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World Religions
Author Victor Dorff brings you on a journey around the world to explore varying aspects of different religions. Withe everything from facts to pop quizzes to polls, World Religions enlightens readers with fascinating trivia about religious practices around the globe.
- GenresNonfiction
208 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 16, 2016
I have two main opinions about this book, divided between "positive" and "not so much."
1) Positive
I thought Dorff did a good job of writing about a wide variety of religions. I thought he was fair and respectful. He even included African ideas of religion, and although the entries were short, that made sense because he probably doesn't know as much about them. He even had a few entries on the Flying Spaghetti Monster religion, which I had heard of but didn't know much about. I understand Mormonism and Jehovah Witnesses better and Baha'i.
2) Not So Much
What I was surprised at, although maybe I shouldn't be, is that there was no reference to any "Pagan" type religions. Even though Wicca showed up in one of the polls. And the page on Native American spiritual/religious life was only one page that was vague and off-hand. I know many Pagan/New Age people consider it more of a spirituality than a religion, so maybe that's why? But Asatru has been a thing since at least the 80's and re-constructionist religions are definitely a thing. I find it frustrating that the closest reference to these movements was an off-hand comment about "folk traditions." This was only published 2 years ago. Pagan and Re-Constructionist religions are an important part of the human dialogue. Isn't it about time we start including them in our books on religion?
1) Positive
I thought Dorff did a good job of writing about a wide variety of religions. I thought he was fair and respectful. He even included African ideas of religion, and although the entries were short, that made sense because he probably doesn't know as much about them. He even had a few entries on the Flying Spaghetti Monster religion, which I had heard of but didn't know much about. I understand Mormonism and Jehovah Witnesses better and Baha'i.
2) Not So Much
What I was surprised at, although maybe I shouldn't be, is that there was no reference to any "Pagan" type religions. Even though Wicca showed up in one of the polls. And the page on Native American spiritual/religious life was only one page that was vague and off-hand. I know many Pagan/New Age people consider it more of a spirituality than a religion, so maybe that's why? But Asatru has been a thing since at least the 80's and re-constructionist religions are definitely a thing. I find it frustrating that the closest reference to these movements was an off-hand comment about "folk traditions." This was only published 2 years ago. Pagan and Re-Constructionist religions are an important part of the human dialogue. Isn't it about time we start including them in our books on religion?
January 31, 2019
Gave it 4* because its title says exactly what it is! A quick survey of our world's religions!
June 26, 2022
Extremely informative without being overwhelming!
May 18, 2017
Read around 2014
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews