Customer Reviews

Astrotheology & Shamanism: Christianity's Pagan Roots. A Revolutionary Reinterpretation of the Evidence (Color Edition)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I grew up Christian my whole life. I was a preacher's kid, and even went to a Christian University. As the years progressed, I never really felt that connection to Jesus as I expected. I began to question and doubt myself as to whether something was wrong with me. As I sat in Bible/Christian related classes, the answers given simply seemed to lead to more questions. Things didn't add up for me. The miracles, the words, the interpretations/variations of many things.

I began to study myself introspectively. I stopped going to Church and saw it for what it was. Any time ideas came up out of the norm, I would attempt to discuss them with my friends. Obviously, due to their being in the Christian environment too it had a clear bias towards the scripture. Everything and every answer was supposedly contained from within God's Word. They could pull passages, chapters, books to support their ideas, but it still didn't give me a fulfilling answer. I found many answers to my questions in this book. This book has changed my perceptions on what Christianity is (and isn't) forever.

I've taken apologetics classes, "Christian Evidences" classes and they simply do not address what is in this book at all. It is a stream of knowledge so guarded over thousands of years (older than the supposed time of Christ himself). Nothing in this book is mainstream, and I find that to be a great thing. If you seek truth, this book is a must.

Contained inside you'll find very detailed information cited with footnotes. You can tell the authors have taken the time to thoroughly flesh out their conclusions. The progression of the book starts in the law of Duality, then Astrology (or Astrotheology as the title indicates) as the "Part 1" to the book. This isn't your basic useless vague horoscope Astrology you see in a newspaper, I'll tell you that. Read the footnotes, if you have questions then reference the books that are cited. The "Part 2" of the book covers the suppression of information over thousands of years by specific groups of people. Within, you will find several detailed pictures of ancient and modern symbolism hidden within. Unless you have a guide, or the key to reading into the details you'd never understand what they meant and would just think "oh, that's a nice piece of old art." The authors do an excellent job weaving their tapestry with the golden thread of knowledge. Once you see what they have to offer in this book, you will not see the world the same ever again. That's not to scare you off, but rather encourage you to think for yourself not what a person of "authority" in scriptures tells you. It is only the tip of the iceberg of information, but a great starting place for those who want to understand why things are the way they are today. The best $$ I've spent in my life!

Jan Irvin and Andrew Rutajit offer open-minded readers an expansive and encompassing--though not exhaustive and overwhelming--look into the depths and origins of religion around the world and throughout history. The underlying themes presented in this well written and expertly illustrated book are certainly evocative; and to the uninformed reader, some of the ideas may come as a shock, in all their profundity. But to those who are willing to set aside cultural bias (and programming), this book provides a wellspring of information that serious seekers will find both refreshing in its authenticity and liberating in its implications. The story that emerges contains within it the seeds of transformation that could play a formative role in bearing the fruit of a completely new worldview, one that reconnects humanity with our deepest and most vital selves. This book may be ahead of its time, but that time is coming, and when it does, this is the knowledge that is going to help humanity envision and eventually build a new world, one that is based on ancient and timeless truths. Highly recommended reading.

A book that is a must own for anyone interested in Christianity's pagan roots and/or shamanism. Jan Irvin and Andrew Rutajit combine brilliant writing, impeccable research, and immaculate illustrations from Nicholas Zervos in a clear and open minded book that will give any reader a jaw dropping tour of Christianity throughout the ages. This book will leave you with a deeper understanding of religious symbolism and will even make sense out of the modern holiday traditions of Christmas and Easter. The authors leave no stone unturned in an attempt to illuminate the reader with the resplendent truth about the origins of Christianity. This work is truly Alchemical Gold! The information in this book is so strong that when you're finished reading it you will pass it along to everyone you know. A great gift for the holidays! Hurry up and buy it already!

If you are already familiar with non-mainstream thought and analysis, you will truly love this book and get something from every word. If you are at all unwilling to consider alternatives to the judeo-christian concepts of spirituality, then prepare to have your beliefs shaken. If you are on the alternative spiritual path and looking to slowly open your friends and loved ones in to new ways for them to think, I would recommend starting a little slower than this book and maybe with something like "Pagans and Christians" by Gus diZerega, a little bit more of an "easing" into it, if you will. Astrotheology and Shamanism is a FANTASTIC book, but for someone who has never thought beyond the widely accepted dogmatic religious views in our society, it may be a little over-whelming. Plus, some of the commentary by the authors is a little on the angry side (at the beginning) and if someone is for the first time "dipping their toe" into alternative ways of thinking, it may scare them away or put them off the book -which would be a real shame. I give it 5 stars because the information contained within is brilliantly laid out, and fascinating to absorb. It is truly inspiring to read, and for me, was a page turner. The only less than glowing thing I can say is that by Chapter 9, the book has beaten its point so hard that it's gotten redundant, and honestly, if you're still reading at Ch. 9, you're probably already convinced. It does pick back up though by ch. 10. Highly recommend to my fellow spiritual seekers out there, a must for every pagan library!

It was the summer of 1973 and The 5th Dimension was playing "Let the Sunshine In" at the Wisconsin State Fair Park and I was getting really high for the first time under the grandstands with some total strangers. Thus began a long love affair for me with altered states of consciousness. I have endured ridicule, condescension and the threat of government sanctions ever since merely for acknowledging and continuing to seek the mind expanding experiences available via the plants that nature has provided for us. Astrotheology and Shamanism goes way beyond affirming that the insights I gained from using naturally occurring plants to "get high" were legitimate. Jan Irvin and Andrew Rutajit go much deeper indeed showing clearly how the use of mind altering plants has influenced the evolution of religions and cultures across many, many generations. This book is a must read for anyone desiring to break free of the psychic stranglehold currently being enforced via the War On Drugs aka, the Pharmacratic Inquisition.

In general, the second edition has substantially been improved by republishing the illustrations in colour, which makes evaluating relevant details of the religious art work included much more reliable.
Astrotheology & Shamanism reads like a thrilling novel and is very well documented with references of the hypotheses and images of the symbols (re)presented. It provides a thorough analysis of the influence of astrotheology and entheogens on the development of religion. At present, the second edition of the book is the most complete publication on astrotheology and shamanism and on pagan rituals and ceremonies being at the very roots of Judeo-Christianity, religions still ignoring or denying their origins, which John Allegro so eloquently unveiled.
The complete, with 10 pictures of fungi illustrated text of the review, in which also some suggestions for completing and correcting the text of the book are made, can be found at the gnosticmedia.com website : Astrotheology & Shamanism. A review.

This book was interesting for me since it answered several things I've wondered about. I recommend that if you read this book, to also see the video The Pharmacratic Inquisition. It is by the same people and if you don't want to buy the DVD, you can watch it on youtube. Together, they were very educational for me. Read and view them with an open mind, and you might learn something interesting. The ancients were really clever.

I personally found the artworks in the book to be interesting, and in the video, the evolution of the mushroom and it's association with sacred text really become understandable.

An incredibly insightful breakthrough in de-mystifying the Christian religions roots. I heard Jan Irvin speak on a popular podcast, which led me to a discussion he had regarding the Trivium. Having read two of his books and another about the Trivium I wouldn't think twice about recommending anything Jan Irvin puts his name on. If you were dragged to church every Sunday for the first eighteen years of your life by an overbearing mother, get ready to throw it all back in her face.

Many people who hear the term "astrotheology" will either look at you like you have a leg growing out of your forehead, roll their eyes, or give little more than a sneer. Many think that it's either the stuff of conspiracy theories and/or it's not a true field of study. But Irvin and Rutajit have thoroughly shattered this myth.

Even during my years as a Christian, I grew suspicious of the claims of church leaders and biblical authors. I knew there was something more, but I had no idea where to look. Over time I began to put the pieces of the puzzle together with somewhat satisfactory results, until I discovered The Pharmacratic Inquisition and Astrotheology and Shamanism. The mystery of Christianity's secret origins began to unravel.

I can't thank Irvin and Rutajit enough for compiling their findings into this comprehensive book. It is easy to read, easy to research, and filled with footnote after footnote, source after source. There is more data to be found, to be sure. But if you have doubts of Christianity's claims or wonder about the origins of traditions and customs of Christmas and Easter, then you absolutely need this book.

Anyone who finally wants to get to the bottom of religion and get answers to questions that have been squelched for millenium will really enjoy this book. The author takes great care to note his sources, lay out the facts carefully, and provide beautiful color illistrations. I felt scales fall away from my eyes as everything fell into a simple, scientific, and logical truth. A must read for anyone looking to move beyond religious dogma.