Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A friendly primer, December 7, 2008
Like many in the Hellenic pagan community I read "Old Stones New Temples" by Drew Campbell when it was first published years ago. While the book was a brave first attempt as a primer for modern Hellenic paganism, it had its shortcomings. In any event, there has been quite a debate in the years since it was published about what Hellenic paganism is or should be, making OSNT obsolete.
Sarah Kate Istra Winter writes with those years of experience in mind. The 2nd edition of "Kharis: Hellenic Polytheism Explored" is a great contemporary primer for Hellenic paganism.
After some brief introductory remarks, Chapter 1 offers an informative overview of Ancient Hellenic religion, clearing up some common misconceptions from those with a Christian or neopagan background. Chapter 2 looks broadly at the modern Hellenic community and some of its internal issues. Chapter 3 focuses on the heart of the religion; piety through ritual. The fourth chapter examines the various levels of divinities and relationships to them; Ms. Winter makes it clear there is much more to the religion than temple cults to the usual twelve Olympians. The fifth chapter deals with magic and mysticism, two topics which are a source of debate within the community.
Ms. Winter's writing is grounded solidly in historical research as well as personal experience, and her credibility is that she clearly states which is the former and which is the latter. Her prose is intelligent yet simple, which is perfect for the neophyte. While not always agreeing on every detail, I commend Ms. Winter for taking pains to present a balanced view of the religion, despite what criticism below would lead you to believe.
My only real criticism is that I felt even a primer needs a hearty section devoted to each of the major gods - an appetizer before one gets to the main course with Walter Burkett's writings. This was one of the few strengths of OSNT, and unfortunately this book lacked it. There is an appendix in the back detailing a correspondence between various items and the gods, but I think something more substantial about their cult and mythology needs to be included. Perhaps in the third edition?
In the sum, this is a great book for the beginner. The survey in the back is also very illuminating to those who have been in the community for a while.
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
THE introduction to modern Hellenic practice, February 7, 2009
This short book is one of the best introductions to modern Hellenismos. Virtues of the book include historical accuracy, comprehensiveness, and brevity. Beginners gain from this small book what would otherwise require extensive reading of multiple scholarly volumes. Furthermore, Winter offers this without descending into the condescending style all too familiar from typical pagan beginner books. She writes lucidly without dumbing down, nor shying away from giving her personal opinions. Perhaps the greatest strength of the book is how deftly Winter conveys her views while clearly distinguishing them from historical claims.
The first chapter of the book gives a brief but dense overview of the historical traditions, and the second covers modern traditions.
Chapter three explains the heart of Hellenismos through the concept of kharis, or reciprocity. Winter quotes Burkert: "the bond between man and the sacred is consummated in the continuous exchange of gift for gift" (p. 43). Then she brings this to life in her own words: "Just like you might sometimes buy your spouse flowers for no reason, and that act creates a more loving and charitable bond between you both, so do we give to the gods, knowing they will also give to us when it is right" (p. 43). After this she brings kharis down to earth with practical advice on effective ritual and worship, including descriptions of libations, sacrifices, and first fruits offerings.
A controversial stance is taken in her discussion of animal sacrifice. She comes down in favor of it, as long as it is done appropriately. It is not much different from kosher slaughter in Judaism, she maintains. At the same time, she provides for contrary opinions and suggests vegetarian alternatives. One thing she does not address, however, is the question of holocaust offerings--that is, sacrifice in which no part of the animal is eaten, but all of it goes to the gods. This was part of ancient practice, as she acknowledges. Is this also to be a modern option? If so, the analogy with kosher slaughter ceases to apply. If not, why not clearly set the boundaries? Leaving the issue without comment opens the way for such a questionable practice to reappear, or at least for beginners to get the wrong impression.
Chapter four develops the kharis theme through deepening divine relationships, and Winter is attentive not only to the Olympian gods, but also and especially to nymphs, daimones, heroes, and domestic powers. The fifth and final chapter develops kharis still further into the realm of magic and mysticism.
Of special note is Winter's view of how the gods may appear to us. After noting the gross physicality of appearances in Homer, the likes of which may seem incredible today, she wonders if this does not still happen:
"What if the people who lived those stories experienced them in a much more natural and tangible way than we have imagined - perhaps not as ordinary events, but not supernatural either? What if, what we would see as an amazing but purely physical event - say, coming upon a deer in the woods, who then looks into your eyes for several moments before running away - they would have seen as meeting Artemis in the woods, looking right into her eyes." (p. 100)
In this way, Winter accounts for divine theophany through "temporary possession of an already physical form" (p. 101). And this is something that can very well happen to us today, no less than in ancient times.
At the back of the book are a plenitude of practical aids: festival calendars, deities indexed by animal, plant, place, vocation, and other associations, a guide to Greek pronunciation including god names in both the nominative and vocative (used when addressing them directly, as in prayer), and other useful ritual phrases in Greek. These linguistic aids are not necessary to practice but are provided as opportunities to deepen relationships with the gods. Finally, at the end of the book are the results of a Hellenic Polytheist survey. This not only adds nuance to the face of Hellenismos, but also offers a useful counterpoint to the author's own views. For example, Winter is a hard polytheist, like many, but the reader is able to contextualize this by means of the survey, realizing it is but one view among many. Practical aids like these complement the preceding discussions and may even provide equal or greater value to some readers.
Some might complain that the book does not cover enough of the basics, such as the gods or their myths. Winter acknowledges that she does expect something from her reader--she is not writing a book about mythology (p. 66). While some may be dismayed to have to buy another book to learn the myths, this seems reasonable as a litmus test for the seriousness of the student. Those genuinely interested in more than superficial practice will be willing to do their own research; others are simply beyond Winter's intended audience.
Overall, Winter has written a useful and accurate guide to modern Hellenismos. She does justice to history while offering plenty of advice for modern practice. And she adds an important voice to a religion that is alive, not just a thing of library shelves. Throughout the book Winter corrects the bookish tendency to see gods as the sum of their myths. She notes that ancient requests to deities often went far beyond their supposed spheres of influence (p. 68), and that myths were not really that important to religious belief and ritual (p. 17). Studying a deity's epithets may give a wider view of their nuance. But to truly know the gods, she encourages the developing of real, living relationships through kharis.
20% of the profits from book sales of Kharis go to the charity Survival International.
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5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very solid book, November 30, 2008
I would highly recommend this book to any Pagan interested in the Gods of the Greeks. Well laid out, highly researched, and yet easy to understand and apply to your religious daily practice.
Although this is a beginner level book, the religious concepts are so clear and insightful that people past the beginner stage will find value in this book. This is not a "how to perform a Hellenic ritual book", but a book that delves into the worshippers relationship to the Gods and how to strengthen that relationship. The sources used are listed in the back and that is an excellent place to look to for additional reading, should you wish to dig deeper.
The survey information alone, especially since it is contrasted with a survey the author did a few years ago, is worth the price of the book. I know I was surprised by some of the results!
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