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PARADISE AND PARADIGM an A d

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Key Symbols in Persian Christianity si n
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and the Bahaµ<iµ Faith se
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Christopher Buck
In a novel approach that the author terms “symbolic
paradigm analysis,” Paradise and Paradigm offers a “theoretically
modular” systematic comparison of two “Persian” religions:
early Syriac Christianity as the foundation of the East Syrian
“Church of the East” (the Nestorian Church of Persia) and
the Bahaµ<iµ Faith, a new world religion. The author compares
“If the Bahaµ<iµ Faith has a specialist in comparative the hymns of the greatest poet of early Christianity,
religion, it is Christopher Buck … This volume
is certainly … the best comparative work on the Saint Ephrem the Syrian, and the richly imagistic writings
Bahaµ<iµ Faith and another religious tradition that has of the founder of the Bahaµ<iµ religion, Bahaµ<u<llaµh. The book
yet appeared, and may serve as a model for future
such studies.” — The Bahaµ<iµ Studies Review
employs an original analytic technique in the creation of
“symbolic profiles” constructed on Ninian Smart’s dimensional
“Christopher Buck’s project is a success both model of religion. As Buck skillfully demonstrates, formal
as a methodological experiment and as practical
comparative effort … As a piece of Bahaµ<iµ similarities between any two religions are best comprehended
scholarship, it remains unparalleled. In terms in terms of paradigmatic differences, which nuance all parallels
of academic comparative efforts involving through a process of symbolic transformation. Buck also shows
the Bahaµ<iµ Faith, Buck’s book is a pioneering work.”
— H-Bahaµ<iµ the communal reflexivity of paradise imagery in representing
the ideal faith-community in both traditions.
“…the book’s four central chapters offer separate
historical and symbolic profiles, first of Syriac
“This work is a model of comparison, an eye-opener
Christianity and then of the Bahaµ<iµ faith. Buck has regarding the interesting Syriac Christian traditions, and quite
packed these chapters with fascinating detail, a useful and revealing account of the Bahaµ<iµ.” — William Paden,
assembling a wealth of background unavailable
elsewhere in any single volume that I am aware of … University of Vermont
Paradise and Paradigm is a goldmine of information Christopher Buck received a Ph.D. in Religion from the
about two relatively little studied but fascinating University of Toronto. He is the author of Symbol and Secret:
developments in Middle Eastern religious history …
a very worthwhile contribution.” — Middle East Qur<aµn Commentary in Bahaµ<u<llaµh’s Kitaµb-i I÷qaµn, the 1996 Bahaµ<iµ
Studies Association of North America Book of the Year. Buck is also a two-time recipient of the
“This is a provocative and groundbreaking work.
Award for Excellence in Bahaµ<iµ Studies, presented by the
Its careful attention to methodology and its attempt Association for Bahaµ<iµ Studies.
to work through the project with the attitude of
experimentation will provide a significant impulse 402 pages
to the study of religion, especially in relationship $27.95 pb ISBN 0-7914-4062-1
to the symbol systems, which religions contain.” $81.50 hc ISBN 0-7914-4061-3
— University of Toronto Quarterly
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