Sacred Origins of Profound Things: The Stories Behind the Rites and Rituals of the World's Religions (Compass) [Paperback]

Charles Panati (Author)

Book Description

Series: Compass | Publication Date: December 1, 1996

A noted expert on the origins of ordinary objects tackles the mysteries of religion in an enlightening odyssey into a vast spectrum of religious items and ideas, exploring the origins of sacred practices and customs, the reasons for religious holidays, ritualistic symbols, and more. Tour.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Sprightly, wry and irreverent, Sacred Origins of Profound Things attempts to explain the arcana of religious practice and dogma like prayer, celestial personae, moral codes, festivals, saints, evil, heaven, hell and miracles. Panati digs up fascinating curios while clearly explaining fundamental tenets of the world's religions. But his Religion 101 remains an awkward hybrid of brief journalistic entries (Panati is a former science writer at Newsweek) and short essays. Furthermore, not all "profound things" are covered equally or thoroughly. The religions of Asia are barely touched on, and aboriginal religions not at all. Of Judaism, Islam and Christianity, it is the last, and Catholicism in particular, that forms by far the largest part of the book. While readers looking for a quick answer will find useful the explanations of why religions affirm this or that belief, they will be frustrated by the lack of an index and the book's narrative rather than encyclopedic structure. Illustrations not seen by PW.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Few books in the theological literature are simply fun to read and this is one of them. Panati (Panati's Parade of Fads, Follies, and Manias, HarperCollins, 1991) has written an informative and entertaining book on the origins of religious ideas, sacred items, worship practices, holy symbols, and holidays. Although he discusses wonderful puzzlements such as why Jews don't eat pork, he also explores the origins and history of more pressing, controversial, present-day concerns such as the bans on homosexuality, married priests, and birth control. His book has a few shortcomings. Although it advertises itself as a book on world religions, the emphasis is mainly on Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, with only a smattering of other faiths. Also, there is a lack of footnoting, making the work unhelpful to serious scholars. But these minor complaints pale next to the wealth of information provided here. (Index not seen.) Recommended for public libraries.?Glenn Masuchika, Chaminade Univ. Lib., Honolulu
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 608 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (December 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140195335
• ISBN-13: 978-0140195330
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #566,193 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Charles Panati is a physicist, and for many years was the science editor of Newsweek. He's published 13 non-fiction books, and two novels, and his most recent novel, a psychological thriller, THE ROCKY HORRORS, is available at the Kindle Store. His 'Browser's Book of Beginnings' was the basis for the TV show THE START OF SOMETHING BIG, hosted by comedian Steve Allen, and written by Panati. In his early twenties, Panati was an escort for several Miss America contestants, and in September of 1965 the girl he escorted, Debbie Irene Bryant, became Miss America of 1966. In his newest fiction, THE ROCKY HORRORS, the science of genetics, one experimenter's hubris, and a seriously dysfunctional family all commingle to produce a story of hair-raising suspense - all concluding in a triple whammy of an ending. One the reader never sees coming. Imagine Alfred Hitchcock meets The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Panati's most recent non-fiction is also a Kindle book: ANIMALS PRAY - In Their Own Way. As a passionate animal lover, Panati has imagined what prayers animals would say to a Heavenly Being, their joys and laments. As well as what kind of Bill of Rights they'd have drawn up, and Declaration of Independence, their Golden Rule, Ten Commandments, Eight Beatitudes, and the like. He calls himself an 'editor' of the book, a confidant and complier, lending his ear as the animals themselves speak their minds.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent first-stop resource to further study, November 25, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Sacred Origins of Profound Things: The Stories Behind the Rites and Rituals of the World's Religions (Compass) (Paperback)

I am a Catholic seminarian who spends a lot of time wondering "how it all connects" -- which I believe it does. This little handbook helps to initiate further study into the religious customs of Catholic Christianity and the fundamental links they might have to other religons. The book is biased to Catholic ritual and spirituality, but one need simply to jump off that starting point to examine deeper roots that reveal a wider human experience.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars an engrossing series of "how comes" for Judeo-Christiandom, October 20, 1998

By 

Kim (Georgia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sacred Origins of Profound Things: The Stories Behind the Rites and Rituals of the World's Religions (Compass) (Paperback)

The author admits that this book is slanted towards Catholocism -- you have been warned. He spends most of his time analyzing the Catholic Church, then Protestants, then Jews, and -- if there's time -- any other religious group. Panati discusses all manner of religious practices, stories, and rituals without beating around the bushes. The text suggests as many questions as it answers, but it is a very thought provoking read. Although I wouldn't accept all of his discourse at face value, this book has motivated me to pursue further study of several of the topics that he covers.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Profound, March 3, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Sacred Origins of Profound Things: The Stories Behind the Rites and Rituals of the World's Religions (Compass) (Paperback)

An extraordinary read. Though I didn't see eye-to-eye with all the author believes, he does raise significant issues, nearly always backed with historical fact. Sure to shake your religious beliefs to its very foundations (as often really needs to be). Personally, I was appreciative of such a book as being brought up Catholic as a child, falling away, and returning as an adult only to find that what was being preached by the Catholic church (to my adult ears) was NOT in sync to what my adult eyes were reading in the Bible.

Devout Catholics will find this book sacriledge, whereas open-minded Christians of any denomination may benefit from the historical facts and origins to search their souls for truth and enlightenment, instead of blindly being led by religious leaders.

I'll read other books by Panati (with an open-mind but not blindly).