Phenomenon of Religion [Paperback]

Moojan Momen (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1851681612 | ISBN-13: 978-1851681617 | Publication Date: August 1, 1998

This is an innovative, thematic presentation of the role of religion in human society, from traditional cultures to the modern world. This comprehensive account covers all the major traditions, features nearly 400 illustrations, and is accompanied by maps, timelines, a glossary, full explanatory notes, and an extensive bibliography.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

"Religion," says Momen (Introduction to Shi'i Islam), "is a phenomenon that has proven difficult to define." Momen's perspectiveAthat religion can only be grasped as a fluid, multifaceted manifestationArequires a broad grasp of many disciplines and a comprehensive appreciation of the methods and complexities that contribute to the plethora of world faith traditions. To his credit, Momen does this and more. He steers clear of a strictly Western vision, utilizing Baha'i and Asian traditions as well as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam to exemplify and contrast the conceptual, social, and experiential aspects of religion. Running over 600 pages (including index and glossary), his book covers a tremendous amount of territory, including the arts, gender, archetype and myth, and theories of religion. Comprehensiveness gives way to a certain level of reductionism, but the book's strength is its breadth. Recommended for general religion and seminary collections.ASandra Collins, Univ. of Pittsburgh
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Dr Moojan Momen is a widely published author in the field of world religions. He is author of A Short Introduction to the Baha'i' Faith (Oneworld).

Product Details

• Paperback: 640 pages
• Publisher: Oneworld (August 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1851681612
• ISBN-13: 978-1851681617
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 5.9 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #533,731 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best Books Ever Written, November 30, 2008

By 

Barbara Ellis "barbara ellis" (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Phenomenon of Religion (Paperback)

This is one of the best books ever written on Religion and the history and development of religion. This book ia a "must have" for anyone that has anything to say about religion. Every paragraph is so explainatory and well writen. I am going to keep it as a reference book in my personal library. So much work and thinking has gone into this book and it is easy to read. It flows nicely. Buy it and become informed about what people belive deep in their hearts.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars BIG but Simple, April 3, 2000

By 

"thebutternut" (Long Island, NY, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Phenomenon of Religion (Paperback)

A well presented work comprised of three "fields of enquiry": Religious Experience and it's expression, conceptual aspects of religion, and religion in society. It's essentially a book which compares religions and philosophies, all while using themes from other areas of study as psycology and sociology.

It's a fairly large book, around 600 pages, but the simplistic style of authoring doesn't make it a chore as other comparitive religion books.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Astonishingly encyclopedic and readable, July 14, 2007

By 

César González Rouco (Madrid, Madrid Spain) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Phenomenon of Religion (Paperback)

It is difficult nowadays to get an objective, nuanced opinion on religion, neither flattering nor biased against it. If I were to recommend a way to try and achieve that, I would suggest to read several good books on the matter, including this among them, for in my opinion this is a masterful work that can be savoured by the professional scholar and the educated layperson alike.

In "The Phenomenon of Religion: A Thematic Approach," Moojan Momen has undertaken a sweeping survey of religious phenomena and experience across the globe and throughout history. He analyzes various aspects of religion including chapters on "The Concept of Religion," "Pathways to Religious Experience," "Suffering, Sacrifice and Salvation," and "Fundamentalism and Liberalism." He examines what six major independent world religions - the Bahá'í Faith, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism - have to say about each theme, and/or what their followers have come to understand or experience. As a resource on comparative religious studies, it an outstanding reference for anyone concerned with religion.

All that (and much much much more that I do not mention in this summary) is exhaustively developed in some 500 pages (626 pages with notes and index).

Therefore, my rate is between 5 (content) and 5 (pleasure, sometimes falling to 4).

Please see in any event the excellent review available in http://www.onecountry.org/e132/e13216as_Review_Phenonenon.htm which encouraged me to buy this book.

Other books I would recommend to read are the following: "Vampires, Burial, and Death : Folklore and Reality" by Paul Barber; "Ecstasies: Deciphering the witches' Sabbath", by Carlo Ginzburg; "Shamans, Sorcerers, and Saints: A Prehistory of Religion" by Brian Hayden; and "Islam. History, present, future" by Hans Küng (also a masterpiece).