the way.
Winner of the 2001 Coalition of Visionary Resources (COVR) Award for Best Non-fiction Book
Much of the problem is due to misunderstandings and lack of communication. This can change with Gus diZerega's Pagans & Christians. Here you will find a penetrating and illuminating comparison, showing that neither path has the single correct approach to the Divine. Rather, either or both can be authentic and legitimate expressions of the appreciation of the Ultimate Source of All.
Pagans & Christians is an ideal way to help bridge what at time seems a wide chasm between Christian and Pagan beliefs. By sharing core ideas of both paths, this book provides a way to give deeper mutual understanding and unity among the religions of the world.
Although Pagans & Christians accepts both paths as valid, the book provides a more in-depth explanation of Paganism ó the minority religion because in some ways, Paganism demands a greater defense and explanation of its beliefs and ideas to dispel misunderstandings. The author is a Third Degree Gardenerian Elder and in Pagans & Christians has presented nothing less than a brilliant defense of Paganism, clearly showing how it should stand beside all of the major religions of the world as an equal. As part of this defense, diZerega gives a listing of biblical contradictions and Christian philosophical difficulties which can help any Pagan responding to a negative attack, and will help any Christian to view his or her religion as a way, not the way.
Winner of the 2001 Coalition of Visionary Resources (COVR) Award for Best Non-fiction Book
