10 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Terrible Research and Total Hype, September 12, 2007
This book simply consists of pseudo-research, it's a total waste of your time and money. Murray's outdated premises are based on the records of confessions of supposed "witches" during their incarceration, torture, and trials. Chapter after chapter detail the suffering of these innocents, this is evidence of Church doctrine and cruelty, not documentation of anything resembling witchcraft. As Casanova rightly answered when asked why the Inquisitors were more powerful than the magicians, he explained that, "it was because monks had more devils under their command" (Wilson 71:288).
Murray's whole thesis is derived from false fragments of pseudo-information, confessions extracted from accused "witches." Yet the witchcraft community has often accepted Murray's nonsense without question. During years of research, I've seen this book referred to again and again, and can't believe that it's been given credibility by so many authors. In anthropological circles, this book is derided as one of the worst examples of poor academic research ever published. It's like theologists defining Judaic practices during the period of the Spanish Inquisition by what victims said about their faith during torture and subsequent "confession." Or what slavery was like from the point of view of the exploiters.
Murray actually postulates that the consistency of the practices described in the confessions of "witches" is evidence of a widespread witch religion. Yes, it is evidence, but evidence pertaining to the consistent beliefs of the Papal Bull of Innocent VIII against witchcraft! As in: the tormentors all consistently asked the same set of questions. Thus, the practices of Murray's so-called witches are consistent because the torturers were! This clearly does not reflect some kind of organized witch-religion, it only demonstrates the consistent organization of the Church. One can't write seriously about witchcraft, or learn about it, with this terrible, totally unreliable information, extracted under duress by the Church. Which is not to say that some forms of ancient folkways, traditions, and yes, even various kinds of witchcraft or shamanism may have survived throughout Europe after the spread of Christianity.
Instead of this terrible documentation of suffering, try the academic series of six volumes edited by Bengt Ankarloo, "Witchcraft and Magic in Europe." There is a lot of New Age garbage out there, but you can pick through fun books by Doreen Valiente, or Pauline & Dan Campanelli. For the real thing, read up on authentic tribal religions, examine the excellent works on shamanism and plants by Wade Davis and Richard Evans Schultes. You don't need to waste your time on Murray's outdated garbage.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Prior linguistics knowledge is a must (or at least knowledge of French), May 19, 2011
Well if you're looking for this book then I'm sure you already know that many (if not most) of Murray's claims have been discredited, so it's not worth harping on that. The book itself was in the condition described (great). The only thing I would like to say to potential buyers of this book is that there is extensive use of old English, and many of the testimonies are in French. If you don't have much background in Linguistics (like me) you may find it a bit hard to read at times (like I did). I understand that Murray's "The God of the Witches" is a bit more friendly and easier to understand, if that's what you're looking for. Overall though I'm satisfied, because the product I bought was in fact what was advertised.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
4 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Intruguing but Difficult, September 19, 2006
Back in the 1920s, anthropologist Margaret Murray studied the records of witch trials and concluded that the witches of Western Europe were actually maintaining a pagan religion that dated back to Neolithic times. Its chief concern was to promote fertility, whether of crops, animals, or people; and in the minds of its practitioners, the central deity of their devotions was the highest possible god of goodness, rather than an agent of evil. I'm not sure if any of this is still reputable anthropology, but the book's theme of cult survivals is noteworthy for having inspired 20th century horror authors such as H. P. Lovecraft. Unfortunately, much of the book consists of testimony quoted directly from trial records, in the original languages, with no translation. For a more accessible account of Murray's theories, see her 1931 work, The God of the Witches.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
