Magic, always part of the occult underground in North America,
has experienced a resurgence since the 1960s. Although most
contemporary magical religions have come from abroad, they have
found fertile ground in which to develop in North America. Who are
today's believers in Witchcraft and how do they worship?
Alternative spiritual paths have increased the ranks of followers
dramatically, particularly among well-educated middle-class
individuals. Witchcraft and Magic conveys the richness of
magical religious experiences found in today's culture, covering
the continent of North America and the Caribbean.
These original essays survey current and historical issues
pertinent to religions that incorporate magical or occult beliefs
and practices, and they examine contemporary responses to these
religions. The relationship between Witchcraft and Neopaganism is
explored, as is their intersection with established groups
practicing goddess worship. Recent years have seen the growth in
New Age magic and Afro-Caribbean religions, and these developments
are also addressed in this volume.
All the religions covered offer adherents an alternative worldview
and rituals that are aimed at helping individuals redefine
themselves and make their interactions with the environment more
empowered. Many modern occult religions share an absence of dogma
or central authority to determine orthodoxy, and have become a
contemporary experience embracing modern concerns like feminism,
environmentalism, civil rights, and gay rights. Afro-Caribbean
religions such as Santería, Palo, and Curanderismo, which do have a
more developed dogma and authority structure, offer their followers
a religion steeped in African and Hispanic traditions. Responses to
the growth of magical religions have varied, from acceptance to an
unfounded concern about the growth of a satanic underground. And,
as magical religions have flourished, increased interest has
resulted in a growing commercialization, with its threat of
trivialization.
eISBN: 978-0-8122-0125-3
Subjects: Anthropology
Table of Contents
You are viewing the table of contents
You do not have access to this
book
on JSTOR. Try logging in through your institution for access.