Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #129875 in Books
• Published on: 1959-12-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Customer Reviews

THE comparitive- religions primer
This eminently readable introduction to cross-cultural religious studies is one of the gems of my personal library. Eliade does not believe that "primitive" means "simple-minded" or "outmoded", hence, his discussions of "primitive" religious ideas are sympathetic and penetrating. The final section of the book skewers "modern" humanity's pretensions to having transcended the sacred. The appendix contains a succinct and iluminating chronology of the development of "history of religions" studies. If you always thought (along with most of the rest of the world) that "myth" simply meant "old superstition" or "false story"' this book has a few surprises in store for you. Just read it!

The Sacred and Profane
Years ago, I was assigned this book in one of my university classes. I number it in my most memorable and personally influential works that I have ever read. At the time, I had just begun to study archaeology and had very little understanding of the concept of ethnocentricism. My personal way of thinking was very black and white. The only real experience that I had with the dichotomies of the sacred versus the profane at that point was my own experiences.

The Sacred and the Profane gave me an entirely different perspective. I began seeing how others saw religion, spirituality, ritual, and symbolism in slightly different ways. How certain experiences could be interpreted in a variety of ways to become personal and cultural beliefs. I also noticed how these beliefs permeated into everyday life. So began my interests in spirituality, symbolic dichotomies, and the varied beliefs of others.

A classic book for the library.
Wonderful academic study that left me thirsting for a fundamental revelation. Well written but without the emotive force of "The Autobiography of Jesus of Nazareth and the Missing Years" by Richard G. Patton. Patton delivers the same basic information in a more attractive and digestible form. This book is great for winning academic debate, but left me feeling hungry for the main course.