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Informationen zum Autor Charles Panati , a former physicist and for six years a science editor for Newsweek , has made a career out of exploring the origins of things. He is the author of thirteen fiction and nonfiction books, including the bestselling Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things . He lives in Long Island, New York. Klappentext 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 revelations 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. Zusammenfassung 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 revelations 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. Inhaltsverzeichnis Sacred Origins of Profound ThingsWhy We Believe What We Believe: Introduction Part 1. Popular 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 Hosts 4. Angels: Messengers to Guardians 5. Archangels and Demons: Michael to Metatron Part III. 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 Bones 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 Personae 17. God: Appearance to Existence 18. Christ: Son to Trinity 19. Allah: Abraham to Koran Part VIII. I Do 20. Marriage: Mazal Tov to Diamond Ring 21. Divorce: Get to Jackie Kennedy Onassis 22. Annulment: Impotency to Senator Edwar...
