Sacred Origins of Profound Things: The Stories Behind the Rites and Rituals of the World's Religions (Compass) Rating :
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful.
An excellent first-stop resource to further study
By A Customer
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.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful.an engrossing series of "how comes" for Judeo-Christiandom
By Kim
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.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful.Profound
By A Customer
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).
See all 18 customer reviews...Product Description
* Why the Star of David became the Jewish counterpart of the Christian cross
* What mortal remains of the Buddha are venerated today
* How the diamond engagement ring became a standard
* That the first pope was a happily married man
* How Hindu thinkers arrived at their concept of reincarnation
* Why Jews don't eat pork, why some Muslims don't eat certain vegetables, and how some Christians came to observe meatless Fridays
Sacred Origins of Profound Things is an indispensable resource for all those interested in the history of religion and the history of ideas--and an inspiring guide to those seeking to understand their faith.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #257117 in Books
- Published on: 1996-12-01
- Released on: 1996-12-01
- Original language:English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 9.06" h x6.02" w x1.50" l,1.50 pounds
- Binding: Paperback
- 608 pages
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