More Amusement From the Library

[kippurbird]

Book came across my desk today. It's called The World's Great Religions. By Time Magazine. Curious I decided to flip through it. This is the Table of Contents:

• Introduction How mankind worships Page 1

• The Spirit of Hinduism Page 9
• Hindu Beliefs Page 31
• The path of Buddhism page 39
• Buddhist Doctrines Page 63
• The Philosophy of China Page 71
• Chinese Precepts Page 91
• The World of Islam Page 99
• Moslem Truths Page 123
• The Law of Judaism Page 131
• Jewish Wisdom Page 155
• The Faith of Christianity page 163
• The life of Christ Page 166
• Holy Land Page 182
• The Onward March of Christian Faith Page 194
• Chart of Beliefs Page 204
• Christendom Page 206
  
• The Vatican Page 207
  
• The Sistine Chapel Page 210
  
• The Reformation Page 230
• The Wars of Religion Page 238
• The Eastern Orthodox Page 244
• The Sword of Christianity Page 248
• Europe's Cathedrals Page 252
• The Bible Page 260
• The Christian Scriptures Page 265
• Christianity Today 278
• The Churchgoing U.S. Page 279
• Church of South India Page 286
• The Seven Sacraments Page 292

So that's about ninety seven pages devoted to Christianity and about one hundred and sixty two pages devoted to the other Five religions. Five other religions, four of which are older than Christianity and probably have a lot more to say that Christianity. I mean the development of the Synagogue has to be more interesting that the Sistine Chapel. And why isn't there a long bit about Abraham's life, the founder of Judaism, or Muhammad, the founder of Islam?

Very biased, and very amusing, to me at least.

Comments

[last-servant.livejournal.com]

Of course it's biased, it's written by Time. The media executives think the public is stupid.

[dungeonwriter.livejournal.com]

So Christianity gets thirty seven percent.

Judaism and Islam get 12.6 percent each.

How is that logical?

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

You mean they're not? XD

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

*cheerfully*

It's not!

[prototypical]

Random question - can I use one of your writing essays for my assignment on analyzing audience, purpose, and genre? Damn boring Writing 101.

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

You mean like to cite it?

[prototypical]

To use bits of it as an example of what language you use when targeting a specific audience and the like. I'll decide on what one later.

[albijuli]

Fool! Didn't you know that Christianity is The Only Religion That Matters?

-sigh-

[sonic-sues.livejournal.com]

How biased. What about Taoism? Confucianism? Paganism/Wicca?

[last-servant.livejournal.com]

Of course not, if they were intelligent, they'd be Christian!

[christinaathena.livejournal.com]

Well, Confucianism is more a philosophy than a religion.

But, yeah, Taoism is definitely worthy of mention. Especially given that it likely played a significant role in teh development of Buddhism which in turn, according to some theories, played a role in the development of Christianity.

Besides, Taoism has some really interesting beliefs.

[yetanotherbob.livejournal.com]

Okay, so where was the section about the roses, sex rites, and DaVinci's Goddess?

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

AND BE SAVED! PRAISE THE LORD!!

*stops now*

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

Sure. I guess so.

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

... no. I did not. Silly me.

[wariena.livejournal.com]

Eek! Bias alert! o__o It makes it seem as though the other five religions are the novelty act before TRUE ENLIGHTENMENT. Fascinating.

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

This was long before the DaVinci Code came out.

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

Doesn't it? It's hilarious.

[the-norseman.livejournal.com]

Indeed, they ought to have one quarter on Judaism, half on Christianity, and then a section of "Sundry false and wicked religion, of which Mohammedanism is the most wicked and false of all. Closely followed by the Idol if not idle worship of the Hindoo who practises Wicked and Infernal rites in his foul dark temples." And I'm only joking a little.

[the-norseman.livejournal.com]

About the style that some groups employ(ed) that is, not about the actual content just FYI.

[(Anonymous)]

I am offended that they did not bother to mention the Flying Spaghetti Monster or Harui-ism. Horribly, horribly offended.

[(Anonymous)]

I am offended that they did not bother to mention the Flying Spaghetti Monster or Haruhi-ism. Horribly, horribly offended.

[(Anonymous)]

Oh wow, double post.
Not sure how that happened.
Sorry?

[faded-enmity.livejournal.com]

Taoism and Confucianism are probably in the Chinese section; paganism is not a religion at all; and how in the universe could Wicca, especially in its most recent incarnation, ever be considered "great."

There, all solved.