Useful
Texts in Poly-Theology
As a theologian, it's tremendously exciting to be at the forefront of a burgeoning field of study. I am, many of my colleagues are, and for those of you reading this who happen to be polytheistic, so are you. Our traditions are being restored by virtue of the hard work of each and every one of us and that work is coming to define polytheism today as a viable and powerful spiritual tradition, one encompassing dozens of faiths that predate monotheism by thousands of years. This is important.
As a Religious Studies scholar, I also think it's important to recognize some of the texts that have recently been written dealing with poly-theology. I often get asked, both personally, in my work as a shaman or priest but also academically and within the interfaith community what texts I would recommend to provide a student with a good grounding in poly-theology. Well, this page is going to list those books that I recommend. Most are available either at http://www.lulu.com, http://www.asphodelpress.com, or http://www.amazon.com.
I encourage folks to email me (krasskova at gmail.com) with suggestions should you know of a text that I do not have listed here. As always, this page is a work in progress.
Texts are given in no particular order.
"The Deities are Many: A Polytheistic Theology" by Jordan Paper (http://www.amazon.com/The-Deities-Are-Many-Polytheistic/dp/0791463885/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1337607922&sr=8-2).
"A World Full of Gods: An Inquiry into Polytheism" by John Michael Greer (http://www.amazon.com/World-Full-Gods-Inquiry-Polytheism/dp/0976568101/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337607985&sr=1-1).
"Essays on a Polytheistic Philosophy of Religion" by Edward Butler (http://www.lulu.com/shop/edward-butler/essays-on-a-polytheistic-philosophy-of-religion/paperback/product-20092701.html).
"Dwelling on the Threshold" by Sarah Istra Kate Winter (http://www.amazon.com/Dwelling-Threshold-Reflections-Spirit-Worker-Devotional/dp/1475255993/). I particularly like her use of the term 'devotional polytheist' instead of 'hard polytheist' and hope it catches on in polytheistic communities.
"Essays in Modern Heathenry" by me. ^___^ (http://www.asphodelpress.com/specialty.html).
"Dealing with Deities: Practical Polytheistic Theology" by Raven Kaldera (http://www.asphodelpress.com/specialty.html).
I also recommend the following blogs:
http://thehouseofvines.wordpress.com/
http://kenazfilan.blogspot.com/
And this video:
http://www.cultureunplugged.com/documentary/watch-online/play/8436/Return-to-the-Land-of-Souls
More to come, hopefully soon.
As a theologian, it's tremendously exciting to be at the forefront of a burgeoning field of study. I am, many of my colleagues are, and for those of you reading this who happen to be polytheistic, so are you. Our traditions are being restored by virtue of the hard work of each and every one of us and that work is coming to define polytheism today as a viable and powerful spiritual tradition, one encompassing dozens of faiths that predate monotheism by thousands of years. This is important.
As a Religious Studies scholar, I also think it's important to recognize some of the texts that have recently been written dealing with poly-theology. I often get asked, both personally, in my work as a shaman or priest but also academically and within the interfaith community what texts I would recommend to provide a student with a good grounding in poly-theology. Well, this page is going to list those books that I recommend. Most are available either at http://www.lulu.com, http://www.asphodelpress.com, or http://www.amazon.com.
I encourage folks to email me (krasskova at gmail.com) with suggestions should you know of a text that I do not have listed here. As always, this page is a work in progress.
Texts are given in no particular order.
"The Deities are Many: A Polytheistic Theology" by Jordan Paper (http://www.amazon.com/The-Deities-Are-Many-Polytheistic/dp/0791463885/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1337607922&sr=8-2).
"A World Full of Gods: An Inquiry into Polytheism" by John Michael Greer (http://www.amazon.com/World-Full-Gods-Inquiry-Polytheism/dp/0976568101/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337607985&sr=1-1).
"Essays on a Polytheistic Philosophy of Religion" by Edward Butler (http://www.lulu.com/shop/edward-butler/essays-on-a-polytheistic-philosophy-of-religion/paperback/product-20092701.html).
"Dwelling on the Threshold" by Sarah Istra Kate Winter (http://www.amazon.com/Dwelling-Threshold-Reflections-Spirit-Worker-Devotional/dp/1475255993/). I particularly like her use of the term 'devotional polytheist' instead of 'hard polytheist' and hope it catches on in polytheistic communities.
"Essays in Modern Heathenry" by me. ^___^ (http://www.asphodelpress.com/specialty.html).
"Dealing with Deities: Practical Polytheistic Theology" by Raven Kaldera (http://www.asphodelpress.com/specialty.html).
I also recommend the following blogs:
http://thehouseofvines.wordpress.com/
http://kenazfilan.blogspot.com/
And this video:
http://www.cultureunplugged.com/documentary/watch-online/play/8436/Return-to-the-Land-of-Souls
More to come, hopefully soon.
