Interesting to dip into if you're looking for an abridged version of a great religious work. Another reviewer cites a bad translation of the Qurran, which is probably the case. The quotes from the Bible use the King James version, which is also in many ways not a good translation, but at least it reads well--at least the famous parts we know by heart read well. Not sure why "Judeo-Christian" is combined; it hardly seems fair to Judaism. ( )

This collection dates back to 1939, and it shows. I’d say it’s mainly interesting as a period piece. The translations are often stuffy and silly at the same time, especially in the short section called “The Moslem.” Consider this excerpt from the Koran:

For when there shall be a trump on the trumpet,
That then shall be a distressful day,
A day, to the believers, devoid of ease.

See what I mean? It’s like poetry for the brain-damaged. That's because the editor, Mr. Ballou, chose the atrocious Rodwell translation from 1876. Even back in 1939 he could have chosen Pickthall, from 1930. Now, of course, there are at least a dozen much better English translations to select from — if anyone at Viking Penguin could be bothered to update this turkey.

Just one more and I’ll let you go. This is supposed to be from Rumi. It’s a fine story (naturally, considering who wrote it) but the self-consciously “Oriental” translation reads like a parody:

A Governor Orders a Man to Dig Up from the Road a Bramble-Bush Which He Has Planted

A certain unfeeling person of pleasant speech planted a bramble-bush in the middle of the road. The passers-by reproached him, and repeatedly told him to dig it up; but he did not do so....

The governor said to him one day, “O promise-breaker, come forward in my business; do not creep back.” He rejoined, “O uncle, the days are between us.”...

You get the idea.

Viking-Penguin has certainly gotten a lot of mileage out of this collection. Every few years they reissue it with a new cover. If you ask me, it’s long past time to put it to rest. ( )

Course book for "Religions of the World"

Book Description: Viking Press NY Oct 1956. PB 6th pr Rubs on spine, text slightly yellowing, else tight clean very good copy