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Lucifer Ascending: The Occult in Folklore and Popular Culture, by Bill Ellis
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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 commonplace habits such 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.
- Sales Rank: #1895492 in Books
- Brand: Brand: The University Press of Kentucky
- Published on: 2004-01-01
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 9.02" h x .75" w x 5.98" l, 1.24 pounds
- Binding: Hardcover
- 288 pages
Features
- Used Book in Good Condition
Review
"A welcome counterbalance to alarmist tales of occult influence."―Books & Culture
"At the core of Mr. Ellis's work is the relationship between knowledge and power."―Chronicle of Higher Education
"Examines occult phenomena from the viewpoint of the people who actually practice them. This solidly written and serious study, which uses little known primary resources, is recommended for academic and public libraries alike."―Library Journal
"Examines superstition in folklore and popular culture and connects it to the concentration today on the oppressed classes (women, children, the uneducated) and the need for myth and a more personal spirituality."―Bibliotheque d'Humanisme et Renaissance
"Ellis's overarching thesis is that these kinds of folk practices, perhaps especially when they invoke the presence or power of Satan, are not so much antireligious as they are alternatively religious. . . . Recommended."―Choice
"As a Christian and a scholar of the occult, Ellis brings an important perspective to the subject that should dispel for believers the supernatural silliness of Satan. There is, in fact, no such thing as the supernatural and the paranormal. There is just the natural and the normal and mysteries we cannot explain. In Lucifer Ascending Ellis has sensitively and brilliantly illuminated much darkness enveloping many mysteries associated with the occult. Believers and non-believers, scholars and general readers, will be entertained and educated by Ellis's compelling narrative on all matters Satanic. This is first class myth busting."―Dr. Michael Shermer, publisher of Skeptic magazine, monthly columnist for Sci
"Building on the success of Bill Ellis's very important Raising the Devil, this new book continues his exploration of dark―and satanic―themes in American culture. A very rewarding study."―Philip Jenkins, Penn State University, author of Moral Panic: Changing Concepts
"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."―Planet Utica
"Ellis builds a sober and persuasive argument that the recent hysteria over the influence of Satan in America, much of it emanating from the Christian right, reflects a misunderstanding of a cyclical or dialectic process that has repeated itself for centuries."―salon.com
"A lively examination of the occult, including Satanism and superstitions of all types, in light of Christian mythos."―What's New
"This is a good book that is likely to be of significant use to scholars and of interest to many general readers. It takes a complex, nuanced, and balanced look at topics that are currently highly loaded in our culture and draws some interesting conclusions."―Anne Lafferty, Ethnologies
"[Ellis's] desire to position folkloristics as a mediating tool in the discussions about Satan and satanic influences, so that 'the result is not strife but harmony,' is an intriguing application."―Journal of American Folklore
About the Author
Bill Ellis, associate professor of English and American studies at Penn State Hazelton, is the author of Raising the Devil: Satanism, New Religions, and the Media. He has served as president of the International Society for Contemporary Legend Research and of the American Folklore Society's Folk Narrative Section and is an active member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Most helpful customer reviews
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful.
Modern Manifestations of Ancient Traditions
By Rob Hardy
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.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful.
A Good Dose of Reality
By A Customer
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.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful.
A healthy dose of religious studies
By Stefan Isaksson
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.
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