Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion: An Anthropological Study of the Supernatural [Paperback]

Arthur Lehmann (Author), James Myers (Author), Pamela Moro (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 14, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0767416929 | ISBN-13: 978-0767416924 | Edition: 5

A comparative reader that takes an anthropological approach to the study of religious beliefs, both strange and familiar.

Product Details

• Paperback: 456 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages; 5 edition (July 14, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0767416929
• ISBN-13: 978-0767416924
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,259,603 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great College Course, February 13, 2012

By 

Melissa - See all my reviews

This review is from: Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion: An Anthropological Study of the Supernatural (Paperback)

This was a great college course when I took it and I gave my college text book to a friend. Now Im thinking of getting another copy for myself.

I did like how that the book and class explored not just the Christen side of religion but viewed all sides of the beliefs of man from Shamanism and cannibalism and how people believe how other then pray there are other forces out there that people use fore healing and dealing with death.

27 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Here's my problem with it so far..., May 26, 2005

By 

B. Baker "By Koppur, a B.Baker employee" (New Bedford, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion: An Anthropological Study of the Supernatural (Paperback)

Here's my problem with the book: It presents an unfavorable view of certain types of magick and religions. True, I have not finished the book yet, but all you hav to do is read the negative definitions for the words "withcraft: An EVIL power inhert in certain individuals that permits them...to do HARM or cause others MISFORTUNE;" "New Age: a loosley used term describing a combination of spirituality and superstition, a FAD and FARCE, that SUPPOSEDLY helps believes gain knowledge of the unknown;" and two of the four definitions involving the word magick end with the words "intended victim." Granted, the book was originally written in 1985 when withcraft, magick and Wicca weren't as accepted, but it was reprinted in 2001, so you'd think some of the definitions could have been changed. It just doesn't seem like an objective view of the supernatural and magick, but rather a negatively jaded one. It's getting 3 stars becasue I haven't finished it, and there's always a chance it could redeem itself at the end. ~Koppur

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Anth Course Textbook, September 16, 2008

By 

Julie Tucker "Jules99blonde" (Twentynine Palms, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion: An Anthropological Study of the Supernatural (Paperback)

This book was interesting in the fact that it went into the supernatural, but kept it's science perspective. I don't know if I would have ever just "picked up" the book to read it. But it was a good text while I was in an Anthropology course. So if you're an Anth major, I definitely suggest it.