Myth and Mystery: An Introduction to Pagan Religions of the Biblical World

Rating:
Summary: Imformative and interesting
Review: An informative and interesting look into religions of the past and how they show common themes. Read this and JOSEPH CAMPELL'S PRIMITIVE MYTHOLOGY(The Masks Of God).

Rating:
Summary: Concise Survey of Rival Faiths & Sects
Review: This is a surprisingly concise treatment of the various forms of non-Christian faith, as well as some heretical forms of Christianity prior to the time of Jesus and for a few hundred years afterwards. There are some clever insights that distinguish this work from an everyday encyclopediac approach. And it is well footnoted (though it does lack the "special" touch of footnotes with some explanatory comments, rather than simply the page references that are given). By the time I finished the book, I had a re-awakened interest in exploring the ancient West's views of what was called Brahminism. There are brief glimpses of this provided by Finegan, but Finegan leaves me with the feeling that Brahminism spoke more to our Western forefathers more than we understand, and yet the book does not really explore this idea at all. I will have to find another book for this new hunger of mine. But as far as the Roman/Palestinian/Persian developments, this is a VERY efficient treatment.