Home >
A Very Short Introduction >
Witchcraft (Religion)
A Very Short Introduction | Religion
Witchcraft
ISBN: 9780199735709
Series: A Very Short Introduction
Witchcraft (Religion)
A Very Short Introduction Witchcraft (Religion) Media > Books > Non-Fiction > Education Books Expect Delays of Up to 4 Weeks
| Order Below |
ISBN
9780199735709 (10-digit ISBN: 0199735700)
- Description
- Key Features
- Series Description
- Table of Contents
- Examines the history and origins of witchcraft, from pre-history to the present day, considering why it still features so heavily in our culture
- Considers the classic period (1500-1900) of Witchcraft trials, and witch-hunting, such as the infamous Salem panic of 1692
- Relates concepts of witchcraft to anthropology, sociology, psychology, and politics
- Challenges false assumptions about witchcraft by separating the myths from the historical reality, explaining why the myths exist, and why they matter
- Features stories and interesting examples of witchcraft from different times, places, and contexts
Witchcraft is a subject that fascinates us all, and everyone knows what a witch is - or do they? From childhood most of us develop a sense of the mysterious, malign person, usually an old woman. Historically, too, we recognize witch-hunting as a feature of pre-modern societies. But why do witches still feature so heavily in our cultures and consciousness? From Halloween to superstitions, and literary references such as Faust and even Harry Potter, witches still feature heavily in our society. In this Very Short Introduction Malcolm Gaskill challenges all of this, and argues that what we think we know is, in fact, wrong. Taking a historical perspective from the ancient world to contemporary paganism, Gaskill reveals how witchcraft has meant different things to different people and that in every age it has raised questions about the distinction between fantasy and reality, faith and proof. Telling stories, delving into court records, and challenging myths, Gaskill examines the witch-hunts of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and explores the reinvention of witchcraft - as history, religion, fiction, and metaphor.
Reading Guide
Oxford's Very Short Introductions series offers concise and original introductions to a wide range of subjects--from Islam to Sociology, Politics to Classics, Literary Theory to History, and Archaeology to the Bible.
Not simply a textbook of definitions, each volume in this series provides trenchant and provocative--yet always balanced and complete--discussions of the central issues in a given discipline or field. Every Very Short Introduction gives a readable evolution of the subject in question, demonstrating how the subject has developed and how it has influenced society. Eventually, the series will encompass every major academic discipline, offering all students an accessible and abundant reference library.
Whatever the area of study that one deems important or appealing, whatever the topic that fascinates the general reader, the Very Short Introductions series has a handy and affordable guide that will likely prove indispensable.
Please note: As this series is not ELT material, these titles are not subject to discount.
1: Fear
2: Heresy
3: Malice
4: Truth
5: Justice
6: Rage
7: Fantasy
8: Culture
References
Further Reading
Witchcraft is a subject that fascinates us all, and everyone knows what a witch is - or do they? From childhood most of us develop a sense of the mysterious, malign person, usually an old woman. Historically, too, we recognize witch-hunting as a feature of pre-modern societies. But why do witches still feature so heavily in our cultures and consciousness? From Halloween to superstitions, and literary references such as Faust and even Harry Potter, witches still feature heavily in our society. In this Very Short Introduction Malcolm Gaskill challenges all of this, and argues that what we think we know is, in fact, wrong. Taking a historical perspective from the ancient world to contemporary paganism, Gaskill reveals how witchcraft has meant different things to different people and that in every age it has raised questions about the distinction between fantasy and reality, faith and proof. Telling stories, delving into court records, and challenging myths, Gaskill examines the witch-hunts of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and explores the reinvention of witchcraft - as history, religion, fiction, and metaphor.
Reading Guide
Key Features
- Examines the history and origins of witchcraft, from pre-history to the present day, considering why it still features so heavily in our culture
- Considers the classic period (1500-1900) of Witchcraft trials, and witch-hunting, such as the infamous Salem panic of 1692
- Relates concepts of witchcraft to anthropology, sociology, psychology, and politics
- Challenges false assumptions about witchcraft by separating the myths from the historical reality, explaining why the myths exist, and why they matter
- Features stories and interesting examples of witchcraft from different times, places, and contexts
Series Description
Oxford's Very Short Introductions series offers concise and original introductions to a wide range of subjects--from Islam to Sociology, Politics to Classics, Literary Theory to History, and Archaeology to the Bible.
Not simply a textbook of definitions, each volume in this series provides trenchant and provocative--yet always balanced and complete--discussions of the central issues in a given discipline or field. Every Very Short Introduction gives a readable evolution of the subject in question, demonstrating how the subject has developed and how it has influenced society. Eventually, the series will encompass every major academic discipline, offering all students an accessible and abundant reference library.
Whatever the area of study that one deems important or appealing, whatever the topic that fascinates the general reader, the Very Short Introductions series has a handy and affordable guide that will likely prove indispensable.
Please note: As this series is not ELT material, these titles are not subject to discount.
EASY ORDER FORM
PRICES LISTED INCLUDE CONSUMPTION TAX
Price Before Tax:
¥1,790