The Meaning of Witchcraft
Book Shelter
- Published
- August 23, 2026
- Duration
- 23:54
- Summary source
- description
- Last updated
- Sep 6, 2026
Discusses society, culture.
Summary
A foundational work that redefined modern Wicca as a survival of an ancient, pre-Christian European religion. Written in 1959, the book challenges the historical narrative that witchcraft was synonymous with Satanism, arguing instead that it originated in Stone Age fertility cults. Gardner utilizes his background as an anthropologist and museum director t…
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Show notes
A foundational work that redefined modern Wicca as a survival of an ancient, pre-Christian European religion. Written in 1959, the book challenges the historical narrative that witchcraft was synonymous with Satanism, arguing instead that it originated in Stone Age fertility cults. Gardner utilizes his background as an anthropologist and museum director to provide a "frequently asked questions" approach to the Old Religion, addressing common misconceptions like the "Black Mass." He emphasizes th
Themes
- society
- culture