' Paganism' is an evocative word that even today conjures up deep-seated emotions & prejudices. Until recently it was primarily a derogatory term used by Christians to describe the non-Christian cultures confronted & vanquished by their Churches. For some it evokes images of sacrifice & barbaric behaviour while for others it symbolises a peace-loving nature-worshipping spiritual relationship with the earth. This Very Short Introduction explores the meaning of paganism
- through a chronological overview of the attitudes towards its practices & beliefs
- from the ancient world through to the present day. Owen Davies largely looks at paganism through the eyes of the Christian world & how over the centuries notions & representations of its nature were shaped by religious conflict power struggles colonialism & scholarship. Despite the expansion of Christianity & Islam Pagan cultures continue to exist around the world whilst in the West new formations of paganism constitute one of the fastest-growing religions. Focussing on paganism in Europe but exploring the nature of paganism globally Davies looks at how Europeans discovered new cultures through colonial expansion missionary work & anthropological study. Contemporary social paganism can be a liberating & social force & the idea of a global Pagan theology is now on the religious map. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts analysis perspective new ideas & enthusiasm to make interesting & challenging topics highly readable.

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Nya has a secret she must never share...A gift she must never use... And a sister whose life depends on both. This astonishing debut novel is the first in the epic dystopian fantasy adventure trilogy THE HEALING WARS. Fifteen-year-old Nya is one of Gevegs many orphans; she survives on odd jobs & optimism in a city crippled by a failed war for independence. Nya has a deadly secret. She is a Taker someone who can extract pain & injury from others but with unusual differences. Her sister Tali & other normal Takers become Healers League apprentices & put their extracted pain into enchanted metal pynvium. But Nya cant dump pain in this way. All she can do is shift it from person to person. When Nyas secret is revealed to the pain merchants & the Healers League she is flung into danger. Then a ferry accident floods the city with injured Takers start disappearing from the Healers League & Nyas strange abilities are suddenly in dem&. Her principles & endurance are tested to the limit when Nyas deadly powers become the only thing that can save her sisters life. ...

Discover how can you turn your brother into a zombie slave & why you are breathing poison right now! With a fantastic new cover look & extra horrible bits at the back of the book this best-selling title is sure to be a huge hit with a new generation of Horrible Science readers. ...

Pains on Trains is the perfect way to take the tedium out of commuting guaranteed to become as indispensable to the seasoned traveller as the blow--up pillow & water sterilising tablets. In Pains on Trains Andrew Holmes & Matthew Reeves set their sights on the scourge of the modern office worker -- other office workers who clog up trains buses boats & planes with their annoying habits & depressing clothes. Pains on Trains is dedicated to the rush--hour veteran & consists of a a pain--spottinga guide to the very worst people you meet on your daily commute. Each painful character is illustrated in their usual context & supported by a short narrative. ...

This is a fully illustrated practical guide to the art of decorating paper mostly with paint but also with bleach varnish glue dye or whatever else you may have to hand! It features over 130 simple techniques especially tried & tested on paper presented in an easy-to-follow step-by-step style that is accessible to both beginners & more experienced artists & papercrafters. The paint effects & ideas demonstrated make use of basic techniques that can lead to richer & more interesting results depending upon how they are layered & applied. Readers will be inspired to produce stunning paper scrapbooks stationery giftwrap cards & a whole host of other quirky items that will make unique gifts for friends & family alike. It demonstrates how to make use of everyday household objects from tea leaves to nail varnish as well as more traditional crafting materials such as gold leaf. ...

Discover simple & effective techniques that will infuse your watercolor paintings with stunning highlights & vivid depths all ...

Be creative & let your own artistic style shine through! These wonderful terra-cotta flower pots are fun to paint & display! Contents include: 2 terra-cotta flower pots (9cm by height) 2 paint brushes 1 paint strip & detailed instructions. Seeds & plants are not included. Not suitable for children under the age of 3 due to small parts. ...

Give your friends a beautiful Japanese Kokeshi doll with a secret message to keep forever! Giving a doll as a present to a special friend is an ancient Japanese custom. The dolls known as Kokeshi were traditionally carved from wood & hand painted. Some dolls would have a hole carved in the base in which a secret message could be hidden. Now you can create this enchanting tradition by hand painting your own wooden dolls. The kit contains all you need to create three beautiful Kokeshi doll character &

Includes:: step-by-step instructions. Box contains: 3 wooden doll blanks 4 pom poms acrylic paint paint brush face & dress stickers double sided sticky tape greeting cards secret message slips & thread. Not suitable for children under 36 months due to small parts.

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These puzzles offer more than just solving pleasure: theyre also works of art! Thats because every time you successfully complete a diagram you also draw a picture. Along the top & left side of the grid are numbers that refer to the columns & rows: these are the keys to a code revealing which & how many squares to fill in. It just takes a little logic concentration & patience to figure it out
- the process is a lot like sudoku actually where you work with numerical clues. But the result is something to show off because out of the mix of black & white squares comes images of a bus cat pineapple samurai sphinx & even James Dean!
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Enjoy an action packed day crawling through the undergrowth dodging exploding pellets & capturing the enemy&8217;s HQ. Stealth & teamwork are required as you gun down the enemy in simulated skirmishes. You&8217;ll be pushing your endurance & leadership skills to the limits with tactics & quick thinking winning the day. Share your experience with three friends each receiving 100 paintball pellets & lunch. ...