Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: Zoroastrianism: An Introduction to Ancient Faith (Sussex Library of Religious Beliefs and Practices) by Peter Clark ISBN: 1-898723-78-8 Publisher: Sussex Academic Press Pub. Date: 01 January, 1999 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4 (2 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Systematic Zoroastrianism
Comment: This book is, hands down, the best systematic presentation of the Zoroastrian world-picture that I've ever read. It brings together the Gathas, the priesthood, the Yasna Liturgy, cosmology, and culture to show Zoroastrianism as a living faith in all its glorious complexity. Dr. Clark does a wonderful job explaining terminology and open debates. He thoroughly documents all of his sources for those interested in digging deeper.
The only flaw I found with his work was that he was, in some ways, too enamoured with his subject. Sometimes he almost loses his scholarly objectivity, especially when comparing Zoroastrianism to other living religions, Christianity in particular. One example will suffice: Late in the book he notes that Christian missionaries used "unfair" tactics in their analysis by comparing the Vendidad quite unfavorably (read the book and you'll understand) with the Gospels and arguing from that that Zoroastrians should convert to Christianity. Dr. Clark remarks something to the effect that "of course a fairer comparison would be to compare the Vendidad not with the Gospels, but with Leviticus". Actually, his desire to present Zoroastrianism in the best possible light as a viable contemporary tradition has lead him to "lose it" here. It is imminently fair and reasonable to compare the Vendidad to the Christian Gospels and not to Leviticus because Christianity (except for some real fringe groups) doesn't claim Leviticus has any normative authority over Christians in the same sense that the Zoroastrians claim the Vendidad is authoritative over them. Comparing Vendidad to Gospel *is* comparing apples to apples.
Other than this and a couple other "Come on!" moments, the book was quite informative. It's refreshing to read a book by a scholar who is passionately devoted to his subject.
If you would like to learn more about the Ashavan community or about the Gathic faith, this is the book to read!
Rating: 4
Summary: Very well written book
Comment: Everyone who needs to know about Zoroastrianism must read this well written book
 |
Title: In Search of Zarathustra : The First Prophet and the Ideas That Changed the World by PAUL KRIWACZEK ISBN: 0375415289 Publisher: Knopf Pub. Date: 11 February, 2003 List Price(USD): $25.00 |
 |
Title: A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson ISBN: 0767908171 Publisher: Broadway Pub. Date: 06 May, 2003 List Price(USD): $27.50 |
 |
Title:Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl ASIN: B00005JM5E Publisher: Walt Disney Home Video Pub. Date: 02 December, 2003 List Price(USD): $29.99 Comparison N/A, buy it from Amazon for $19.49 |
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
