Fear and Myth

J. C. Davis, Fear, Myth and History, the Ranters and the Historians, Cambridge University Press, 1986
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If a subject or phenomenon is discussed in the press is the subject of impassioned denunciation, and centuries later becomes the topic of impressive academic research it must have existed - mustn't it? Not so, argues Dr Davis in his study of the alleged seventeenth century pantheistic and antinomian sect, called the Ranters. Under critical examination the Ranters turn out to be, so Davis argues, a folk-devil based on a single tract: Clarksons Single Eye.The parallels with many of the topics discussed in Magonia are obvious, --  Peter Rogerson, from Magonia 26.