Book Description
This workbook for human and planetary survival is based upon a resonant field paradigm that transcends the Newtonian materialistic model. Argüelles, the author of The Mayan Factor, postulates a planetary design that envisions the evolving field of Earth in relation to the galactic whole.
Customer Reviews:
Transformative!.......2005-11-21
Likely to prove the most important book ever published. Imagine Plato's Timaeus updated for the information age with full-page illustrations & graphs & you have a good idea of Earth Ascending.
Unifying cultural artifacts from around the world in a whole-systems perspective, Earth Ascending offers the possiblility of transformation from a planet of war and misunderstanding, to a single unified Earth.
It is highly doubtful that the mayan-calendar / 2012 movement would have progressed beyond such mundane topics as GMT correlations and mushroom-induced fantasies if not for this incredibly illuminating textbook on the re-orientation of the human mind & the return of the psyche to its natural state of harmony.
highest possible recommendation for all earthlings.
Most seminal book published in the 20th century.......1999-01-01
EARTH ASCENDING illustrates the mathematical correlations of the binary computer code, the I Ching hexagrams, Ben Franklin's magic square, the DNA code, the Mayan Sacred Calendar, the fluxuations of the Van Allen radiation belt, historical epocs, pristine civilizations, the terrestial seasons, and the governing geomagnetic features of the planet, among others. The author's noetic vision has a density like Mahler's music and Finnegans Wake. This reviewer dares venture that it will prove to be the single most seminal book published in the 20th century. Do yourself a favor: buy it, read it, let yourself be enlightened by it. Not to know it is a sign of intellectual backwardness. Not to ponder it is to walk in spiritual darkness. Not to own it is a mark of cultural poverty.
THIS BOOK IS DOPE!.......1998-08-27
I read this book when it first came out, and it's the bomb!
If you liked that movie PI, you should peep this.
It looks into the cybernetic feedback loop between the microcosm and the macrocosm/art and nature.
It looks into the way humans transpose microcosmic "pure" math onto nature in order to better understand chaotic macrocosmic natural systems.
for example he corralates the I Ching Hexagrams, Binary computer code, DNA, and the polarization fluxuations of the Van Allen Radiation belt.
It has kind of a steep curve at first, but once you get it, the book is very profound.
Book Description
Published to coincide with a series of major exhibitions extending beyond 2007, Ascending Chaos is the first major retrospective of Japanese-American artist Masami Teraoka's prolific and acclaimed work thus far. In Teraoka's paintings which have evolved from his wry mimicry of Japanese woodblock prints to much larger and complex canvasses reminiscent of Bosch and Brueghel the political and the personal collide in a riot of sexually frank tableaux. Populated by geishas and goddesses, priests, and politicians, and prominent contemporary figures, these paintings are the spectacular next phase of a wildly inventive career. With essays by renowned art critics who discuss how Teraoka's work inventively marries east and west, sex and religion, Ascending Chaos is a critical overview of this cultural trickster.
Customer Reviews:
Ascending Chaos........2007-05-13
Absolutely brilliant. Three erudite essays and a full showcase of reproductions of all Teraoka's work.
Enjoy the Chaos.......2007-05-08
If you've followed the career of Masami Teraoka and love his work you will also love this book. There are plenty of his earlier works all the way up to the present. The text adds insight into the mind of the artist and his complicated and original process.
The reproductions of his artwork are of good quality. It is truly a collector's item.
Book Description
According to the authors, the Church is being prepared to enter its most dynamic season of warfare, worship and harvest. The key to victory during this time will be our worship. When we praise God, He comes into our midst and manifests His rule and authority in our environment. He actually abides with us and "seats" Himself in the very center of our lives to lead us in the paths He chooses for us. When we ascend in worship we go to the throne of God and receive our strategy from Him to fulfill His purposes on Earth. In effect, we align with God's purposes and then we descend with our marching orders to accomplish those purposes. The result of this supernatural process will be a great harvest of souls for God's kingdom.
Customer Reviews:
Informative.......2007-09-27
This is a great book with lots of instruction on worship to get into the presence of God.
Ascending into His Promises.......2007-03-15
After reading just one chapter of this book I felt the Power of the Holy Spirit opening up my spiritual eyes to see Him for who He truly is in my life. This book teaches you how to go up in worship and see the blessings of the Lord! It will truly be a blessing in your life! I highly recommend this book. Be Blessed.
Fantastic!.......2006-07-24
This book was by far the best book Ive ever read on worship- Chuck Pierce talks about ascending and descending in worship - it is awesome - has truly changed the way I view worship!I HIGHLY recommend this book!
Superb!.......2003-01-09
This is one of the best books on worship I've read in a long time. The book talks all about "Ascending in worship, descending in war", just as in biblical times the worshippers led the people into war. It's about spending time with God in worship, in getting to know Him better, and to hear His heart, and then to go out from there to live life His way, including knowing how better to pray for people. I highly recommend it for all Christians!
Book Description
There are roughly five million people in the United States being treated for scoliosis. Every year some half-million new cases are diagnosed--the great majority of them adolescent girls. Untreated, scoliosis causes increaing curvature of the spine--a progressive, debilitating condition that can leave the sufferer permanently bent over and eventually totally crippled.
Customer Reviews:
I am in this book.......2006-11-09
When I was 13 I underwent a spinal fusion for scoliosis. During this time I was a part of a support group for scoliosis run by Brooke Lyons and after my surgery, Brooke chose to feature me in her book. After reading it I felt people suffering from this disease would have a good resource and I felt good knowing I could help with that. In addition I think everyone's story was really inspiring.
Wonderful!.......2003-02-22
I was recently diagnosed with scoliosis and began a search for more information. A woman on an online forum pointed me towards this book. I picked it up and read it in one sitting. The language is not overly complex- very understandable. But gave me a much better understanding of my condition, and what can be done about it. The individual patient's stories were also pretty inspirational.
Informative.......2001-05-18
This book has help me understand in great detail how the spine vertbrae's are linked.With the surgeons letter i was able to see what parts of the spine where affected on my son.This helped to inform me, in a manner in which is easy to understand as the book is written in PLAIN English. I would Reccommend this book to parents or people with Scoliosis wishing to be informed without medical terms.Helps take away the fear of the unkown.rating by me 8 out 10.
great source of information!!.......2001-04-18
This is a wonderful story (stories) about a real-life disease that remains with you for life. Brooke put real-life experiences of so many different people in this story. Living with scoliosis all my life (33 years), I am now faced with surgery. Even though my younger sister had surgery 13 years ago and has been my real-life source book, Brooke's compilation of facts, stories, and statistics has really been informative and inspiring. Extremely well-written. Thanks for giving us current and compassionate information!!! And congratulations from a nearby neighbor!!
A Moveable Feast.......2000-10-08
Fortitously picking up a copy, I noticed the picture of the author's back on the cover. What a babe! Her beauty compelled me to not only buy it for coffee table display but also to read it! It is both well written and informative. A veritable tour de force. Read it!
Book Description
A layman's guide to "The Ladder of Divine Ascent". In the sixth century, a monk named John wrote a book outlining the stages of the spiritual life. He based his entire work on the image of a ladder of thirty rungs, stretching from earth to heaven. Each rung described a step in the pursuit of virtue and the spiritual life. Since it was first written, "The Ladder of Divine Ascent" has been an essential part of the formation of Orthodox monastics, and a mainstay of Orthodox ascetic spirituality. But it is not just for monastics.
This book is written to help those in a non-monastic setting understand how to apply "The Ladder of Divine Ascent" to their lives. Each chapter contains many direct quotes from St. John's writings, in addition to commentary on St. John's words. This book, therefore, should be used as a primer to the Ladder--as a helpful tool for ascending the spiritual heights.
Customer Reviews:
A Concise Practical Guide to Avoiding Lifes' Pitfalls.......2004-10-22
I greatly enjoyed this little tome, as it sets out in 30 bite sized chapters a useable and distilled essence of Saint John Climacus's " Ladder of Divine Ascent". Each one of the thirty hurdles seems at first blush quite trivial, but an honest analysis of ones' daily life will quickly reveal how we stumble on each one of the rungs of the proverbial ladder on a daily basis. This is one of those books you should probably revert to every few years, not only as a refresher, but also for purposes of regeneration and reaffirmation. Life and its circumstances are tough, but the reassurance and guidance this little gem provides us with will serve to re center us on the path. The beauty of this book is that it is valid for members of any creed or philosophical outlook, and the underlying text represents a pinnacle of Orthodox Christian teaching.
An eye opener.......2002-03-30
Fr. John allows the Ladder to show us how low we tend to set the bar in our lives as modern Christians. "Ascending the Heights" goes through various aspects of our lives - our relationships, our passions, our worship, our home, work and family lives, and so on - and gives us concrete illustrations of where we fall down, and shows the heights to which we as Christians (indeed, as *humans*) are called. Knowing Father John's personal story makes this book that much more compelling.
Highlights & commentary on a truly classic Christian book.......2002-01-23
The subtitle of this volume is: "A Layman's guide to the Ladder of Divine Ascent." While this may reflect the publisher's intent, I think it could be more accurately described as: "Key quotes from the Ladder of Divine Ascent with contemporary Orthodox commentary."
Although I have only read portions of the original 6th century classic work by St. John Climacus (also known as John of the Ladder), I can say that, while Father John Mack does an excellent job of introducing contemporary readers to this great work, he barely scratches the surface. Having said that, Fr. Mack has been able to shed light on each of the 30 steps of the ladder and make them relevant for the non-monastic reader.
Accompanying Amazon's book description, you have the opportunity to view the table of contents, which gives you Fr. Mack's contemporary names for each of the steps. You can also read the first chapter, which will give you an idea of the content and structure of his writing.
Hopefully one reading of this volume will whet your appetite for tackling the entire Ladder of Divine Ascent, which is filled with pearls of wisdom. Amazon.com lists various translations of "The Ladder," however I'm only familiar with one from "The Classics of Western Spirituality," which contains an informative introduction by Bishop Kallistos Ware. This is the one that was used for discussion in our Orthodox church men's group.
Just as most Orthodox monastic communities read one step of The Ladder on each weekday during Great Lent, I'm hoping to reread (and read aloud to my family) Fr. John Mack's "Ascending the Heights" during the next Lenten period.
Now if I can only begin to put into practice what I have learned here, I may be on the road to salvation. May God help me.
Simply outstanding!.......2001-03-06
This little book is a beautiful invitation to a deeper spiritual life for the Orthodox Christians of this age. Using down to earth examples it helps the reader understand how St. John of the Ladder's masterpiece ("The Ladder") relates to the very life of the modern Christian. It is a compelling hint that the works of the Holy Fathers do apply to us and do provide invaluable advice. Their writings are not for monastics but for every person who wants to be a Christian ( = to follow Christ).
The book reveals many passions present "in disguise" in our lives and offers practical advice on how to fight them. A contemporary Father once made the remark that Christians did not have, in the past, so many spiritual writings as we do today, but very few; they followed what they had and found salvation. I dare to claim that this book is also enough for those working on their salvation, provided they seriously try to put it in practice!
A must-read book for every orthodox Christian.......2000-05-09
I read "Ascending the Heights" during this last Lenten season and I found it very useful help for my daily struggle with my passions. A primer to St. John Climacus' spiritual classic, this book was written for contemporary Christians living in the world but not of this world. In our effort to grow closer to Christ, to simplify our lives, to control our thoughts and actions, this easy-to-read book can enrich us all with the wisdom of the Church Fathers.
Book Description
Edward Gorey's extraordinary and disconcerting books are avidly sought and treasured throughout the world, but until now little has been known about the man himself. While he was notoriously protective of his privacy, Gorey did grant dozens of interviews over the course of his life. And as these conversations demonstrate, he proved to be unfailingly charming, gracious, and fascinating.
Here is Gorey in his own words, ruminating on everything from French symbolist poetry to soap operas, from George Balanchine and the unique beauty of ballet to Victorian photographs of dead children. We meet the artist in his ramshackle, book-lined studio in Manhattan and his equally bizarre house on Cape Cod. He describes his legendary upbringing and vast range of influences, as well as how he managed to work amid all his cats. Ascending Peculiarity is a rare and wonderful entree into the inner workings of an artistic genius.
Includes reproductions of previously unpublished drawings and photographs
Customer Reviews:
insightful.......2007-05-15
Really helped me get a better idea of him as a person, go see the video w/
the tour of his house/now a museum on YouTube
Number one resource.......2007-04-10
The best book by far on Edward Gorey... in his own words. It gets a little repetative, but is also veyr broad. Phrasing tells you more about Edward Gorey than the actual responses to the questions. A treat.
WHY??.......2007-01-07
I'm so sad that Gorey has gone........why did he have to go so soon? We just don't have enough of him to go around. One of my favourite books EVER in the whole world. A great insight into my favourite man.
For all Gorey fans........2006-02-25
This book is a must for Edward Gorey fans. It gives insight into a private, ingenuous, wonderfully talented man. After completing the book, I was sorry I would never know him personally. It is hard, however, to equate his somewhat dark gothic art and books with the kind, simple persona that shows through in these interviews.
the tale of Gorey.......2005-04-19
This book is not a biography (or autobiography) per se; rather, the character of the subject, author/artist Edward Gorey, unfolds through a series of interviews from such diverse sources as The New Yorker and the Christian Science Monitor.
The reader needs to be sufficiently familiar with Gorey's oeuvre to get the most out of this book. Some of the pieces that get the most examination in this series of articles are among the less-widely-celebrated of Gorey's works.
My complaint about this book stems from the somewhat repetitive nature of the articles. There are only so many times that one can read about Gorey's adoration of the NYC Ballet and his precocious "sausage train" drawings at age 1 & 1/2 and The Tale of Genji without getting a little bored. The limited scope may be due to the nature of the questions asked by the various interviewers (that is, some of the same questions get asked again and again), but still, it's there, and it can grow a bit dull.
Gorey cuts an undeniably curious character; his appearance, complete with Santa-esque beard and apparently omnipresent fur coat, coupled with his unusual artwork makes it easy to cast him as an enigmatic, eccentric artist (though he states that he considered himself more of a writer). Though these interviews do make him more real, more than one interviewer falls into the trap of labeling him as "Victorian" or "Edwardian" in sensibility and thus forcing him into some sort of neat, simply defined mold.
Despite this, the book overall reveals a charming and droll, if somewhat oddball, man and helps his admirers better understand through his own words his rather weird works and the inspiration behind them.
The choicest articles in my view are "The Tao of Nonsense" and "The Cat Quotes of Edward Gorey". Also, in "Balletgorey", the description of his house (which always helps one to understand a person) is wonderful and telling.
Average customer rating:
- Gardner gets better and better, another outstanding sf novel
- Wherein the Reader Must First Read Expendable
- The Dangers of a First Person Novel
- Good Addition to the Series
- Wherein I Give "Ascending" the Thumbs-Down
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Ascending
James Alan Gardner
Manufacturer: Eos
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Hunted
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ASIN: 0380813297
Release Date: 2001-10-30 |
Book Description
Oar is the last of her kind -- a resident of the so-called "planet of no return," once the Admiralty's dumping ground for undesirables and those who had become expendable. Oar's transparent body is indestructible. Yet the mind it houses grows weary and will soon surrender to the catatonic torpor that has already claimed the others of her genetically altered human race. But Oar cannot sleep, not yet. There are powerful forces seeking her destruction for reasons unknown. There are old allies who need her assistance and a true history that must be revealed. There is much Oar must accomplish before the "apathetic hibernation" overcomes her, though time is decidedly her enemy. Together with her friend, Admiral Festina Ramos, she must find her final destiny ... and in a vast and volatile universe, destiny is never a sure thing.
Customer Reviews:
Gardner gets better and better, another outstanding sf novel .......2007-10-08
_Ascending_ is another outstanding installment in Gardner's increasingly excellent League of Peoples science fiction novel series, books ultimately featuring the recurring heroine Festina Ramos but starting with the second volume in the series, _Vigilant_, told from the point of view of another character. Though a follow-up to both _Vigilant_ and the previous installment in the series, _Hunted_, _Ascending_ is most clearly a sequel to the original volume, _Expendable_.
In _Expendable_, the reader was introduced to a Technocracy-wide conspiracy of corrupt and criminal admirals, the "Planet of No Return" known as Melaquin, the transparent glass-like human-form sentient beings that inhabit it, and most of all the irrepressible Oar, the self-style superb and gorgeous (but also endearingly child-like and arrogant) heroine of the first book (in her mind Ramos is her sidekick). Thought dead at the end of _Expendable_ to the grief of Ramos, we find that she is not dead after all when agents of one of the corrupt admirals, in an attempt to deal with the fallout of Ramos' investigations of the Navy, comes across her on a "clean-up trip" to Melaquin. What follows is a grand adventure starring (and told from the point of view) of Oar, one that involves vast conspiracies (or as Oar would right it, Vast Conspiracies), Powerful Enemies, and a Gorgeous Heroine with Her Faithful if Not Particularly Attractive Sidekicks.
A very enjoyable book, Gardner answers many of the questions raised by _Expendable_, such as who created the obviously artificial glass-like transparent race on Melaquin, why they live underground, and why despite being basically immortal they generally retire to tomb-like structures at around age fifty due to "Tired Brains." We also get some nice follow-up to events in _Hunted_ and are introduced to new alien races, notably the Zarett (sentient living ships, ultimately lovable despite being Gross and Excessively Gooey), the Cashlings (once powerful race in decline, self-absorbed and immature to a breathtaking degree, in what was probably a comment on today's culture, a race that embraced "[i]dle entertainment...[a] deadened inner emptiness, reinforced by a self-righteous conviction that there was no more worthwhile way to live"), the Shaddill (a mysterious elder race that has shaped the universe of this setting to a surprising degree), and the Pollisand (is he one individual or an entire race?). Oar take on things was frequently hilarious and I loved her little footnotes describing what things really meant, at least in her opinion. If you liked the previous installment in the series you will love this one.
Wherein the Reader Must First Read Expendable.......2004-06-23
A great sequel is one which can very effectively stand alone on its own merits, with the flow of the narrative not a all dependent upon the reader or viewer having experienced previous iterations of the series.
To this extent, Ascending is simply a good sequel. While it is not truly necessary to have read Expendable (the first book in this series, and the debut novel by James Alan Gardner), there is A LOT which the reader will not understand without having first read Expendable. Similarly, starting the series with Ascending will likely cause the reader fits, as without the "backstory" of Expendable, the main character - Oar, an all-glass female humanoid - is extremely abrasive in the manner in which she tells the tale.
Many areas from Expendable which leave the reader wondering "Why" and "How" are fortunately explained somewhat satisfactorily in Ascending. This novel also expands much more into the realm of the zany at times, albeit muted by Oar's telling of the story.
Overall, Ascending is a good sequel, as well as a good novel... but only for those who have read and enjoyed Expendable. All others should set Ascending aside and read Expendable first.
The Dangers of a First Person Novel.......2002-05-18
Novels written in the first person can be very affecting. In "Expendable", Festina Ramos was very effective in this role. Her complex personality, with pain and paranoia foremost, came across as believable because she was telling the story, and made the entire book compelling.
In "Ascending", Oar is the first person narrator. And (excuse the pun) Oar is a bore. We have no reason to like her, or care about her at all. In fact, the tedium of reading her banal comments virtually destroyed any joy in what otherwise might have been an interesting story concept.
The moral of the story: Only try the first person ploy if it's a person you would want to hang out with. I'd probably skip this book if I had it to do over again.
Good Addition to the Series.......2002-01-17
Since Expendable I look forward to each new work by James Alan Gardner. His Festina Ramos books combine space opera with a screwball perspective on the universe. Gardner's style is fast and breezy, a bit scatalogical. Sort of like the 1930's comedies before the Hays Office started censoring them.
[Ascending] is a good story, action driven as always, and highly recommended. I did have a few reservations about his choice of Oar, a character from a previous Ramos story, as narrator. Oar comes across as an amalgam of Candide and Commander Data, and the first person narrative occasionally does become wordy and tedious.
This minor quibble aside, Ascending is a worthy addition to the League of Peoples series. And I'm looking forward to the next novel from this fine writer.
Wherein I Give "Ascending" the Thumbs-Down.......2002-01-16
I've generally given Gardner's Festina Ramos books high marks, his previous work "Hunted" I gave 5 stars. Overall, Gardner's books have been action-packed quick reads, even if some aspects of the story are unbelievable. "Ascending" however, never really got going and did little to hold my interest.
For starters, the narrator, Oar, is really annoying to read for 350+ pages. Her childish prose would be acceptable for a chapter or two, but a whole book becomes tiresome.
The book never excited me, but there was a decent pay-off at the end with sufficient action to not be a complete let-down. However, that ending was completely rushed. That was a negative, but at the same time, I wouldn't want to read a 500-page by Oar, it would probably be too tedious to finish.
This is my least-favorite of Gardner's books besides "Commitment Hour" which is more of a spin-off. I was really disappointed because "Hunted" was an awesome book that I literally couldn't put down, but "Ascending" didn't come close to filling its shoes. In my opinion, this is in part because Gardner has pumped out one of these books a year since 1997, he should probably take a year off to refresh his persepctive a little. Unfortunately, at the end the mysterious Pollisand remarks that he'll see Festina & Oar real soon, which can only mean that next winter another adventure will be on the shelves. Let's all hope it's better.
I said this recently about, "Shadow of the Hegemon" by Orson Scott Card, but it bears repeating. If you're a fan of the Ramos series, read "Ascending" just so you don't get lost, but rent it from the library, buy it used, or borrow it from a friend, because it isn't worth [the money].
Book Description
The derelict house in Shepherd's Bush that Moses takes on becomes the scene for an hilarious, topsy-turvy, irreverent sequence of events.
Customer Reviews:
Good book capturing the essence of an average Joe (or Moses).......2002-03-29
"Moses Ascending" chronicles an everyday black Englishman who rises to mild affluency after buying his own building and becoming a landlord.
A guy who was originally a regular working man suddenly starts thinking of himself as a big deal... and tries to dabble in the sort of things that a big deal should do. However, without spoiling anything, he leaves himself too open to influence... ultimately revealing that perhaps he hasn't really changed at all.
Its an enjoyable book... a good amount of good humor to keep you entertained while enough plot to keep you interested.
(I know this review is a little weak but I'm more of a music reviewer and.. hey, SOMEBODY had to review this)
Average customer rating:
- Good Work.
- Vietnam is not just another name for war
- A five-star effort by all three guys!
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Land of the Ascending Dragon: Rediscovering Vietnam
Paul Martin
Manufacturer: Hastings House
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Binding: Paperback
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Book Description
Three Vietnam veterans rediscover this country of captivating beauty and fascinating cultural treasures.
Customer Reviews:
Good Work........2002-01-07
The author provides us with beautiful photographs of Vietnam, a thousand year old country. Pictures of mountains, seas, paddy fields, towns and villages alternated with those of children afflicted with war induced deformities and a veteran amputee receving treatment. What makes the book interesting is the juxtaposition of black photographs of the war and colored images of the present.
For the past is interwined with the present. The horrors of the war have left indelible marks on the people and country alike as Raymer has shown us in his book.
Vietnam is not just another name for war.......1998-07-29
The authors do an excellent job of transposing the "American Image" of Vietnam into the beautiful and complex country that it really is. It draws from that "American Image" rooted in the drama of the war years, and gradually leads us to a clearer understanding of just what the country is today (and what it was before the intensity of the U.S. involvement)and where it may go in the future. It is encouraging, and very hopeful, to see the country and its people re-anchored in their traditional values--in spite of the current relic of communism--and to appreciate the renewed emphasis on education, family, business, and integration into the world economy. Clearly, it has been a long hard row to hoe, but it is moving in the right direction. Jack Smith's introduction lays this out, and it is reenforced by the text and Mr. Raymer's revealing photographs. The result is a far better sense of place and people.
A five-star effort by all three guys!.......1998-07-21
Jack Smith's introduction says it all -- Vietnam is a beautiful, peaceful land that is going places. Doing this book brought back a lot of memories and was a tonic for the soul. Enjoy it!
Book Description
Despite their centuries-old history and traditions, witchcraft and magic are still very much a part of modern Anglo-American culture. In Lucifer Ascending, Bill Ellis looks at modern practices that are universally defined as "occult," from such commonplace habits as carrying a rabbit's foot for good luck or using a Ouija board, to more esoteric traditions, such as the use of spell books. In particular, Ellis shows how the occult has been a common element in youth culture for hundreds of years. Using materials from little known publications and archives, Lucifer Ascending details the true social function of individuals' dabbling with the occult.
In his survey of what Ellis terms "vernacular occultism," the author is poised on a middle ground between a skeptical point of view that defines belief in witchcraft and Satan as irrational and an interpretation of witchcraft as an underground religion opposing Christianity. Lucifer Ascending examines the occult not as an alternative to religion but rather as a means for ordinary people to participate directly in the mythic realm.
Customer Reviews:
A healthy dose of religious studies.......2006-01-27
Bill Ellis, associate professor of English and American Studies at Penn State Hazleton, published in the year 2000 the book Raising the Devil: Satanism, New Religions, and the Media. That was a great read indeed, and so is its companion Lucifer Ascending, where Ellis continues his studies and research of Satanism, the occult, and alternative worldviews and what they mean to the people involved.
But first a few words about the author. It should be stated that Ellis is a Christian, a fact that many Satanists or other non-Christians will claim makes him much too subjective to be able to explore the left-hand path. Yeah, well, one shouldn't forget that he's also a scholar. And a damn good one, too. Ellis, an active member of The Evangelical Lutheran Church, makes it clear from the very start that he believes in God, that he's taught in Sunday School, that his daughter went to a catholic church during her childhood, and so on. But despite all this he's still lightyears away from a stereotype American fundamentalist who despises and loathes everything that happens not to be Christian.
Because, as I said, Ellis is a scholar. And he's written another book that cannot, and should not, be missed.
A common theme that appears throughout the book is Harry Potter. Many fundamental Christian groups in America fully believe that J.K. Rowling's stories about the spectacled wizard are indeed propaganda in order to promote "traditional" (whatever that means) satanic and occult teachings, and this debate, which is still pretty heated from place to place, has received a lot of attention in American media. Ellis dissociates himself from this craziness and flatly admits that the adventures of Harry Potter are both well-written and makes a great read. The notion that children who read them will become Satanists or something equally horrible is something Ellis denies. With a passion.
However, the debate itself is definitely worth studying, and each chapter in Lucifer Ascending deals with something from this debate, or the books themselves, that can be analyzed and questioned using different religious and sociological perspectives. Ellis makes clear that young people's fascination with the forbidden, mystical, paranormal and (at least according to some) anti-Christian is nothing new, and he refutes the somewhat paranoid ideas about how Ouija boards are a serious threat to the Christian faith, a claim made by several different organizations with an anti-occult agenda.
Beware, though. Lucifer Ascending is not an easy book to read, and if you're unfamiliar with scholarly books this one will turn out to be quite a challenge. The witch-hunts during the 17th and 18th centuries are thoroughly described, and Ellis isn't afraid to criticize what "his" faith has done to numerous innocent people through the centuries. Furthermore, he's not, and in this he's differing from many other American Christians, convinced that some sort of satanic conspiracy is responsible for the abduction of infants and drinking of virgins' blood.
"(...) we should not be so naïve as to assume that `there were no witches' or `there are no satanists'. Occult practices have existed for many centuries, and they provide a ground for the more sensational claims that emerge from time to time. But crusades have always exaggerated the number and seriousness of crimes committed by witches and Satanists, as well as the numbers said to be involved."
No one is perfect. We all have our flaws, and Ellis believes his task to be to ANALYZE, not CRITICIZE. There's a great difference between the two attitudes, but not everybody are willing to accept that.
Both Anton LaVey and Michael Aquino receive acknowledgement in the beginning of the book, and the chapter about LaVey's Church of Satan is both balanced and interesting. He's even found a typo in The Satanic Bible (Avon's paperback edition) where the black mass is described. On page 109 it says "...he is careful not to choose one that is not in vogue to parody." However, and which LaVey himself confirmed to Ellis, "not" is a typo. The correct word should be "now".
And believe it or not, this book's also got a dose of humor and self-irony. For instance, the chapter about Ouija boards, with the great name "The @#$%&! Ouija Board", has a section named - and this is sure to make many Christians mad with anger - something as controversial as "Suck the Greasy Cock of the Dark Lord!".
That last one almost made me fall of my chair from uncontrollable bursts of laughter. And how often does that happen when you read a non-fiction book about religion?
Lucifer Ascending is an interesting study of occult traditions throughout the centuries and the only thing I can do is to fully recommend it. Bill Ellis is living proof that narrow-minded self-appointed Satanists who claim to "hate all Christians" (and by all means their Christian counterparts) really should do some serious research before they start arguing about something as complex as religious beliefs.
A Good Dose of Reality.......2004-05-08
This book is an excellent read, especially for mainstream, conservative Christians who become a bit paranoid, or overly concerned about "demonic" influences. This book gives a balanced perspective in understanding the underlying social and religious influences that brought about the practice of folk magic. Subjects discussed are the origins of chain-letters, the "lucky" rabbit's foot, Ouija Boards, Root Doctors, Mirror-Gazing, scary graveyard legends, and many other related folklore topics. While reading this book, most people will recall the use of some sort of folk magic or practice within their own family history or from their own personal experiences. It is very interesting to read how and why these practices came about.Of particular interest is the chapter that addresses Evangelical Christianity and the roots of its beginning...a real eye-opener for Christians who want to "cast the first stone" at anything that even remotely has the "appearance of evil".This is a great read, and I highly recommend it.
Modern Manifestations of Ancient Traditions.......2004-01-27
The worldwide popularity of the Harry Potter books has been seen as a boon not just for publishers, but for children who are getting excited about reading and are looking forward to reading the next one. But a large segment of American society does not see this as good news. The books are seen by some Christian fundamentalists as spiritually dangerous to children, since they introduce concepts of the occult in attractive ways. Certainly not all Christians feel this way, recognizing the books as belonging to the type of fantasies written by Christians like C. S. Lewis and others. If fundamentalists feel that the Harry Potter books are the works of the devil, however, they are in good historical company. In _Lucifer Ascending: The Occult in Folklore and Popular Culture_ (University Press of Kentucky), Bill Ellis has continued an academic query which he described in his previous _Raising the Devil_. While his current book is not an analysis of Harry Potter books and the movement against them, J. K. Rowling's works are shown to be just a contemporary part of folklore beliefs that have gone back for centuries.
Witchcraft was (and is) practiced in opposition to an increasingly rationalistic theology. The practices allow marginalized groups to use traditions to give themselves a sense of degree of control over their lives, but can also be employed by those who have no particular conflict with society. Ellis examines such hardware of the occult as the "grimoire" or magic book, chain letters (!), and even the rabbit's foot. He shows how young people are especially prone to old-time occult activity. Since medieval times, people have made special trips to, say, Neolithic monuments. Folklorists call this "legend-tripping," and teenagers have kept up the tradition. The trip, often to a forbidden house or a graveyard, is made in a cultivated atmosphere of fear; stories of previous trippers who suffered the penalty for violating the taboo get passed along and keep the tripping alive rather than restraining it. Ellis shows that teens calling upon spirits by means of the Ouija board is quite similar to calling spirits out during exorcisms, an illustration of how belief in the occult actually compliments and supports orthodox belief. Frightened fundamentalists may be taking the Ouija threat too seriously; one student user says, "You really don't get any answers that mean anything. We just get drunk and have a good time."
Ellis, himself an active Lutheran, makes clear that he is not advocating for the folklore practices described here, or even apologizing for them. He admits that while many of the practices might be harmless, spooky fun for teens, there may be bad consequences as well. He gives such concrete examples as vandalism resulting from a graveyard visit, rather than the possibility that Satan might take over the souls doing the trip. His is an academic work, but even so, with its unusual themes, it is an entertaining one. He is especially amused by the famous spoof article in the satirical paper _The Onion_, telling about how satanic groups were being overwhelmed by Harry Potter readers trying to join up. The article was ridiculous, but was sent as a chain letter by many Christian youth counselors as a bona fide warning about the danger Harry poses. Their more Internet-savvy students were embarrassed that their elders could not tell reality from a joke. _The Onion_ just gave the elders an opportunity to overreact, but Ellis's book shows that the pattern of overreaction, giving definition to both orthodoxy and the occult, has been going on for centuries.
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