title: Seeking the Mystery: An Introduction to Pagan Theologies
author:  Christine Hoff Kraemer 
description: <span>As contemporary Paganism puts down its roots in the fertile soil of the 21st century, Pagans are seeking to deepen their understanding of their chosen spiritual path and to explain it to others in shared language.</span><i>Seeking the Mystery</i><span>is an important new book that enables Pagans and others to explain contemporary Paganism in the language of theology. It is highly recommended for both theologians and religious practitioners of all faiths.</span><br><span>--Vivianne Crowley, Author of</span><i>Wicca: The Old Religion in the New Millennium</i><br /><br /><span>Grab a pen and start taking notes, becauseSeeking the Mysteryis going to take you on a whirlwind course in Pagan theologies where you are guaranteed to learn something new. Pagans will find language and frameworks here to clarify their own perspectives; non-Pagans will be challenged to a deeper understanding of their own traditions through dialogue with Pagan beliefs.</span><br><span>--Sarah Whedon, Author of</span><i>Birth on the Labyrinth Path: Sacred Embodiment in the Childbearing Year</i><br /><br /><span>An indispensable guide to the myriad varieties of experience, practice and belief among modern Pagans. Kraemer deftly applies the language of theology without sacrificing the freshness and vitality of this often counter-cultural spiritual movement.</span><br><span>--Holli Emore, Executive Director, Cherry Hill Seminary</span><br /><br /><div>I occasionally come across Pagans who think theology is a waste of time, or worse, a harmful exercise. I think those people don't know the difference between bad theology and good theology. Bad theology is about labels and boundaries used to separate orthodoxy from heresy and thus promote conformity. Good theology is about applying the tools of reason to our beliefs and practices, not to dissect them in some hypermaterialist fashion, but to explore their meaning as deeply as we possibly can... <i>Seeking the Mystery</i> is an introduction to good Pagan theology.</div><div>--John Beckett, <i>Under the Ancient Oaks</i></div><br /><br /><div>For those modern pagans who are not familiar with theological jargon or technical terms (which is at least 90% of modern pagans, I suspect), this book will be an invaluable guide to these important concepts. The book is virtuous in a variety of ways, including its clarity, its utter lack of dogmatism, its comprehensiveness (especially given the limits of time and space), and also its brevity.... I would recommend it to anyone who is not familiar with basic theological terms in any religion, and to modern pagans in particular.</div><div>--P. Sufenas Virius Lupus, <i>Aedicula Antinoi</i></div>
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  ![](index-1_1.jpg)
  
  
  **Seeking the Mystery**
  
  
  **An Introduction to Pagan Theologies**
  
  
  Christine Hoff Kraemer
  
  
  _for my students_
  
  
  _and for those they will teach_
  
  
  © 2012 Christine Hoff Kraemer
  
  
  _1st edition_
  
  
  Published by Patheos Press
  
  
  Englewood, Colorado
  
  
  12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21—10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
  
  
  _All rights reserved_. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted
  in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
  recording, or by any
  
  
  information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from
  the publisher.
  
  
  _Cover design by Shatter_
  
  
  **Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data**
  
  
  Kraemer, Christine Hoff.
  
  
  
  
  
  Seeking the Mystery: An Introduction to Pagan Theologies. Includes
  bibliographical
  
  
  references.
  
  
  ISBN: 978-1-939221-05-6 (ebook)
  
  
  For information, contact Patheos Press, 383 Inverness Parkway, Suite 260,
  Englewood CO
  
  
  80112, or contact us online at[ www.patheos.com/Books