Product Description

Religions A to Z® is a complete, easy-to-use handbook of the origins, basic beliefs, and defining features of the world's religions, cults, and sects. Written with the Christian in mind, these profiles provide the reader with the fundamentals of today's religions and how they compare to Christianity.

This will help all Christians-from the new believer to the seasoned pastor-better understand the religions, cults, and sects around them.

Customer Reviews (7)

okay
The material wasn't as indepth as I thought it would be. Otherwise, it was pretty good.

Worst book I have ever bought
The idea for the book is great.A quick skim through in the book store had me thinking this was the book I was looking for.When you actually start to read the various entries you will quickly see this is not an objective book.There are a number of entries where the author passes judgement on a religions he disagrees with and condemns it's followers. This is not a guide to religion, it is a fundamentalist review and rating.The author is an obvious evangelical christian with a axe to grind.It's very sad.I bought this book to assist me during some international travel and it is now in the trash can in my hotel.Unless you are an evangelical christian looking for a guide on how to judge and attack people of different beliefs, this book is not for you.

an example from the book - "members of this faith should reexamine their beliefs and have the courage to return to the Christian faith as described in the new testament"

Disappointed!!
I was very disappointed in this book.It is not a truly objective, scholarly work, in my opinion.The author's evangelical Christian viewpoint is evident in many of the reviews, which he readily admits to in the preface.So if that level of bias is acceptable to you, then okay, but I was expecting, from my reading of the reviews, a more objective unbiased book actually objectively discussing 100 religions from a neutral position.BE FOREWARNED!

A handy reference guide for all religions
Definitely good for quick reference, though a bit too short in most sections.The one statistic I thought was missing was the estimated number of followers of each religion; would have really helped to put in perspective some of the more fringe practices.

Great book. Valuable resource. Subjective.
I really enjoyed the book and learned alot about different religions but the author is very subjective. He seems sympathetic to certain very unorthodox religions and at times has a "judge not" attitude toward those that would differ with his opinions.
Over all the book is very good! ... Read more

Product Description
This third edition of Historical Dictionary of Terrorism significantly expands on the second edition through a chronology, an introductory essay, a bibliography, and hundreds of cross-referenced dictionary entries on major terrorist groups, significant terrorist events, different forms of terrorism, cyber-terrorism, and counterterrorism. This book will have wide appeal for government officials, students and researchers, and journalists. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

An Essential Reference
This book is an essential reference for those that are involved in researching terrorism. As the below reviewer cites, there is a timeline of key events and an A-Z of terms and organizations, as well as a veryextensive bibliography/recommended reading section. I use this book sooften, that it no longer has a place on the shelf, it sits on my desk. Avery impressive effort on the authors' part. Outstanding.

Terrorism from A to Z
The Historical Dictionary of Terrorism by Sean Anderson and Stephen Sloan provides a ready reference into the multifaceted topic of terrorism. The authors literally go through the breadth of terrorism from A to Z--including informative entries on groups, concepts, individuals. The workincludes an extensive bibliography that is helpful in continuing researchon the listed topics. The Dictionary also contains a chronology ofsignificant incidents, ideas and personalities pertaining to terrorism fromA.D. 66 to 1994. This 450 page work has been an essential reference toolfor me as an analyst and an academic. I have used the Dictionary to refreshmy memory of groups and individuals as I write, as well as, before I teacha college class on issues of terrorism. While I would like more depth onsome of the entries, the entries provide enough material to answer most ofmy questions, or at least point me in the right direction.It is one of mymost used books in my terrorism library. ... Read more

Product Description
The "Historical Dictionary of the Green Movement" focuses on the history and present status of the wide range of issues and organizations that have been subsumed under the current heading of "green" or "environmental activists." Environmental or Green activism has met with a great deal of success in the last three decades, particularly in Europe, where Green parties are key players on the local and national political scene. Most Green parties and activist groups have raised questions about biodiversity, sustainable growth, nuclear safety, ozone depletion, and global warming. They have also rethought crucial concepts such as the relationship between humans and their living environment. All of these themes and more are explained in this dictionary. Additionally, the evolution and popular strategy of prominent historical and contemporary environmental groups such as the Commons, Open Spaces, the Footpaths Preservation Society, and the Sierra Club are detailed in depth. Also featured is the written work of important "green" authors such as Paul Ehrlich, Garett Hardin, E.F. Schumacher, and Rachel Carson. This book is a helpful introduction to the complex issues that the Green Movement has raised with many years of activism. ... Read more

Product Description
Clearing up many of the misconceptions held about Mormonism and its members, the third edition of the Historical Dictionary of Mormonism expands on the second edition and includes hundreds of cross-referenced dictionary entries on crucial persons, organizations, churches, beliefs, and events. ... Read more

Product Description
"I am Nature, the universal Mother, mistress of all the elements, sovereign of all things spiritual....I am worshipped in many aspects, known by countless names, and propitiated with all manner of different rites, yet the whole round earth venerates me."With these words, Isis--the mother goddess of Egypt--reveals herself to her devotee, Lucius Apuleius, in his novel The Golden Ass. Just as this great goddess claimed to be universal, mythology itself exists in all cultures around the globe and extends back to the beginnings of human civilization. Plato first coined the term mythologia to mean merely the telling of stories which contain legendary figures.Since his time, and especially now with the resurgent interest in myths, mythology has come to hold greater significance and power as a crucial element of civilization as a whole.

Written by a leading scholar of ancient civilizations, A Dictionary of World Mythology presents the powerful gods of Greece, Rome, and Scandinavia, the more mystical deities of Buddhist and Hindu India, and the stern spirits of the African and American continents together in one fascinating volume.Drawing upon hundreds of myths from around the globe, Arthur Cotterell not only reveals the vast differences in these civilizations, but also demonstrates the unity of mankind in its fundamental need for explanations of the unknown.

Cotterell divides the chief myths of the world into seven main sections--West Asia, South and Central Asia, East Asia, Europe, America, Africa, and Oceania.Traveling through this vast array of legendary riches, we encounter Gilgamesh, the tyrannical, semi-divine king of Babylonia, who, according to the Gilgamesh Epic, rejected Ishtar and thus caused the ravaging of the earth by Anu, the bull of heaven, and the death of his lifelong friend Enkidu.We learn that Dharma--the term meaning the doctrine of duties and rights of each caste in the Hindu religion's ideal society--was an ancient Hindu sage who married thirteen of Daksha's daughters, and that, according to the Mahabharata, Daksha sprang from the right thumb of Brahma.From East Asian mythology, we discover Tsao Chun, the gentle Chinese kitchen god whose temple exists in a small niche near the cooking stove. Along with the well-known Greek and Roman deities, Europe has also brought us Dagda, the ancient Irish deity of life and death, who could, with one end of his staff, kill nine men and could, with the other end, restore them to life; and Balder, "the bleeding god" of Germanic mythology, renowned for his good looks and wisdom.According to Native American tribes living along the Xingu River in Brazil, a legendary nation called Minata-Karaia once existed with men who had holes in the top of their heads which produced high, loud whistles, and bunches of coconuts growing from their armpits.From Africa, Ogun, the Yoruban war god, descended by a spider's thread upon the marshy waste that existed prior to the formation of the earth. We also meet Papa, the ancestress of Hawaiian people, who functioned as Earth goddess and queen of the underworld, as well as mother of the gods.

Each section contains an introduction highlighting the history, lifestyle, and ideology of the particular ancient civilizations, as well as the landscape in which they lived and the reasons why different mythologies arose in different lands. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Decent reference but...
This book is your typical reference book. It tells you the name of the God or Goddess and gives you a very brief explanation and moves on. Plus, some of the entries were incorrect. In the East Asian section there's a story called 'Fujiyama' that covers the rise of Mount Fuji but it mixes two different Japanese myths that can be found in 'Myths and Legends of Japan'. I was very disapointed. You'd think it would be more in depth and correct with Oxford backing it. Oh well. I would skip this one and go for books that deal with a single country or region because they cover more and are more concise. When you try to put all the mythology of the world into one small book its like trying to squish an elephant into a clown car. It just won't work out. But you don't have to take my word for it. Get it and judge for yourself. Its not healthy to be a mindless sheep and do what a perfect stranger tells you to.

recommendable book
This is a useful and readable dictionary especially for young students. It surveys myths of the whole world , of course not completely but most of important deities are included except Allah, Iesus Khristos and YHWH. However many Japanese people are not probably contented with the scantinessof Japanese entries ,and some of these articlesare doubtful or uncertainabout theirsources--- e.g. In the item of FUJIYAMAthere is a famousstory of KAGUYAHIME maybe based on a classical Japanese literature"Taketori-monogatari", but the story narrated here is verydifferent from the original texts , so I wonder on which version the authortook the authority and from what folktale Mr.Cotterell citedthis story ,I would like to know. I hope that the editor of dictionary should indicatetitles & chapter of sources or reference texts at the end of each item. ... Read more

Product Description
Beginning to study theology is like stepping into a conversation that has been going on for two thousand years.How do you take part in this conversation--or even make sense of it--if you don't understand the vocabulary or know the contributions made by other participants?The Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms is the perfect companion to your theological studies. Among its three hundred-plus definitions are

• English terms, from accomodation to wrath of God
• foreign terms, from a posteriori to via media
• theological movements and traditions, from the Alexandrian School to Wesleyanism
• theologians, from Anselm of Canterbury to Ulrich Zwingli

Customer Reviews (9)

Theological Terms in Your Pocket
Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms is a thin, portable 7" x 4.3" dictionary that any student or layman of theology would be very lucky and blessed to have. It makes theological terms, from English to foreign, readily accessible and understandable. It also includes brief yet concise definitions of common theological denominations, movements, schools of thought, and theologians known to both scholars, Christian students, and the ordinary church goer. It is indispensable if you are a pastor, ministry leader, Bible study student, or even a theology course major because you can bring it anywhere, although I won't recommend it as a primary or comprehensive resource for any theological papers or major theological homework you might have. Otherwise, you can't go wrong with this portable reference!

OK
Handy at times but very limited in content.Good for layministers but likely too abbreviated for ministers and theologians.

It lives up to its title
This book lives up to its title; (hints pocket dictionary) was not intended to be a textbook of biblical theology.This small book provides its readers with short answers to common theological terms.I would have to agree with one of the other reviewers, not all the words I looked-up were in this little book.However, that is clearly not the books intent.

This may make a good tool if you are teaching someone and do not want to lug around a 5 pound dictionary.If you are looking for the 5 ponder, it's titled, "Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology" and is a standard seminary text.I have to give this book five stars, because of the content and living up to its name.

Excellent, concise, yet complete.
Excellent, concise, yet complete. A required text for my Chrisitan Theology 1 course, but one I will keep and use often!

A Small Gem
The Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms is a small, slim (122 pages) book which typically devotes five or six lines each to theological terms, major theologians, and theological movements and traditions.

It need hardly be said that a book which tries to squeeze a world of theology into a mere 122 pages will have its limitations. Nonetheless, it is surprisingly comprehensive, and refreshingly clear and concise. So, for example, it covers the Council of Nicea, the theology of Karl Barth, the meaning of fundamentalism, and more than 300 topics besides.

The authors state that their purpose is simply to "provide you with a foundational, working knowledge of the concepts". In this they certainly succeed - and with language that should be within the scope of most beginners. While most of their definitions would find general acceptance, they state that they give preference to a "broadly evangelical, Protestant perspective".

The one obvious shortcoming of the book is that it would sometimes seem to be capricious in its selection of terms. For example, salvation is defined, yet mission is not. The imago Dei is defined, yet the imitatio Christi is not. Adolf von Harnack receives an entry, yet Jürgen Moltmann does not. And finally - wait for it - Protestantism is defined, yet Roman Catholicism is not!

Having said this, many of the omissions (e.g. Roman Catholicism) would come into focus with a complete reading of the book, and this does not seriously detract from the usefulness of the book as a whole.

A full theological dictionary can "cost a ton", besides being difficult for beginners to cope with. This small book provides a cheap and handy alternative, and has the endorsement of leading evangelical seminaries. For what it is worth, it is a good reference work well written. ... Read more

Product Description
A single-volume Bible desk reference, based on the King James edition, features an alphabetical listing of important words with cross-referencing, illustrations, definitions of 3,500 biblical names, and more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

imagine that
The title cover read good but it wasnt what i wanted.I wanted a strong concordancenot just of names but of the entire bible.I might be useful in the future but if I knew how to send it back I would or at least trade it for a strong concordance.

Packed with Loads of Useful Information
As mentioned in other reviews, this work absolutely meets the definition of a 'tome' - and a very worthwhile one for your bookshelf. It's packed with loads of useful information: over 1000 pages of biblical facts, figures, summaries, explanations, and definitions. One great feature for Catholics - actually for all Christians - is that the entire canon (i.e. Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Baruch, and 1 and 2 Maccabees) is included.

Turn to any page, and it's a virtual guarantee you'll learn something useful you didn't know five minutes before you began. It is true that the maps included are not great, but you can buy an inexpensive map book for that specific purpose. Also, there is a lack of citations for non-biblical sources, but all bible references are documented through the concordance in the page margins.

The cost of a good, clean, used copy is so low that there really is no excuse for not having one of these. You'll be glad when you need to pull up a quick reference, or just want to browse some topics. Granted, in the Internet Age, you can look up many of these items online but one thing you lose with that method is the 'surprise discovery' you encounter when crack open a book and go through process of looking something up. Unrelated items you never would have thought to research jump off the page, and that's something that's difficult to replicate with web searches.Plus, I'm one who likes to 'cozy in' and flip pages - I find that very rewarding, and this is a wonderful book to do that with.

Physically, this volume is solid and well-constructed; the font is good reading size, and the layout is straight-forward and accessible.

Highly recommended.

Excellent resource
I received it as a gift when I started preaching and find myself bypassing seminary books and using this one for historical facts for sermon preparation.It is written in plain English with maps and photographs that help you get into the time and place of the topic.

Huge, heavy, illustrated, and comprehensive
This is one BIG book.More than 1000 large pages, most of them with a photo or two.And it is comprehensive, with some 3500 entries, covering pretty much everything you would ever want to know about the Bible, from locations to individuals to customs to coins and archaeological excavations, etc.Easily enough info to keep a person busy for days if not weeks. As an added bonus, it is remarkably inexpensive for such a large, illustrated tome.My only complaint is the quality of maps (there are few, but they are not the best quality, and the satellite photos at the end are just plain annoying), the fact that the individual entries do not have the contributer's name attached (there are more than 70 of them - Jewish & Catholic professors, for the most part), and finally, the complete lack of footnotes, bibliography, or index.In spite of thesereservations, I highly, highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Bible.

I have the 1986 version, but the new 2006 edition is, as far as I can tell, almost exactly identical, with the addition of some colorful- OK, loud - satellite photos of Israel.

Illustrated Dictionary and Concordance
Wow.If you're looking to understand names and places and theme of the Bible, this book covers it all.I couldn't really find anything that's in the Bible that's not in this book.It can help a serious scholar or the casual interest (like me).If there is more than one entry for a topic, this book covers them all.It is richly illustrated and well written.The only problemn is it weighs so much it's difficult to carry.You'll need to put it on a table because if you bring it to bed to read, you'll knock the wind out of yourself.

Obviously it's meant as a coffee table book, but church libraries in particular should consider adding this volume to their collections.It's not cheap, but it's worth every penny. ... Read more

Product Description
This Dictionary contains more than 600 dictionary entries on utopian thought and experimentation that span the centuries from ancient times to the present. The text not only covers utopian communities worldwide, but also its ideas from the well known such as those expounded in Thomas More's Utopia, and the ideas of philosophers and reformers from ancient times, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and from notable 20th-century figures. Included are the descriptions of utopian experiments attempted in the United Sates such as those of the Shakers, Oneida, Robert Owen, and the Fourierists, and elsewhere throughout the world from Europe to Australia, Latin America, and the Far East. Major utopian literary works and their literary counterparts and dystopian novels are also profiled because these have fueled the fires of time-honored arguments about the feasibility of creating a perfect society. From the early theoreticians and thinkers who proposed republican, democratic, and authoritarian innovations; to those who sought equality of classes, races, and genders; to those who insisted on hierarchy under a supreme leader, or god; and to those who had more practical economic, social, and ethical plans, this reference enables the reader to explore the Western mind's desire to improve the world and the lives of the people within it as utopianism has persisted over the centuries.Includes: _ ... Read more

Product Description
Few religious traditions have generated such diversity and stirred imaginations as shamanism. In their engagements with other worlds, shamans have conversed with animals and ancestors and have been empowered with the knowledge to heal patients, advise hunters, and curse enemies. Still other shamans, aided by rhythmic music or powerful plant helpers, undertake journeys into different realities where their actions negotiate harmony between human and other than human communities. Once relegated to paintings on cave walls, today Shamanism can be seen in performances at rave clubs and psychotherapeutic clinics.The A to Z of Shamanism has the duel task of exploring the common ground of shamanic traditions and evaluating the diversity of both traditional indigenous communities and individual Western seekers. This is done in an introduction, a bibliography, a chronology, and hundreds of cross-referenced dictionary entries, which explore the consistent features of a variety of shamans, the purposes shamanism serves, the function and activities of the shaman, and the cultural contexts in which they make sense. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a facsimile of the 1817 fourth edition of Hannah Adams's pioneering harbinger of the scholarly study of religion. The book surveys the diversity of religion, mostly of historical and contemporary Christian sects and movements but with significant inclusions of Jewish, Muslim, and "heathen" religious groups. Adams's particular contribution was the self-conscious effort to treat all religious groups on the same level and to avoid explicit or implicit judgments. She preferred to use self-descriptions where she had them.It is this non-normative approach that gives the book its historical value. Thomas Tweed's introduction discusses Adams's life and sets her and her book usefully in their context. He includes a helpful guide to the key entries. ... Read more

Product Description
Historical Dictionary of Schopenhauer's Philosophy presents a narrative that weaves the significant events of Arthur Schopenhauer's life within the greater fabric of his existence. The chronology lists these events, the introductory essay provides an overview of his philosophical thought and his belief that philosophy was the purpose of his life, and the more than 200 dictionary entries review the key ideas, concepts, doctrines, and philosophical figures related to his thought. A comprehensive bibliography provides a list of the most frequently cited German collections of Schopenhauer's work, noteworthy German primary source materials, English translations of Schopenhauer's books, and English-language collections of essays drawn from Schopenhauer's Oeuvre. This engaging work opens the door to a better understanding of Schopenhauer's philosophy for readers of all levels. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great Book!!!
Schopenhauer is known for his simplicity as a philosopher, but anyone who has ever picked up a copy of The World as Will and Idea or The Four Fold Root of the Principle of Sufficient Reason might not find that so. I have even found other books about Schopenhauer's philosophy not so lucid either. This book however breaks down all of Schopenhauer's ideas and concepts in very simple and easy definitions giving you a greater understanding of his works. ... Read more

Product Description
This dictionary is a thoroughly revised and expanded edition of the book published in 1984 as the Penguin Dictionary of Religions. It has undergone substantial change and considerable expansion, doubling the number of contributors from all parts of the world. ... Read more

Product Description
Islam is truly a global faith, with millions of followers all over the world. However, to many it remains an enigma. The Penguin Dictionary of Islam provides a comprehensive overview of Muslim beliefs, cultures, key figures, and history. It defines, clearly and impartially, terms that saturate today’s media—Sunni, Shi’ite, Hijab, Jihad, Fatwa, Quran. Including an invaluable chronology and insightful coverage of current events, this is the essential reference guide for students and general readers who wish to understand more about this diverse and vibrant religion. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A reference no school or public library should be without
Islam is a global faith with millions of followers world-wide, so this survey of Muslim history, beliefs and cultures is essential to understanding many Islamic terms that permeate today's culture. From key terms relating to Islam to highlights of people, events and religion, DICTIONARY OF ISLAM is a reference no school or public library should be without.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
... Read more

Product Description
New religious movements -- commonly known as "cults"--have generally received bad media publicity, with sensationalism being preferred to serious objective study. The Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements sets out to be an objective reference work, encompassing a wide variety of religions which have emerged throughout the world during the last 150 years. An opening section traces the rise of new religious movements throughout history, with special emphasis on the past century. Particular discussion is given to contemporary movements which have arisen since the Second World War, and the differences from previous generations of New Religious Movements which make them significantly more controversial. The Dictionary contains approximately 600 entries, and covers all the best known controversial new religious groups, such as the Unification Church, The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (the "Hare Krishna" movement) and a wide variety of smaller organizations. Movements are included which have arisen from all the major world traditions (Judaism. Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam), as well as groups which perceive themselves as independent of any mainstream religion. Also covered are prominent figures and ideas which have led or influenced the formation of such groups, and there is coverage of a range of ideas and practices associated with the "New Age." The new religious critics also receive coverage, together with their methods of combating their perceived threat to society and mainstream religion. Each entry provides a detailed outline of the origins, beliefs and practices of the new religion, with extensive cross-referencing and bibliography. ... Read more

Product Description
Ancient Mesopotamia was a rich, varied and highly complex culture whose achievements included the invention of writing and the development of sophisticated urban society. This book offers an introductory guide to the beliefs and customs of the ancient Mesopotamians, as revealed in their art and their writings between about 3000 B.C. and the advent of the Christian era. Gods, goddesses, demons, monsters, magic, myths, religious symbolism, ritual, and the spiritual world are all discussed in alphabetical entries ranging from short accounts to extended essays. Names are given in both their Sumerian and Akkadian forms, and all entries are fully cross-referenced. A useful introduction provides historical and geographical background and describes the sources of our knowledge about the religion, mythology and magic of "the cradle of civilisation". ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Review of Black and Green's Dictionary
This is a wonderful resource for understanding the everyday cultural aspects of ancient Mesopotamian society. I'm not sure how often certain entries would be looked up for a dictionary, but it certainly works as a plainly readable text.

Great book and resource
This is a great book with excellent art work throughout.It is a wonderful resource for writters looking to add exotic info on strange old gods and demons to their work.You can learn a lot about this old culture and their ways of worship from this titles, highly recommended.

Dictionary ? (For Serious Explorers Only)
This volume is classified as a dictionary, I think only because it's topics are alphabetically arranged. Of much greater value to me would be an index which grouped the entries according to the chronology of the artifacts discussed. And for cross reference purposes, a table which illustrated the geographical locations of the cultures who seeded the artifacts would reveal a larger picture of how certain practices are relevant to which social groups. (Which would alleviate the need of having to read through the sociological and psychological guesswork of an individual history book produced for each one of those cultural groups. The title says Mesopotamian, but when I open it up I find entries all over the book for:

Sumerian;

Pre-Babylonian Chaldean;

But mostly Assyrian.

Artist illustrations from Tessa Rickards are outstanding. Some of the black and white photos are replications of color plates in books I've either borrowed from the library, or have in my stacks.

Which brings me to that magenta-toned cover illustration. (what were you thinking ?)

According to an inside cover caption, it's supposed to be `green' jasper. Hmm. OK, guys we have green jasper in the Mojave desert, and it's not magenta ! (maybe the original was a black & white which accidentally got color toned at the publishers ?) Please see my attached `green' jasper color-corrected photo.

Topical articles are very well written and some subjects are cross referenced. However, as a dictionary, this volume would make a better companion glossary to a much larger work.

For whom would this tool be the most useful ?

If I were an archaeologist with independent means to travel around the globe visiting sites and studying cultural objects, this might be an outstanding field guide for my purposes. (regrettably I'm not) To a student engaged in `Cradle of Civilization' graduate study, this work can provide a very condensed time line to the religious practices associated with several mythologies. (provided that person already knows a lot of the names of the nouns referenced in this work)

Because I'm somewhat of a novice at sorting them out, my average hits to misses ratio has netted me about 2 successful finds per 5 lookups. So my focus seems to have been more or less pre-Hellenic, Canaanite, Persian, and Egyptian, none of which I'll be persuaded to recognize as `Oriental', despite all the theological dogma in tow. You see, the Chinese have plenty of wondrous gods and sophisticated culture of their own, without having anything to do with the Babylonian or Persian empires. It's refreshing to review a text by authors who don't start by presenting the arrogant presupposition that the people they're studying were somehow incapable of independent thought.

Treasure Of Ancient Knowledge
"Gods, Demons and Symbols of Ancient Mesopotamia" (An Illustrated Dictionary) is the best resource on the Gods of the different cultures from that region that exists.Though they call it a dictionary, Jeremy Black and Anthony Green (editors) have put together an encyclopedia of knowledge on the subject.They cover Sumerian, Akkadian, Assyrian, Babylonian, and Hurrian mythologies, and touch on several more as well.This review is based off of the fifth edition of the book, which was published in 2003 by the University of Texas Press.

There is a lot of material here, and it would be easy to give this book five stars based on what it does provide.However, as I use this resource I often think about what more they could have done to make it more useful. One big thing would have been more visual resources.I would have liked to see a map section where it shows the various eras and empires and the extent of their control.There is one map near the front of the book, but it provides only a limited view.

A big area of improvement would have been to provide sections instead of including all the material together from A to Z.For example the maps mentioned above could have gone into a geography section which could have also shown the evolution of the city names as they spanned eras, including the modern names for those which still exist.Another section could have covered the kings, queens, and heroes for each of the empires.The section on deities could have covered the evolution of deities as they were adopted by the later empires, as well as the new deities which arose during the passage of time.You will find that some of this material is scattered throughout the resource, but it is not complete, and it is difficult to find unless you already know where to look.

Despite all the things I would have liked to have, I still think this is a very good reference, and one which anyone who studies the ancient history of that region will want to have in their library.It is easy to come up with ideas of ways to improve things, but the work that was done in putting together this reference was exceptional, and as with most things which whet one's appetite, it leaves the reader wanting more.

Hidden Truth
This illustrated dictionary is excellant, and informative.The authors have a knack for noting out of the ordinary tidbits, which enhance their profiles.Unfortunately, they do not recognize that Mythology is 95%
Propaganda.Thus, Ea, called "favorable to man", is in fact the Ultimate
Architect of Evil, who along with his "two-faced" minister Usmu, and the
scribe Nabu, propagated a Revisionist Mythology, that has subjugated and
subverted the 5% Truth, ever since.
... Read more

Product Description
This dictionary is designed to assist pastors and laypeople who use commentaries and other popular works on theology in understanding the technical and semi-technical theological terms that tend to creep into these books. The 1,800 definitions are far more helpful and easy to locate than what might be found in a general Webster’s type dictionary. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Don't waste yourmoney...
The title is misleading...Its about 5% dictionary of the Bible and more like 95% Theology dictionary and a poor one at that...

A highly practical reference resource
Collaboratively compiled and organized by Matthew S. DeMoss (Dallas Theological Seminary) and J. Edward Miller (Teaching Pastor, Trinity Bible Church, Richardson, Texas), Zondervan Dictionary of Bible and Theology Words accurately, concisely, and accessibly defines over 1,700 Biblical and theology in easy-to-grasp language. From "abba" (Aramic for "father," a word Jesus uses to address God) to "zugoth" (the name given to pairs of rabbis who were thought to have transmitted the Torah from the time of the Maccabean Revolt to the first century C.E.), Zondervan Dictionary of Bible and Theology Words is a highly practical reference resource which is highly recommended for Biblical students and scholars, as well as the non-specialist general reader. ... Read more

Product Description
A 2003 Finalist in the Word Guild Canadian Writing Awards!Studying new religious movements can be like trying to learn several languages at once, each with its own vocabulary, grammar and syntax. The flourishing variety of these movements today makes the task even more difficult. Irving Hexham has designed Pocket Dictionary of New Religious Movements to be an indispensable companion for students of religion and a fascinating guide for curious and perplexed observers of the religious scene. Here are nearly 450 entries covering

• specific groups, from the Aetherius Society to the Zion Christian Church
• practices, from the Alexander technique to Yoga
• UFO religion, from alien abductions to Unarius Academy of Science
• symbols, from the ankh to yin-yang
• religious texts, from the apocryphal New Testament to the Vinaya-Pitaka
• religious leaders, from George Adamski to Rabbi Zalman

Customer Reviews (3)

Nothing really "new" here!
Irving Hexham, a professor of religion at the University of Calgary, provides brief definitions or descriptions of over four hundred "groups, individuals and ideas" associated in some way with what are now being called "new religious movements."

Hexham has provided a useful little reference tool that covers a host of exotic topics and individuals. One finds several entries on items of interest to Latter-day Saints, including "Joseph Smith," "Mormons," "cult," "cult apologist," "countercult," "Christian Research Institute," and "Martin, Walter (1928--1989)."

Hexham does not entirely shy away from difficult issues.

For example, he indicates that "Dr." Martin "shaped popular Christian attitudes to contemporary religions" but that he "had a penchant for ad hominem arguments."

The information in the Pocket Dictionary seems to be both nonpolemical and generally accurate. Hexham maintains an interesting Web page, found at www.ucalgary.ca/~hexham/ as recently as 17 March 2003.

In addition to his interest in the contemporary array of different and competing religious movements, he manifests his own piety in a series of Christian travel guides, published by Zondervan, to such places as Great Britain, Italy, Germany, and France.

Pocket Dictionary of New Religious Movements
Far from a bias towards New Religions, this is brillinaly presented. It is the best guide book I have ever known regarding new religious movements.

Good overall..
This is a good summary of most of the alternative religions out there. Can also be read page by page like a regular book. ... Read more

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The ancient Celts were the greatest and most powerful ofthe early European peoples residing north of the Alps. Warlike,exuberant, and superstitious, they saw divinities in every facet oflife and nature, venerating deities of the sun, thunder, water, war,healing, hunting, fertility, and death. They practiced human andanimal sacrifice, and a powerful priesthood--the Druids--presided overmuch of their religious life. The Dictionary of Celtic Myth andLegend covers every aspect of Celtic myth, religion, and folklorein Britain and Europe between 500 BC and AD 400. In parallel with thefruits of archaeological research, the testimony of Classical writersand the earliest recorded versions of the pagan oral traditions ofWales and Ireland provide us with a complete overview of Celticlore. This guide presents that knowledge in over 400 copiouslyillustrated articles, together with a comprehensive historicalintroduction. ... Read more

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This dictionary provides unique and valuable access to the burgeoning world of religions, spiritualities and religious movements. It offers an overview of Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Christian-ity, as well as many others. ... Read more