Strange Sects and Curious Cults, first published in 1961, is a well-written overview of a number of important religious sects and cults. Author Marcus Bach divides these into three categories: the sex sects, conscience cults, and the utopianists. The first group includes ancient Baalism of Mesopotamia, Osirism of Egypt, Shivism of India, and more recently, Voodoo of Africa and the New World. The Conscience Cults include the Penitentes, Apocalypticists, Father Divine of Harlem, the Oxford Groupers, and Psychiana. The section on Utopians includes the now-vanished Russian Doukhobors, followed by the Shakers, Amanas, Hutterites, and Mormons. For anyone looking for a good introduction to offbeat religious groups, Strange Sects and Curious Cults will provide a useful background and serve as a basis for further research.
Written for the average reader, Major Religions of the World, which was first published in 1959, is a compact survey of the founders, the holy writings, the worship, and the basic beliefs of the major religions of the world—Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Judaism, Confucianism and Taoism, Shinto, Island, and Christianity. Dr. Marcus Bach’s approach is one of understanding and appreciation. He looks at each religion first through the eyes of a believer of that faith and then as an impartial observer pointing out the parallels in that religion and Christianity. The result is an unusually sensitive and provocative account. Included at the beginning of each study is a helpful glossary of terms. And informative and thought-provoking read!
Dr Bach travelled 40,000 miles in pursuit of his aim - to meet the five people of this time whom he felt best exemplified the teachings of Jesus Christ in their lives. Bach interviewed Helen Keller, Pope Pius XII, Albert Schweitzer, Therese Neumann and Shoghi Effendi.
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