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This book reexamines the meaning and significance of the first World's Parliament of Religions and its impact on the development of the academic study of religion. Held in Chicago in 1893, the Parliament attracted the participation of religious leaders from different faiths and a smaller number of academics who studied religion from what they called "scientific" perspectives. Following an introduction by the editor, the essays are organized into three sections. Part I reissues six papers on comparative religion from the Parliament's original proceedings. Part II contains two articles, both written within a year of the Parliament, that express an early appraisal of the significance of the Parliament for world religious history and the comparative study of religion. A third and final Part contains eight contemporary essays reassessing the Parliament itself and its impact on interfaith dialogue and comparative religion. ... Read more

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Since their discovery, the Dead Sea Scrolls have been not only invaluable objects of study for scholars but also sought-after public attractions, drawing multitudes of people interested in viewing these fascinating ancient documents. This exhibition catalog features photos and descriptions of the twelve Scroll fragments and over 80 artifacts from the collections of the Israel Antiquities Authority on display at the Public Museum of Grand Rapids in spring 2003.

Allowing everyone to experience this stunning exhibit firsthand, this catalog contains a mix of striking visual images, basic information on the Scrolls, and outstanding original essays by leading Dead Sea Scrolls scholars. Bastiaan Van Elderen introduces the history of the Scrolls. Pnina Shor and Lena Libman describe the conservation of the Scrolls. James VanderKam discusses the importance of calendars in the life of the Qumran community. And, significantly, Emanuel Tov documents for the first time in his own words the history of the publication of the Scrolls, including the controversy surrounding their release, the reasons behind delays in their publication, and other provocative stories.

Exquisitely produced and packed with information, "The Dead Sea Scrolls" will be useful to professionals and general readers for years to come. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Brilliant!
There are a host of volumes available now on recreations and translations of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and even more available on the possible (and often bizarre) interpretations of the scrolls, particularly of the non-biblical pieces.The Dead Sea Scrolls have been an object of fascination, debate, and sometimes suspicion since the first ones surfaced a generation ago in the deserts around the Dead Sea in the late 1940s.This particular book on the Dead Sea Scrolls is not just another translation, nor is it another collection of essays, though it has both elements -- it is, in fact, a catalog of a major exhibition of the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Public Museum of Grand Rapids, Michigan.The editor, Ellen Middlebrook Herron, is to be commended for putting together such an interesting volume that both complements the exhibition yet serves as a compelling text in its own right.

The layout and design is a very eye-catching arrangement -- the book is filled will full-colour, glossy photographs from start to finish.This is no mere catalog with 'mug shots' of objects on display.The photography is interesting to the eye; mixed through the book are photographs of the desert areas around the Dead Sea, the Qumran settlement site, the Dead Sea itself (one particular shot of underwater in the Dead Sea, followed by the Dead Sea at dusk, is stunning), and historical photographs of early scroll scholars at work, so the reader will get a sense not only of the history in the scrolls, but the history of the scrolls.

This front section is interspersed with some essays by people whose names would be immediately recognised by anyone who follows the tales of the scrolls -- Emmanuel Tov and James Vanderkam are two names that stand out, but the others (such as Ruth Peled and Ayala Sussman, who worked on another exhibition guide) will also be familiar.

The heart of the book is, of course, the catalogue to the exhibition, arranged in a very practical and informative way.There are two primary sections:From the Qumran Caves, a study of scrolls and scroll fragments; and From the Qumran Ruin, a study of the artifacts from the Qumran settlement site.

The scrolls are all presented with explanation of what is being shown (calendar, phylactery, biblical text, etc.), dating, Hebrew letters printed out with most probable choices filling in the gaps in the scrolls, and an English translation.The page layout is such that the scroll photographs are set against the pure white page, without artificial 'background', which makes their appearance all the most stunning and realistic.The artifacts are sometimes presented against a black page, and sometimes against a white page background (whichever provides the best viewing in contrast, I would imagine).These catalog entries include most likely dates and descriptions.These include everything from pottery and inkwells to dried dates and coins.

Concluding the catalog is a section on resources.A very helpful glossary of terms, bibliographic information presented topically for further study, and acknowledgements (particularly for the photographs, this is nice to have, to know from whom other such wonderful photographs may be found) complete the text.Often I would take points off for lack of an index, but the quality of this text is such I cannot bring myself to do it.

This is an Eerdmans publication produced in cooperation with the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Public Museum of Grand Rapids.They should all be very proud of this fine book.Herron says in her introductory essay that the scrolls' true legacy may be that they bring people of different faiths and nationalities together to a common past. This book is certainly one of collaboration between many people; rare is a book produced by 'committee' a good thing -- this is a rare exception. ... Read more

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The collections of The British Museum span all cultures and all ages, ranging from ancient Egyptian mummies to masterpieces of Greek and Roman art; from Celtic gold to Japanese paintings and traditional textiles from Africa. Today the Museum is bringing its collections up to date, and this highly illustrated book also features many recent acquisitions from all over the world. In his introduction the present Director, Robert Anderson, outlines the historical background to the Museum's recent redevelopment programme and offers an insight into the diverse range of activities engaged by this great storehouse of the world's culture. A final chapter outlines the work of conservation and scientific research. ... Read more

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The British Museum has one of the world's outstanding collections of objects related to many of the religions and faiths of the world since earliest times. This practical guidebook offers a choice of self-guided tours for visitors of varied interests in their own or other faiths, allowing each person or group to find what they are looking for or to discover what they may not have realized was on display. The author offers seven specific tours covering major religions, such as Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism, as well as the religions of ancient Egypt, the Near East, the classical world, Asia, Africa, Oceania and the Americas. Each tour can be used independently or interweaved with others - making it the perfect choice for the first-time or repeat visitor, for families or groups, and an ideal souvenir or guide for planning a visit in advance. ... Read more

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For some time now, museums have been recognized as important institutions of western cultural and social life. The idea of the museum as a ritual site is fairly new and has been applied to the art museums in Europe and the United States so far. This volume expands it by exploring a range of contemporary museums in Europe and Africa. The case studies examine the different ways in which various actors involved in cultural production dramatize and ritualize such sites. It turns out that not only museum specialists, but visitors themselves are engaged in complex performances and experiences that make use of museums in often unexpected ways. ... Read more

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Informative
Charming. Informative. And beautifully laid-out, this is a must for lovers of Judaica, and art in general. Highly recommended. ... Read more

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Marriage is one of the most important mitzvot (commandments) in Judaism, and the Scriptures are replete with verses encouraging the union of man and woman. One of the essential elements of a Jewish wedding ceremony is the writing and transfer of a contract, or ketubbah (plural ketubbot).

Originally formulated to protect a woman's rights in marriage, the ketubbah established the financial obligations of the groom toward his bride in cases of divorce or death.

This hardcover book presents forty ketubbot dating from 1614 to 1989. Originating in Italy, Persia, the Ottoman Empire, the Sephardi communities of Germany and Holland, and the United States, and drawing upon the collection of The Jewish Museum in New York City, these intricately illuminated marriage contracts are unique historical documents as well as beautiful works of art. ... Read more

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Though museums and art galleries are often compared in role and function to shrines or temples, religion itself is often largely ignored. However, contemporary appreciation of non-Western religions may change this as the cultural heritage of hitherto marginalized peoples is given more serious attention. The contributors to this volume explore how museums handle and present religious material. The first three chapters look, from different perspectives, at the principal themes and techniques involved; these are followed by a series of chapters looking at the treatment of religions from Methodism to Voudou in museums from Belfast to Taiwan. ... Read more

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The Jewish Calendar 2004 - now in its 19th year of publication - displays selected pieces from the Skirball Cultural Center and Museum, including paintings, photography, sculpture, textiles, and folk art. Spanning 16 months, from September 2003 to December 2004, the calendar includes national and Jewish holidays (the latter through 2009), as well as Sabbath candle-lighting times, weekly Torah portions, four wallet-size pocket calendars, and background information about Sabbath and holiday candle blessings. ... Read more

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A gorgeous coffee table book perfect for anyone, Journey Through the Creation Museum is filled with professionally photographed images, taking you behind the scenes on a private tour of this popular venue. Stepping beyond the science and history, the Museum shows the relevance of a biblical world view to our society - from the tragedies of racism to the eroding influence of the church. Experience one of the most powerful apologetics tools in the United States Today! ... Read more

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J. Paul Getty bought his first classical antiquity-a small terracotta sculpture-at auction in London in 1939. Over the next four decades, he became a passionate collector, and in the 1950s he created a trust for "the diffusion of artistic and general knowledge." Building on that early foundation, successive antiquities curators at the Getty Museum have amassed a collection that now contains more than fifty thousand ancient objects. In lively prose accompanied by a full-color photograph of each object, this handbook of the antiquities collection presents nearly two hundred of the Getty Museum's most important pieces. Spanning thousands of years as far back as the third millennium B.C. through the third century A.D.--the Getty antiquities collection encompasses Cycladic, Greek, Etruscan, South Italian, Roman, and Romano-Egyptian cultures. It includes one of the finest assemblages of ancient Greek vases in the United States; monumental marble sculptures and diminutive bronzes; Greek and Roman gems; and Hellenistic silverware, jewelry, and glass. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A great book but...
First of all the physical description of the book.It's slightly too large for a pocket type guide.The pages are glossy with excellent photos.

Considering the collection that this work covers however it is way too thin.The selected approximately 200 "important" pieces.I'm not sure how they determined the importance of these pieces as there was no discernable pattern. It was broken up into the age the pieces were from (with a fair smattering from each period) but that appears to be the only categorization.For each piece there is a brief description ranging from a line next to the picture to a page long.

Sadly this gives no indication of Mr. Getty's personal tastes and which items he preferred.Otherwise a great book. ... Read more

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Previously unseen treasures from the Salakhana trove, Asyut ... Read more

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The Lansdowne Herakles, a marble statue that was a personal favourite of J. Paul Getty, is just one of the examples of the objects showcased in this book. Greek and Etruscan terracotta vases, bronze and marble sculpture, and delicate late Classical and Ptolemaic gold jewelry are a testimony to the extraordinary skill and artistic achievments of sculptors, potters, painters, metalsmiths, and other artisans of the ancient Mediterranean world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great photos
I like looking at the photos of the 1900's, they are so unique.It is amazing at what they could do with such limitations.It's very creative stuff.Of course all the photos are really great, even the 20th century works. ... Read more