Strange Sects and Curious Cults, first published in 1961, is a well-written overview of a number of important religious sects and cults. Author Marcus Bach divides these into three categories: the sex sects, conscience cults, and the utopianists.The first group includes ancient Baalism of Mesopotamia, Osirism of Egypt, Shivism of India, and more recently, Voodoo of Africa and the New World. The Conscience Cults include the Penitentes, Apocalypticists, Father Divine of Harlem, the Ox...

Written for the average reader, Major Religions of the World, which was first published in 1959, is a compact survey of the founders, the holy writings, the worship, and the basic beliefs of the major religions of the world—Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Judaism, Confucianism and Taoism, Shinto, Island, and Christianity.Dr. Marcus Bach's approach is one of understanding and appreciation. He looks at each religion first through the eyes of a believer of that faith and then as an...