Customer Reviews

A History of the World's Religions

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A truly excellent, penetrating, work. David Noss provides an opportunity for the reader to personally shake hands with each major religion: each is introduced with unobtrusive eloquence and exactitude; each is treated with the utmost respect; and so is the reader accorded this same, unpretentious, sacred reverence. One might gain the impression that a very sane and learned scholar in each religion covered is laying out for you the fundamentals and origins of his beliefs and faith, in a non-proselytizing way, for you to see. Excellent!

The key words for the book could be as the following -- Tactful, sophisticated, academic, reader's friendly, accurate, intriguing, inspiring, comprehensive. One can get proud of the Mankind history - not only wars and dirty politics did we have but the heights of spiritual life, in many forms and manifestations.

Another good text from a top notch class I decided to keep for reference. The class did use supplemental materials but this is a good overall source for info on the historic origins and development of world religions.

I was looking for an inexpensive but quality book that explained the origin, history and basic beliefs of the worlds religions for my home library. I wanted something that had more than just the major 5 or 6 religions. At the huge used book store I frequent, this title was clearly the best. I purchased the 9th edition for $7.00. I find myself browsing through parts of it quite often. One of the best buys I've ever had.

I have used earlier editions of this book, then named Man's Religions, since 1989 as the basis for lectures on World Religion for a community college class. I definately want to get a copy of this 10th edition! I hope in the future to be able to have this textbook for my class because then I will not need to supplement with handouts - everything I need will be right there in the book.

This book is a history of the worlds regions and it is right on! I purchased it because I wanted to learn just how far back the notion of religion went. It provided me with those answers. Many reviews here talk about the author not going into depth about the "deities" behind each religion and I am guessing that these folks want to inject a little about what they believe (the people they believe in). But that is not the purpose of this book! Its purpose is to remove the religion and jut give us the history of each religion. For the work they have done, for the way it is written, for the efforts they used to just present what we know I think this book is right on!

Professor John Allen Paulos' application of reason and logic to analyze and evaluate the arguments made to "prove" the existence of God, is the very methodology used by most rational people in areas involving topics outside of religion, including believers, adamant in their insistence that God exists.

Why then do most - including "true" believers - refuse to apply reason and logic, which they will unhesitatingly use to make rational decisions and come to valid conclusions in every day life, but not in regards to religion? The powerful emotion, fear, often makes the normally rational, irrational. Perhaps Anton Chekhov says it best:

"Man is what he believes."

This is a very well researched book on the sects and creeds of the world's religions with very little focus of the Cental Figures of those Faiths, ecpecially the Sacred texts, if any, of those Faiths. History of the World's Religions (12th Edition)

Ordered it for a class, and let me say - without it, the class would have been alot more work.

Astute observations at times, complex, and a fairly good in depth study, but limited. Let me clarify: This is a study of the history of "religions" in the sense of believing in the supernatural. Though subtle, these authors are telling us from the very first page it (the supernatural) is conjured by man. They give the impression of religion by evolution and that man developed all knowledge over time. The use of the politically correct B.C.E. should also set alarms off. Nonetheless it is very helpful as a supplement.

The textbook begins with the so called "early prehistoric" religions and their practices, and the spreading from the epicenter to the formation into other nations as it evolved into its eventual acceptance. Many influences are gathered, but are used broadly. Much of this time is speculative, which the authors admit, until later B.C. when accounts were recorded. The next chapters then focus on Greek mythology and the views of creationist's Plato and Aristotle. The only reason I can see to put some of these chapters in the book is to show how early man's myths instilled in us many of the beliefs we have today. The authors do a very good job of showing us how each society gave rise to the many different rituals and practices which lead to the religion it is today. The first half follows by regions, where the later emphasizes on the major religions.

And let us give pause, to not make the mistake of merging God's thoughts with mans.

Wish you well

Scott