Myth and Mystery: An Introduction to the Pagan Religions of the Biblical World [Paperback]

Jack Finegan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1997

Clever insights are a distinguishing mark of this excellent, concise overview of ancient religions that existed during the formative years of Judaism and Christianity.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jack Finegan is professor emeritus of New Testament history and archaeology at Pacific School of Religion and Graduate Theological Union. This prestigious scholar has over thirty books to his credit. Among them are Light from the Ancient Past, The Archaeology of the New Testament: The Mediterranean World of the Early Christian Apostles, and Archaeological History of the Ancient Middle East.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Baker Academic (September 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080102160X
• ISBN-13: 978-0801021602
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #606,823 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Concise Survey of Rival Faiths & Sects, April 10, 2000

By 

George Brooks [[e-mail]] (Tampa, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Myth and Mystery: An Introduction to the Pagan Religions of the Biblical World (Paperback)

This is a surprisingly concise treatment of the various forms of non-Christian faith, as well as some heretical forms of Christianity prior to the time of Jesus and for a few hundred years afterwards. There are some clever insights that distinguish this work from an everyday encyclopediac approach. And it is well footnoted (though it does lack the "special" touch of footnotes with some explanatory comments, rather than simply the page references that are given). By the time I finished the book, I had a re-awakened interest in exploring the ancient West's views of what was called Brahminism. There are brief glimpses of this provided by Finegan, but Finegan leaves me with the feeling that Brahminism spoke more to our Western forefathers more than we understand, and yet the book does not really explore this idea at all. I will have to find another book for this new hunger of mine. But as far as the Roman/Palestinian/Persian developments, this is a VERY efficient treatment.

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Imformative and interesting, September 1, 2004

By 

E. King (greeneville, tn United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Myth and Mystery: An Introduction to the Pagan Religions of the Biblical World (Paperback)

An informative and interesting look into religions of the past and how they show common themes. Read this and JOSEPH CAMPELL'S PRIMITIVE MYTHOLOGY(The Masks Of God).