Heirs to forgotten kingdoms : journeys into the disappearing religions of the Middle East / Gerard Russell ; foreword by Rory Stewart.

By: Material type: TextTextLanguage: English Publication details: New York Basic Books 2014Description: xxix, 320 pages : illustrations, map ; 23 cm jacketISBN:
  • 9780465030569
Subject(s): DDC classification:
  • 200.956 23 R913h
LOC classification:
  • BL1060 .R87 2014
Contents:
Introduction -- Mandaeans -- Yazidis -- Zoroastrians -- Druze -- Samaritans -- Copts -- Kalasha -- Epilogue: Detroit.
Summary: Despite its reputation for religious intolerance, the Middle East has long sheltered many distinctive and strange faiths: one regards the Greek prophets as incarnations of God, another reveres Lucifer in the form of a peacock, and yet another believes that their followers are reincarnated beings who have existed in various forms for thousands of years. These religions represent the last vestiges of the magnificent civilizations in ancient history: Persia, Babylon, Egypt in the time of the Pharaohs. Their followers have learned how to survive foreign attacks and the perils of assimilation. But today, with the Middle East in turmoil, they face greater challenges than ever before.
Holdings
Item type Current library Call number Status Date due Barcode
Books Books Tantur Ecumenical Institute Library Main Collection (Lower Floor) 200.956 R913h (Browse shelf(Opens below)) Available

Includes bibliographic references (pages 281-300) and index.

Introduction -- Mandaeans -- Yazidis -- Zoroastrians -- Druze -- Samaritans -- Copts -- Kalasha -- Epilogue: Detroit.

Despite its reputation for religious intolerance, the Middle East has long sheltered many distinctive and strange faiths: one regards the Greek prophets as incarnations of God, another reveres Lucifer in the form of a peacock, and yet another believes that their followers are reincarnated beings who have existed in various forms for thousands of years. These religions represent the last vestiges of the magnificent civilizations in ancient history: Persia, Babylon, Egypt in the time of the Pharaohs. Their followers have learned how to survive foreign attacks and the perils of assimilation. But today, with the Middle East in turmoil, they face greater challenges than ever before.

There are no comments on this title.

to post a comment.