Comparing Religions: Coming to Terms

Absolutely excellent book, I purchased this book actually after hearing Kripal speak on Coast to Coast, his perspective on "Super Natural" events as he describes them in the book and as he was talking about them on Coast to Coast, I found refreshing and similar to my own. Skeptical but also open minded.This book, obviously, is an undergraduate college textbook, and that’s what audience it is mostly geared for, but I have been studying religion and the Occult for years, and this subject has always been one that I have personally enjoyed.The book flows well, without getting to dry, though there are a few spots, they are few and far between. And the breadth of what is covered is grand, from perspectives on practice and morals, to the supernatural and death, the whole time, keeping the reader focused on the comparative act rather than taking sides.Now that I read this book for enjoyment and my own personal knowledge and I am not a college student, and I greatly enjoyed it. I would say that I would find it hard than for most college students to be bored with a class which uses this as its textbook. Because if there was anything that I would have added during my reading of it, was to be in a class where its contents could be discussed.College student, layman or just plain interested, this book is worth the money to spend on it, especially if it is a topic which you don’t see yourself focusing on really too much. If there is one book to pick up that covers comparative religions, I would say that you need go no further than this great volume to find it!And if you do happen to enjoy what you find contained within, there is a website, listed in the front of the book which has all sorts of goodies, especially an EXTENSIVE, bibliography with some wonderful suggestions for further reading and study.Well done Mr. Kripal and company, well done!

Just what I needed for my class this semester

This may have been written to be an undergraduate textbook; but it certainly goes way beyond, and should be required reading and seminar foundation for graduate students in all disciplines at all graduate schools. And without question, this "non-dry" textbook can be easily read and understood by those outside the walls of academia. Kripal and his associates have set the bar quite high in terms of presenting exceptional scholarly and engaging work that forces the reader into very deep moments of thinking, questioning, and reasoning. "Religions" in the book title might be its weakest feature, one that could cause some to dismiss any interest; but religion is not the purpose, it's just the universal institutional example used for an excellent illustration of comparative research methodology. And, "religion" (as the book subjects itself to it) has a great deal of historic and present day relevancy that should be better understood by everyone...religious or not.

I know it’s second hand but the pages aren’t that clean.

This isn't a book that actually compares religions that much. (Not a catalog of beliefs.) Rather, it is a thought provoking exercise in learning to look at all religions "from the outside." As a Christian myself, I found it very helpful. The author makes a very good case for the reality of religious experience and the importance of not putting too much emphasis on any one faith tradition. Fair warning, I found the first half or so to be tedious, but stay with it. You'll need that background for the second half, which is far more interesting.

The media could not be loaded.  This book did not contain the information I needed for my Comparative Religion Course.It is not helpful for me.I need to return it.

Needed this for a religion class!

Kripal is one of my favorite scholars of religion. Different--and fascinating "take" on world religions. But it IS a textbook, crammed with facts, so not something you pick up for a fun read.

Great book.