The Joy of Sects

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Religion is one of the oldest human activities and even in the present day pervades almost every aspect of life, but with so many seemingly incomprehensible beliefs, laws, rituals, and terminologies, you can't tell the players without a program. The Joy of Sects overcomes this confusion by presenting a rich trove of information in a concise, browsable format. It is a guidebook to the world's religious traditions not only for the devout follower but also for the interested outsider, for the curious unbeliever, and...
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More About This Book

Overview

Religion is one of the oldest human activities and even in the present day pervades almost every aspect of life, but with so many seemingly incomprehensible beliefs, laws, rituals, and terminologies, you can't tell the players without a program. The Joy of Sects overcomes this confusion by presenting a rich trove of information in a concise, browsable format. It is a guidebook to the world's religious traditions not only for the devout follower but also for the interested outsider, for the curious unbeliever, and for anyone who ever wondered about the difference between karma and dharma, yin and yang, samadhi and satori, Talmud and Torah, the astral plane and the akashic record, Pharisees and Sadducees, Sunnis and Shiites, Aricans and Eckists. Take a tour of the world's religious sects and subsects: fact and fiction, founders and beliefs, accomplishments and failures. Get to know the key figures in what one modern spiritual teacher called "the only dance there is." Discover the underlying thread that connects all spiritual traditions while you explore surprising correspondences between often antagonistic creeds. The Joy of Sects ties it all together for you, explaining the panorama of humanity's spiritual quest in a lively and intelligent way that's sure to satisfy.

Here are detailed narrative histories of the six great religious traditions of East and West--Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam--along with information about related traditions, including Sikhism, Confucianism, Gnosticism, Zoroastrianism, and the various elements that compose the New Age. Includes 40 photos.

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Editorial Reviews

Library Journal
The author states that this book is a reference work for the television and computer age, designed for easy access to names, terms, and other information about world religions. If this is the book's only purpose, it succeeds. It is a miniature encyclopedia with bite-sized definitions and explanations to aid anyone needing immediate help when confronted with a new or strange religious term or seeking more information on a religious topic that is unfamiliar. The book successfully covers Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Of special interest is a chapter on New Age religions, presently a burgeoning field. An objection to the book is its frivolous title, which may condemn this good, quick reference source to be dismissed as just another popular book on religion. Recommended for public libraries.-Glenn Masuchika, Chaminade Univ. Lib., Honolulu
Ilene Cooper
Comparative religion can be dry, but not the way Occhiogrosso writes it. Not only is this fat book comprehensive, it's lively and, perhaps best of all, easy to understand. Occhiogrosso, the author of "Once a Catholic" (1988), explains the world's religions so clearly and with such easy wit that even those befuddled by religious terminology--from "kosher" to "karma"--will find themselves seeing the light for the first time. The book is divided into seven chapters, one each on Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and New Age. Each chapter is then divided by such topics as history, contemporary practices, and terms, with clever subject headings like "The Mark of Zoroaster" or "Confucius Say What?" Libraries may want one copy for circulation and another for reference. An excellent resource.
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780385425643
  • Publisher: The Doubleday Religious Publishing Group
  • Publication date: 10/1/1994
  • Edition description: 1st ed
  • Pages: 656

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