- Hardcover: 625 pages
- Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group; Reprint edition (31 Dec 1994)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0385425643
- ISBN-13: 978-0385425643
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 16.5 x 4.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,306,522 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
| ||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Synopsis
Surveys the beliefs, rituals, and terminologies of Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and the New Age movement.
From the Author
The heart of spirituality with plenty of details, too.
When I was in college and later hanging out in the East Village in the '60s and '70s, I wanted to read a book that could give me a basic understanding of the world's major religions, along with brief histories and an explanation of their terminology and key figures. A book that would explain Zen koans, kosher food, Hindu gods and goddesses, Christian fundamentalism, the difference between Orthodox and Conservative Jews, the meaning of the Tao, Ascended Masters, reincarnation, mesmerism, auras, astrology, Atlantis, and shamanism. Huston Smith's "Religions of Man" was a good start but didn't have nearly enough detail to satisfy me, and had nothing at all on New Age beliefs. In "The Joy of Sects," I have written the book I wish I'd had back then.
When I was in college and later hanging out in the East Village in the '60s and '70s, I wanted to read a book that could give me a basic understanding of the world's major religions, along with brief histories and an explanation of their terminology and key figures. A book that would explain Zen koans, kosher food, Hindu gods and goddesses, Christian fundamentalism, the difference between Orthodox and Conservative Jews, the meaning of the Tao, Ascended Masters, reincarnation, mesmerism, auras, astrology, Atlantis, and shamanism. Huston Smith's "Religions of Man" was a good start but didn't have nearly enough detail to satisfy me, and had nothing at all on New Age beliefs. In "The Joy of Sects," I have written the book I wish I'd had back then.
I have tried to be openhearted and yet provide plenty of facts, names, and illustrations; to incorporate the latest scholarship, yet make the book fun to read while conveying the excitement I feel about spirituality. And so I included sections on not only great spiritual traditions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, but also many smaller sects and movements, from the Baha'i Faith to Zoroastrianism, and much of the New Age too. I based my work partly on the belief that people should be as well educated about religions and belief systems as they are about art, literature, science, or politics. In fact, I find it odd trying to understand the world or our own lives without understanding the multitude of ways people through the ages have sought to know the Divine element in themselves and in the universe, and to communicate with that Divinity. But I also admit to being fascinated by little-known facts, moving spiritual tales, and the revealing interconnections among different traditions.
For instance, did you know that Muslims count the Gospels and the Psalms of David among their sacred scripture, along with the Holy Quran? Or that they revere Abraham, Moses, John the Baptist, and Jesus Christ as great prophets? Did you realize that although Hindus worship many different manifestations of the Divine in both the male and female form, from Shiva to Kali, they are essentially monotheistic, believing these forms to be expressions of the One God, much the same way Christians view the Three Persons of the Holy Trinity? The more we know about other religions from around the world, the harder it is to be intolerant of what at first blush appear to be odd, unconventional, or even off-putting beliefs.
If you share my curiosity about the spiritual, if you are studying world religions in high school or college, or just carving your own spiritual path and want to know more about the paths others have followed and are following, then I believe that you will find much to enjoy in my book. I invite you to communicate with me and let me know what you feel about my book. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organise and find favourite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I've read many books on religion, and The Joy of Sects is a standout for its depth and breadth. History, sects, leaders, theology, terminology - all are made crystal clear for major religions such as Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism, as well as for New Age and shamanism. Yet although the approach is exhaustive, it's not exhausting: the author manages to avoid the ponderous or slanted tone of many such books. The Joy of Sects is entertaining and even playful without in any way being disrespectful of or cynical toward any religion - a real feat in this genre. Highly recommended not just as an even-handed reference source, but for the pure fun of reading.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have read this book probably ten times over the last ten years. It can be dipped into during a spare five minutes, or read cover to cover. It is fun and light-hearted, but not without providing lots of detail in a fair way. Even if you are a comparative religion scholar you will probably enjoy this book.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
8 reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Catchy title, great book!
29 May 2003
Format: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!
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Broad yet humorous
9 Feb 2001
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
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.
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
A thorough and lively compendium
19 Jan 1999
Format:Paperback
I've read many books on religion, and The Joy of Sects is a standout for its depth and breadth. History, sects, leaders, theology, terminology - all are made crystal clear for major religions such as Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism, as well as for New Age and shamanism. Yet although the approach is exhaustive, it's not exhausting: the author manages to avoid the ponderous or slanted tone of many such books. The Joy of Sects is entertaining and even playful without in any way being disrespectful of or cynical toward any religion - a real feat in this genre. Highly recommended not just as an even-handed reference source, but for the pure fun of reading.
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
