Top 6 Recently Reviewed Books on Ancient Religions

Democracy is very important to America. It’s a fundamental component of America’s politics, America’s culture, and most importantly America’s self-identity. America is defined less by ethnicity or religion like other nations and more by a political ethic of democratic self-governance. Is America truly democratic, however? Does it understand what democracy is and is it ready for democracy?

The rise and fall of the Roman empire has fascinated not just historians but others as well for hundreds of years. Why did a small village on the Italian peninsula grow to dominate not only the region, but even much of western world? Once on top, why did that same empire then collapse and disappear except for ruined buildings and roads as a reminder of who might have once been there?

What connection do the modern Olympics have with the Olympics of ancient Greece? The ancient Olympics were not the graceful, iconic displays of physical ability which people have idealized them as - but then again, neither are the modern Olympics. Both are rooted in our humanity, which means that both have involved more suffering, corruption, and base motives than most would admit.

Ancient Egypt produced one of the most fascinating religious systems the world has ever seen. That religion is, however, now dead - a part of history, just like the ancient monuments which c an still be found along the Nile. This does not mean, however, that it had no influence upon subsequent religious developments in the Near East.

Obscured by time, history, and overlays of conflicting religious dogmas lies a religion which few people understand, but which has arguably had a profound affect upon the lives of a large percentage of the people who have lived during the past couple of millennia: Zoroastrianism. Is it possible to cut through all of the interference and learn more?

It is unlikely that religion will ever disappear from human culture, so it has a long future ahead of it - but it also has a long past, and we can learn quite a lot about religions by taking a closer look at where they come from and at some of the sources for a religion's diverse traditions. Although many may already be familiar with the ancient religion of Zoroastrianism, they may not be aware of just how much influence it continues to exert today, for good and for ill.