A brief but satisfying encapsulation of Zoroastrianism.
Moterassed conducts an exploration of the philosopher Zarathustra’s teachings in this nonfiction work.
In this slim volume, the author interprets the philosophy of the ancient prophet Zarathustra. (Before Muslims took over Persia in the seventh century, Zarathustra’s teachings, known as Zoroastrianism, served as Persia’s state religion.) The author notes that people strive for contentment, but the Western world presents challenges; Westerners primarily value their bodies, desires, emotions, and minds, none of which, per Moterassed, leads to enlightenment. Psychological counseling seeks to heal the ego, but the author, who is a psychotherapist himself, suggests that personality should be dropped entirely. The author asserts that personality is a construct of our environment, a mask obstructing the true self, “a dark cloud that blocks the sun.” Only when we embrace nothingness can we reveal our pure essence. Moterassed’s slightly humorous parables often center around this theme—in one of them, a mystic places himself above God, because he’s been told that nothing is higher than God (the mystic considers himself to be nothing). The author argues that developing certain attributes can help readers attain this higher state, noting that it’s important to keep an elevated quality of thoughts, stay balanced, and practice inner discipline; when at last we fully know our true selves, we will grasp eternity. (Moterassed describes eternity as one wave that rejoins the vastness of the ocean, or a circle that has no discernible beginning or end.) One of the most attractive qualities of Zarathustra’s teachings for a modern audience is the way they embody gender parity—masculine (Ahura) and feminine (Mazda) attributes are evenly split, and every person contains the principles of both sexes. Moterassed’s book may be short, but the length works to his advantage. There is no filler, so every idea hits with great force, and the book is easy to reread. With less time to get distracted, readers can engage in the book’s ideas with the full consciousness that the author suggests as a way to practice meditation.
A brief but satisfying encapsulation of Zoroastrianism.Pub Date: Dec. 18, 2023
ISBN: 9781039198739
Page Count: 72
Publisher: FriesenPress
Review Posted Online: June 11, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This a book of earlier, philosophical essays concerned with the essential "absurdity" of life and the concept that- to overcome the strong tendency to suicide in every thoughtful man-one must accept life on its own terms with its values of revolt, liberty and passion. A dreary thesis- derived from and distorting the beliefs of the founders of existentialism, Jaspers, Heldegger and Kierkegaard, etc., the point of view seems peculiarly outmoded. It is based on the experience of war and the resistance, liberally laced with Andre Gide's excessive intellectualism. The younger existentialists such as Sartre and Camus, with their gift for the terse novel or intense drama, seem to have omitted from their philosophy all the deep religiosity which permeates the work of the great existentialist thinkers. This contributes to a basic lack of vitality in themselves, in these essays, and ten years after the war Camus seems unaware that the life force has healed old wounds... Largely for avant garde aesthetes and his special coterie.
Pub Date: Sept. 26, 1955
ISBN: 0679733736
Page Count: 228
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1955
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