Sacred Origins of Profound Things: The Stories Behind the Rites and Rituals of the World's Religions
Charles Panati
Description
From The Publisher:
In this enlightening and entertaining work Charles Panati explores the origins of hundreds of religious rituals, customs, and practices in many faiths, the reasons for religious holidays and sacred symbols, and the meanings of vestments, sacraments, devotions, and prayers. Its many elevations include:
- 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.
Reviews
"... eager to raise and then to answer ... a great many ... interesting questions about world religions and why their adherents believe and behave as they do ..."
The New York Times Book Review, Tom Ferrell
About the Author
Charles Panati, a former physicist and science editor of Newsweek, is the author of fourteen books. He lives in West Sayville, New York.
Table of Contents
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Why We Believe What We Believe: Introduction
PART I. P0PULAR PIETY
1. Prayer Postures: Hands joined to Heads Covered
2. Best-Loved Prayers: Apostles' Creed to Agnus Dei
3. Acts of Devotion: Rosary to Hajj
PART II . HEAVENLY H0STS
4. Angels: Messengers to Guardians
5. Archangels and Demons: Michael to Metatron
PART I I I . WISE WORDS
6. Moral Codes: Ten Commandments to Golden Rule
7. Biblical Phrases: "Writing on the Wall" to "Eye to Eye"
PART IV. RITES AND RITUALS
8. Sacred Symbols: Halo to Star of David
9. Dressed to Kill: Vestments to Vessels
10. Sacraments: Godparents to Seven Deadly Sins
11. Vows That Bind: Celibate Priests to Ordained Women
PART V. FEASTS AND FESTIVALS
12. Christian Feasts: Ash Wednesday to Palm Sunday
13. Jewish Feasts: Passover to Hanukkah
PART VI. SAINTS AND THEIR B0NES
14. Saints: Abused Virgins to Celibate Clerics
15. Relics: Buddha's Tooth to Christ's Cross
16. Patron Saints : AIDS to Cyberspace
PART VII. CELESTIAL PERS0NAE
17. God : Appearance to Existence
18. Christ: Son to Trinity
19. Allah: Abraham to Koran
PART VIII I D0
20. Marriage: Mazal Tov to Diamond Ring
21. Divorce: Get to Jackie Kennedy Onassis
22. Annulment: Impotency to Senator Edward Kennedy
PART IX. EXTRAORDINARY EVI L
23. Satan: Lucifer to Genies
24. Exorcism: Satan to Dybbuk
25. Antichrist: "666" to Apocalypse Now
PART X. DIVINE D0S AND D0N'TS
26. Forbidden Foods: Pork Chops to Meatless Fridays
27. Forbidden Sex: Gay to Lesbian
28. Contraception: Condoms to Crushed Testicles
PART XI. RELIGI0US REALMS
29. Heaven: Soul to Immortality
30. Hell: Hot to Hotter
31. Purgatory: Divine Comedy to Sale of Indulgences
32. Limbo: Original Sin to the Harrowing
PART XII. ACTS 0F FAITH
33. Miracles: Raising the Dead to Stigmata
34. Virginity ofthe Virgin: Immaculate Conception to Virgin Birth
35. Visions of tlie Virgin: Guadalupe to Medjugorje
36. Papal Infallibility: Tradition to Dogma
References and Reading
Index |
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