Hi!  I am relatively new to Wiccan practices, but in the past year or so, I have bought probably 30 books pertaining to the subject.  So far I have discovered an adoration for the works of Silver Ravenwolf and Scott Cunningham.  I am looking for books along that same vein.  What I mean is that I have bought far too many books written by Wiccans who don't believe that I should celebrate Christmas with my Christian family members or in some cases enjoy time with my Christian family members.  I am looking for books without a sense of "we are right and they are wrong" or a sense of "Christians are inherently bad".  No, I am not a Christian, but with the exception of fanatics, I don't see the bad in people who are.  Does anyone have any recommendations for me?  Also, are there any books anyone can recommend on the history of Witchcraft(not Wicca)?  All of the authors cite history frequently, but I am having a hard time coming up with reputable historical texts on the subject.  Thanks in advance for any help.

Blessed Be!

Elaine

Check out my wishlist for some book ideas.

Oh man I dont have it right now I loaned it to my brother but  I have an encyclopedia of witchcraft. I think it was The Enyclopedia of Witchcraft but Im not positive. Im not a practicing pagan anymore (that is an awkward statement but I cant figure out how to word it differently right now Im having a fit of insomnia and its making it hard to think) Anyway I dont practice anymore but I still hold some pagan values and ideals. I dont think I ever read an us vs them sorta pagan book. I may have ignored that in them though. My advice take what makes sense to you from each book and dont dwell on the parts that dont. IIRC I think I once read a book by Scott Cunningham that spoke of celebrating holidays with christian friends and family but I cant remember what the name was. Maybe an extended version of his book of shadows? Not sure. Im not being helpful am I?

ETA this is it The Encyclopedia of Witches and Witchcraft

Not Wiccan, but you may enjoy Carlos Castenada's writings.

This lady had a deal on the set:

http://www.paperbackswap.com/forum/topic.php?t=112343

One of my favorite books is A History of Pagan Europe.  It is an academic book, but it outlines pagan history very well, as well as how Christianity adopted many pagan festivals and God/desses (Saints) in order to convert early pagans.

As for Wiccan authors...if you like Ravenswolf and Cunningham, you might also find Raymond Buckland interesting.  He has a very nicely put together workbook called Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft  http://www.paperbackswap.com/book/details/9780875420509-Bucklands+Complete+Book+of+Witchcraft+Llewellyns+Practical+Magick

You might also find websites like the Witch's Voice www.witchvox.com to be useful. 

Bright blessings,

Tammy

Thank you all very much for your replies, and I will definitely be looking into the books you all mentioned.  I am sorry for the delay, I am new and I assumed I would get messages if people replied.  I am especially looking forward to the History of Pagan Europe.  Thanks again, everyone!

Blessings!

Elaine

Speaking of history...I have one called "Christianity, the origins of a Pagan religion" by Philippe Walter

It was an interesting read...from the back cover:

This extensive study of the Christian mythology that animated medieval Europe shows that this mythology was inspired by Pagan beliefs and that very little of it comes from the Bible.  The fact that Christianity grafted itself onto earlier Pagan worship was part of the design of the Church Fathers.  Pagan elements were incorporated into the Christian faith on the advice of Pope Gregory the Great, who told St. Augustine of Canterbury that rather than tear down the Pagan temples of Britain, he should instead add existing Pagan rituals into the mix of Christian practices, thus providing an easy transition to the new religion.  It would then be a simple matter to convince the populace to slightly redirect its focus to include Jesus.

    In this scholarly work, Philippe Walter shows which major calendar days of the Christian year are founded on Pagan rituals and myths, including the high holidays of Easter and Christmas, when many Pagans prepared for the coming of spirits who would leave gifts for those who honored them.  Indeed, the identies of saints and Pagan figures were so intermingled that some saints were even transformed into Pagan incarnations, and vice versa.  Mary Magdalene, for instance, became one of the ladies of the lake of Celtic legend.  Walter explores how  the hagiographic accounts of Christian saints reveal the origin of these symbolic figures to be the dieties worshipped in Pagan Europe for centuries.

Now, while this was a very intersting book to read, sometimes it got a bit tedious..I haven't read the book in a while but I seem to remember thinking that some of the things he wrote could be ignored or taken with a grain of salt (if you will)...but on the whole it is definitely worth reading!

Elaine if you want to get a notice when people post in a certain thread you can click watch this topic. Make sure your email settings are set to send the email out and then every time there is a post you will get an email. I dont reccomend doing that with popular threads though. Your inbox will be flooded.

1) Find other Pagans/Wiccans to hang with, because we really arn't all Christian bashers.

2) For a great history on NeoPaganism, read "Triumph of the Moon" by R. Hutton 

Dove

I agree with Dove-Triumph of the moon is the very BEST book for a historical perspective.  Anything by Patricia Telesco is good because she has a very nice sense of humor.  If you find yourself heading down a Celtic path I cannot say enough good things about Edain McCoy and DJ Conway.  Conway also has a cool book about Animal Magick.

No Janet and Stewart Farrar?

I've enjoyed books by Starhawk.

I have found that the way to think about it is......we are all students and we are all teachers. Which means that the goddess wouldn't have put you in the christians lives or them in yours without something that you are all learning from each other, So  anyone that says you shouldn't hangout with someone is not truly letting nature  take its own course. Don't worry about it so much and enjoy all your life experiences. WE all have (or had )those friends that you were really close to but for one reason or the other you no longer all that close to, you have learnt that lesson, grown and moved on.  It's not a bad thing it's just what happens. Enjoy your pagan path:)

Book recomendation:

1.If You want to be a witch by Edain McCoy

This list of Wiccan books is from Borders

http://www.borders.com/online/store/SearchResults?keyword=wicca&type=1&simple=1&cmpid=MB_20080806_REW

Some great wiccan books to check out:

1. Raymonds complete book of witchcraft by Raymond Buckland

2. The witches bible by Janet and Steward Farrar (I believe they were previously mentioned here lol)

3. Witchcraft today and The meaning of Witchcraft by Gerald Gardner

4. Drawing down the moon by Margeret Adler

5. Anything by Doreen Valiente

Anything on the golden dawn (where wicca got many of its roots)

...and so many, many more...look up wicca 101 or wiccan books lists on amazon for more ideas, or check out my wishlist for more obscure pagan works (by Crowly, A.E. Waite, etc.)

Blessed Be and good luck!

.....pagan and wiccan authors have been known to frequent the Brushwood Folklore Center in Sherman, New York from time to time. There they hold lectures and workshops. Especially during the Sirius Rising festival and the Starwood festival. You may sample a variety of pagan/wiccan paths there. Search out the Brushwood website for a schedule of events.

Triumph of the Moon is one of the best books I've read, tracing Wicca beliefs through literature and documented writings. Dry? Sure. It's written by a professor. But if you're interested, it's the best one I recommend to my students.

One of my favorite books is The Craft by Dorothy Morrison. I think you'd really like it too, Dorothy Morrison is definitely not closed minded to other relgions and that book has a lot of basic, but useful information.

I would recommend "The Circle Within: Creating a Wiccan Spiritual Tradition" by Dianne Sylvan and  "Witchcrafting: A Spiritual Guide to Making Magic" by Phyllis Currott.

Both are helpful in crating your own daily spirituality, and helping you figure out what you believe for yourself, not telling you what to believe.  Dianne Sylvan especially points out that there is much to be learned from all religions, not just your fellow pagans.

Good Luck!