This book, providing literary descriptions and visual portrayals of the prayers and sacred rites of peoples around the world, will, I pray, benefit both children and parents regarding two of the most important topics for the world to consider today: on one hand, prayer, and on another, appreciation for both similarities and differences.
It is hard to produce a book on the diversity of the modes of prayer practiced in the world today. The first obstacle to overcome is exclusivism, which a book on the diversity of prayer like this obviously would and does. What is applaudable here is that this book's message circumvents another obstacle that is typically much more testing. Specifically, it goes beyond the limits of tolerance. If we can say that there is indeed something to appreciate in another's sacred experience and that, in this day and age, it is in fact necessary to do so, we can say that the limit of tolerance is that it does not necessarily involve any appreciation of the other. One can, or rather has to, tolerate a toothache when he or she has it. The limit that tolerance has in this context is obvious. What the the author does here is she instead guides the reader through a sincere appreciation for the other's sacred practices, thus going beyond both exclusivism and tolerance.
The next pitfall an author on this book's subject may be at risk of falling into is one that involves either syncretism or the dismissal of necessary differences. More specifically, the risk involves an all-too-easy-to-make, and quite dangerous, wish to find similarities at the expense of the realization (and thus, ironically, even the appreciation) of the differences between different traditions. The author and illustrator here are certainly far from doing so. The content of the book shows the different modes of prayer, and does so under the premise that everyone portrayed indeed sincerely prays. Thus, the book offers an appreciation for - or rather celebrates - both similarity and difference.
Finally, should anyone question the title of the book with reference to atheism or non-practicing believers of religions, let us be clear that, yes, according to the wisdom traditions of old - which this book portrays its characters as practicing - everyone does indeed pray, if only by virtue of being. Suffice it to quote the Qur'anic verse: "... and there is not a thing but hymneth His praise; but ye understand not their praise."
Many congratulations are due to the book's makers and facilitators for not only navigating the reader through such a sensitive topic, but for doing so with flying colors.
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Inclusive Book
This book is very inclusive to most of the major religions. It has an excerpt in the back where there are very small blurbs of information about when Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Jain, and Shintoist religions were estimated to begin, what Holy Books they use if any, where the people of the religion pray, and the most prominent figure in that religion. Very very general information, but perfect for what I needed. I love how colorful the pages are and how big the words are. It easy for young readers to follow along.
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2018Format: Hardcover
- Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2021Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
This book is very inclusive to most of the major religions. It has an excerpt in the back where there are very small blurbs of information about when Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Jain, and Shintoist religions were estimated to begin, what Holy Books they use if any, where the people of the religion pray, and the most prominent figure in that religion. Very very general information, but perfect for what I needed. I love how colorful the pages are and how big the words are. It easy for young readers to follow along.
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- Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2015Format: Hardcover
Top reviews from other countries
- MMReviewed in the United Kingdom on June 2, 2017
A wonderful book, highly recommend
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase - DinoReviewed in the United Kingdom on August 20, 2018
No depth - hardly any text - bad illustrations
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
