٥٠ فكرة يجب أن تعرفها عن الدين

50 Ideas You Really Need to Know

by Peter Stanford

Religion: 50 Ideas You Really Need to Know offers a clear path through the conceptual and denominational thickets of global religion. Award-winning religious affairs correspondent Peter Stanford begins with an examination of sacred texts, the divine principle and good and evil, before moving on to a discussion of the different traditions within Christianity, Islam, Judaism and the myriad traditions of the East.

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction, Reference, History, Philosophy

208 pages, Unknown Binding

First published May 27, 2010

Reviews

[Ibrahim Abdulla · Rating 3 out of 5]

التركيز الأكبر كان من نصيب المسيحية، وربما يوجد بعض الاختزال المخلّ في عرض العديد من الأفكار، لكن بالنظر لكون كل فكرة يتحدث عنها الكاتب في أربع صفحات، لم أتوقع أكثر من هذا. أعجبني حديثه عن المشترك بين الأديان من غير تعسف وتكلف في الربط بينها. جيد في العموم.

[Eshraka Tarek · Rating 5 out of 5]

كتااب تحفة ...يستحق القرايه بجد😍❤❤❤❤❤

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished reading this non-fiction book yesterday, and mostly enjoyed it, but not as much as I had hoped I would; I had the definite impression that the book was patronizing towards those aspects of religion that the author did not personally agree with.

I have noticed that when I ask people what they are (re religion), I may get the answer "nothing"; but if I ask, "Well, then, what were you?" I get an automatic answer as to what religion they used to be. It is very hard to talk about religion without bringing one's own opinion into the mix, but I felt that the author showed a bit too much disdain on occasion regarding faiths not of his own.

After an introduction, the author has chapters on Common Ground; he then covers Christianity (an odd first choice, as Christianity is heavily based on Judaism (the Christian Old Testament is basically the same as the Jewish Tanakh) which the book does not really address), the author then addresses The Reformed Tradition. (Chapter 21 addresses the Rapture, "Christians would be beamed up to heaven like characters in the popular TV series Star Trek." We then move on to Judaism, Islam, and a long group of chapters on the Eastern Tradition. Finally, the book ends with a section on Modern Dilemmas, such as the religions' take on climate change and just war.

I found the book to be most useful in talking about the faiths that I do not claim to be anywhere near expert on (mostly the Eastern Traditions), but I have no way of knowing if the author's personal opinions again intruded upon his discussion of the traditions that I do not know of. So I did enjoy reading the book, but also found it to be something of a disappointment.

[Eddie Ruminski · Rating 2 out of 5]

While it does contain a variety of important religious topics which makes it an appealing one-stop read, it poorly addresses the majority of them with shoddy, one-sided 'scholarship'. The authors heavy bias regarding his own beliefs is palpable and sours what would be an otherwise excellent introduction to these topics (for instance refer to his summery of what Atheism is).

Readers, especially those unfamiliar with many of these topics, should proceed with caution. While you will learn a few correct things it is certain you will pick up more than a few falsities along the way (and without further study will carry such misunderstandings with you). Your time is better spent elsewhere.

[أحمد عبدان · Rating 5 out of 5]

كتاب أعتبره مرجع في الأديان، لأنه مختصر ويحوي على جميع الأديان القديمة والحديثة، ويذكر الأفكار الرئيسية بحيادية قوية، الكتاب مفيد للمهتمين بالأديان، ورغم أني لم أفهم بعض الصفحات ولو أعدت قراءتها مئة مرة لأن الحديث غامضاً بالنسبة لي لأني بحاجة إلى معلومات تأسيسة ومثال ذلك المذاهب في المسيحية، عموماً الكتاب يستحق القراءة

[Rodrigo Mares · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este libro, por el periodista y escritor inglés Peter James Stanford (Cheshire, 1961), consta de 50 secciones, cada una exponiendo una "idea" con respecto de la historia, la ideología, y otra información trivial sobre las religiones más populares del planeta. Las doctrinas que se tratan con más detalle son, como podría esperarse, el islam, el judaísmo, y las sectas mayores del cristianismo, aunque también se dedica gran atención a las "tradiciones orientales", tales como el hinduismo, el jainismo, el sijismo, y el budismo.

La mayor parte de los datos expuestos son fácilmente accesibles a cualquier persona interesada por medio de otras fuentes, por lo que es poco probable que alguien interesado en profundizar en algún tema particular encuentre útil este volumen. Sin embargo, el encanto de la obra radica, precisamente, en proporcionar la información básica indispensable para conocer, a grandes rasgos, el amplio panorama de las religiones en el mundo, adentrarse en detalles que probablemente la mayoría de los creyentes desconocen sobre sus propios sistemas de adoctrinamiento, y encontrar los puntos en común que existen entre esos sistemas y los de otras personas. Considero importante y rescatable el mensaje implícito sobre la tolerancia y la aceptación de la diferencia, así como el apuntar, de nuevo, implícitamente, que el juicio y la discriminación hacia otras formas de religión denotan ignorancia. Para ello, pues, esta lectura resulta indispensable para cualquier persona que intente existir en el mundo.

La información del libro está presentada de una manera muy amigable al público, y utiliza un lenguaje fluido que hace una lectura bastante amena e interesante. Si bien considero que la perspectiva de un creyente se deja notar en varios momentos del trabajo —difiero en su conclusión sobre el ateísmo, por ejemplo—, también encuentro el esfuerzo muy valioso y en la obra una recomendación indispensable. Vale la pena darse el tiempo de saborearlo.

[Chris Seltzer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book desperately needs a chapter covering comparative religion as an idea.

It places a significant emphasis on Christianity, which is understandable given its global influence and English-speaking audience, but it might have been better to include more topics from other major world religions.

In addition to atheism, secularism and agnosticism should have been covered. Not to mention indigenous and animistic religions, which are left out completely. While Kabbalah is mentioned, Mysticism isn't covered in its own right despite Sufism in Islam and Christian mysticism being real things.

The impact of religion on politics and society isn't mentioned. How about the way religion impacted art and architecture?

At no point does the author cover the basic biological building blocks of religion. Religious philosophy is never explicitly discussed.

I think pretty much any introductory book to comparative religion would be better than this one.

[David Gallagher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series! I enjoyed this installment, learned a lot about faith systems both familiar and not, and snagged some amazing quotes.* I appreciate that Stanford included some commentary (albeit light) on the ways colonialism and wartime politics affect the evolution of various religious orders, as well as how fundamentalism is usually reactionary. The writing and organization was easy to follow.

My only critique (aside from a couple punctuation mistakes) is that I would have liked a bit less depth on the Abrahamic religions in favor of more info about the world's polytheistic/naturalistic faiths.

Overall, I think this book gives some interesting sub-textual insight into humankind. Recommended for anyone interested in politics and religion.

*"... if [God] can sentence me to hell for not [calling him good], to hell I will go."
// John Stuart Mill

[Patricio · Rating 1 out of 5]

Era muy buena la idea: un libro didáctico y simple de religión pensado en el gran público. Es inadmisible ciertas aseveraciones que son derechamente falsas (Ej: que no existen referencias bíblicas sobre el Espíritu Santo).

Por otra parte respecto del Islam es asquerosamente tendencioso: tratando a los chiítas de fanáticos radicales cuando la evidencia señala que los grupos extremistas musulmanes (Al-Qaeda, Al-Shabab, Boko Haram, Isis) son sunnitas, cuestion que el autor convenientemente omite.

Por último, en la seccion "credos contemporáneos" dar el tratamiento formal de religión al moonismo es bastante poco serio, cuando en la especie cumple con todas las caracteristicas de secta, y considerada como tal en varios países.

En resumen, un libro lamentable y, a medida que se va leyendo, miserable.

[John Lindstedt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow my first book of 2021 and on Good Reads in general.

It’s a pretty decent, coffee table style book that sums up religious concepts in 4 page chapters. I’m not very religious but it’s a big part of history so I did really appreciate fleshing out some major blindspots in my knowledge.

This is part of a book series I randomly inherited through past roommates - I read the “Philosophy Ideas” one years ago and only got bored enough in lockdown this year to get to this one. I have mathematical ideas and physics ideas next, which I will eventually read but will probably treat myself to a few comics first.

And if you can’t tell by the general format of this, it makes for excellent bathroom reading.

[Socrate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scrierile anterioare ale lui PETER STANFORD având ca subiect istoria, teologia şi semnificaţia culturală a ideilor religioase includ: What We Talk About When We Talk About Faith; Martin Luther: Catholic Dissident; Judas: The Troubling History of the Renegade Apostle; The Devil – A Biography; Heaven – A Traveller’s Guide to the Undiscovered Country şi The She-Pope, o investigaţie asupra legendei papesei Ioana. Este colaborator principal la Daily şi Sunday Telegraph şi scrie pentru Independent, Observer, Daily Mail şi Tablet. A prezentat programe pentru BBC 1, Channel 4 şi Channel 5, dar şi pentru BBC Radio 2 şi Radio 4 şi pentru BBC World Service.

[Alberto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Guía práctica para poder distinguir ente los tipos de cristianismo: anglicanos, ortodoxos, católicos, protestantes, baptistas, mormones.... También tenemos budismo, islamismo judaísmo.
Fácil de leer como todos los de esta colección.

[Arwa Helmi · Rating 5 out of 5]

بسيط جدا ومدخل للأدبان المختلفة من ناحية آلهتها وطقوسها. يناقش بعض الأفكا المتعلقة بالدين كالعنف والتسامح بنظرة حيادية

[Adriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars... A great way to learn about religion in short chapters. Great introduction to religión for those who want to find out more about this topic.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the ideas were, well, not really need to know. And I really could've done without at least half of the book focusing on Christianity.

[Rommel Toledo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good recap on differents religions and their concepts. It fail to define atheism which describe as "atheism it's a faith" what it is the exact opposite.

[bie🐝]

i wont rate this

[André · Rating 2 out of 5]

Many topics are not covered. African and south American religions as a sample. It's biased towards the predominant religions. Agnosticism isn't at all mentioned.

[Ofoxo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Eenzijdig, vooringenomen, afknapper.

[Rilette Swanepoel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second best book I read this year. It provides a grand overview of the most important trends in religion, and some information on the odd balls at the margins. I wish it was twice as long, with more info on the odd balls.

Stanford points to similarities and differences between beliefs as he discusses each belief system. However, I would have enjoyed a comparative chapter (perhaps) at the end. Why for example do most important religions have their roots in the Axial period? What happened to humanity anthropologically, developmentally at that time?

I recommend that every person on the planet read this!

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of the 50 Ideas You Really Need to Know series, "50 Ideas You Really Need to Know Religion," is a great place to start to find out general big ideas that you should know about religion. Each idea is given four pages, with enough detail to pique your interest. The book also dispels some myths about various religions. This is a great place to start if you are looking to learn about various religious beliefs held by peoples around the globe.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent insight to the basics of every religion and how most religions are in fact interconnected and have similar ideas, ethics and concepts. It also explains how religion has evolved over the millennia's and what concepts a majority of people consider core beliefs in life in order to lead a good life.

[Steve Hodge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative.

[Aboobaker Thanveer]

yet to read.