Recommend me stuff to read

[Kaloki]

On any religion.

I love learning about why people beleive the things they do, and would love to learn more.

So if you could recommend me stuff to read I would be very grateful. I'd prefer links as I'm too broke to buy loads of books. However, books recommendations would be good for when I have some spare cash.

Are there any books/sites that have dramatically changed your views?

I'm Pagan myself, so know a fair bit about that, but as it's such a huge range, I could always do with learning more.

Sorry no links.

Best religion book I have ever read is "Religion and the Decline of Magic" by Keith Thomas. Quite academic, but fascinating. It's famous and your local library should have it or be able to order it.

It is a history of belief in early modern Britain and describes how organised religion changed (Catholic to Protestant) and took over from pagan belief and folklore in the English imagination, itself then being challenged by secularism and the Enlightenment. It is informative and full of vivid stories. I was surprised to read how shallow the hold of religion has always been.

Dream Hunters of Corsica by Dorothy Carrington describes utterly strange folklore belief on that island. Indescribable-you just have to read it.

Not quite on point but unmissable if you are fascinated by ancient European belief- The Burning of Bridget Cleary. Can't remember author, sadly. A horrible tale of a C19th Irish woman burned because her family thought she was a changeling, which the author uses as a starting point for a detailed and brilliant exploration of rural Irish fairy belief.

I have another book on fairy belief I will have to dig out to recommend to you.

Ooh those sound fascinating! Especially the one on Irish fairy belief, my nan was planning on telling me a lot of old Irish superstitions before she died.

THis is great if you're the type (like me) who likes to sit and plough through an encyclopedia. It covers all the great Norse, Celtic, Hindu etc. stories.

ooh excellent

www.jesus-is-lord.com/wicca.htm

I'm back. I also recommend 'Cunning Folk and Familiar Spirits: Shamanistic Visionary Traditions in Early Modern British Witchcraft and Magic' by E. Wilby. Longest book title ever, blimey. And also 'Looking for the Lost Gods of England' by Kathleen Herbert, 'The Devil: A Biography' by Peter Stanford.

Do post here if you find any good websites, because I haven't They all seem to be very partisan rather than inviting general discussion.

I'd probably go for some sort of textbook for a GSCE market or a-level on RE. Then take it from there...

Try some Karen Armstrong, she's great.