- Hardcover: 625 pages
- Publisher: Doubleday; Reprint edition (Oct 1 1994)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0385425643
- ISBN-13: 978-0385425643
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 16.5 x 4.8 cm
- Shipping Weight: 1.1 Kg
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,791,822 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From 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
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Glenn Masuchika, Chaminade Univ. Lib., Honolulu
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
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. Ilene Cooper
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Catchy title, great book!,
By
This review is from: The Joy of Sects (Paperback)
I'm a librarian in a grades 7-12 prep school and we have a high demand for books covering the major religions of the world. This has been, by far, the best single resource we have found! Its format and coverage are just right for the reader who needs an excellent overview, but not the minutia. The layout is attractive and functional; the index is thorough. It's easy to find exactly what you're looking for and the humorous presentation makes it readable cover to cover! Of course the provocative title doesn't hurt either...This is a great addition to a home reference library!
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Text for a often stale subject,
By
This review is from: The Joy of Sects (Paperback)
I like this book. First off, a disclaimer: This book is not meant to be an exhaustive review of the world's religions. They are plenty of texts for that. The author sets out to create a work of making organized religions and spirtual practices lighthearted and fun to read! Believe me this is no easy task! I found a good balance of interesting facts and pertinent information. So many books on religion are so scholarly that they are often more useful as sleep aids as opposed to inducing lively discussion of the world's wonderful and diverse religious traditions. I found him objective and open minded when discussing the "new age" and some of the more alternative viewpoints so prevelant today. Most authors treat these areas as fluff or as bastardizations of religious traditions that are already in existence and therefore not really worthy of serious study. It is true that there seems to be some bias against the Catholic religion. But I found it subtle and actually fairly objective considering the authors upbringing. Some of the side notes can be a little distracting, but for the most part I found this book an easy, enjoyable read. I read most of it before bedtime, but not as a sleep aid! I would suggest this be a companion text to a traditional exhaustive text, not as a primary text to understanding the plethora of the worlds traditions. Recommended
5.0 out of 5 stars
Broad yet humorous,
By
This review is from: The Joy of Sects (Paperback)
For year I had wanted to study comparative theology, but had been daunted by the breadth of the task. When I found Joy of Sects, I was hoping for a broad review of the major world religions. I got this and much more. Not only are the six major eastern and western religions covered, but so too are many of their sects and sub-sects. In what could otherwise be dry reading, the author has managed to find an appropriate balance between reporting the facts behind each faith, and finding the humor in each and religion in general. Playful, and non-offensive. Yet the work goes deeply enough into each topic as to give the read the history and spiritual nature of each belief system I would recommend this work to anyone even remotely interested in comparative theology or even those mildly interested in what their friends and neighbors believe.
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