The Joy of Sects: A Spirited Guide to the World's Religious Traditions [Paperback]

Peter Occhiogrosso (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 18, 2005

“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. An excellent resource.”
—BOOKLIST

The Joy of Sects is not merely a detailed guide to the principal beliefs, scriptures, and personalities of the world’s most important spiritual traditions. It also provides valuable insights into the mystical connections that link all religions beneath the surface. No other book today offers so much accessible information about Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and the New Age, all in one place.

Editorial Reviews

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. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 658 pages
• Publisher: Backinprint.com (December 18, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595373925
• ISBN-13: 978-0595373925
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #497,410 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Peter Occhiogrosso began his writing career as a jazz critic and interviewer in the 1970s, and was the first journalist to cover the emerging avant-garde and "loft jazz" scene in downtown Manhattan in depth. As Music Editor for the Soho Weekly News, he also immersed himself in the burgeoning punk rock and new wave movements. Accordingly, he wrote his first book about the fictitious British metal band Spinal Tap, and collaborated with Frank Zappa on his unconventional autobiography, "The Real Frank Zappa Book" (Poseidon/Simon & Schuster). But by the 1990s, Peter's interests had grown to encompass spirituality, following his initiation into the American group Eckankar, where he learned to practice intensive dream work. That started him on a trail of spiritual exploration that led to the study of Tibetan Buddhism, Sufism, Zen, Kabbalah, and many years of practice with the Chinese qigong master Kwan Saihung.

During those years, Peter wrote a series of books about spiritual experience, including "Once A Catholic" (Houghton Mifflin/Ballantine); "Through the Labyrinth" (Penguin), and a popular guide to the world's religions entitled "The Joy of Sects" (Doubleday/Image). At the same time, he launched a parallel career as a co-author and collaborator, writing 2 books with talk show host Larry King; 5 books with healer and former Catholic priest Ron Roth; and Caroline Myss's "Why People Don't Heal" and "Sacred Contracts" (Harmony), as well as her most recent book, "Defy Gravity" (Hay House).

Following a lifelong interest in nutrition and health, Peter has also collaborated with Vijay Vad, M.D., of the Hospital for Special Surgery, on a leading book about arthritis treatment, "Arthritis Rx" (Gotham), as well as Dr. Vad's latest book, "Stop Pain" (Hay House).

Three of the books Peter co-authored have become New York Times Best Sellers. His collaboration with Joseph Pierce Farrell on his book about consciousness-based healthcare, "Manifesting Michelangelo," was published in 2011 by Atria/Simon & Schuster. Atria will also publish his most recent work, with renowned Yoga master Mark Whitwell, "The Promise of Love, Sex, and Intimacy: How a Simple Breathing Practice Will Enrich Your Life Forever" In June 2012.

Peter is currently writing an account of his tumultuous years in the music world of lower Manhattan.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Catchy title, great book!, May 29, 2003

By 

Susan Hodge (La Canada, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

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!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Broad yet humorous, February 9, 2001

By 

Guy Smith (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

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.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Joy of Sects by Occhiogrosso, August 28, 2004

By 

Joseph S. Maresca "Dr. Joseph S. Maresca CPA,... (Bronxville, New York USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Joy of Sects (Paperback)

This is an excellent reference guide for religious scholars and
theorists. It describes Christianity, Judaism, Taoism and a
pletora of the world religious traditions. The work describes
the progression of the early Christian traditions from
democracy toward more hierarchy and orthodoxy. A number of
New Age sects are described in detail. Some controversial
sayings of Jesus Christ are quoted. For instance, Christ
made the following statement in Luke 14:26

"If anyone comes to me and cares about his father or his mother or his wife or his children or his brother or his sisters or even his own soul, he can't be my student."

This statement would be consistent with Christ's teachings
because the thrust is to be concerned about your neighbor.
Love one another is far more inclusive than concern for
family members or for oneself. Christ's teachings are
universal in nature. They extend beyond the community where you live.

The Taoists are concerned with the connectivity between nature and the earth. Even famous religionists are described.
Abu Hamid al-Ghazsali (1058- 1111) was a considerable Islamic
scholar of jurisprudence and Sufi practices.

This work will be useful for any student project on the subject
of religious theory and scholarship.