Theo's Odyssey ~ Catherine Clement

In 'Theo's Odyssey', ~ Catherine Clement  takes us through an amazing journey around the world with Theo and his wealthy aunt Martha crisscrossing various countries in search of a spiritual solution to the ailment, introducing Theo to the religions of the world in the process.

Theo has a mysterious illness and though no one knows what it is, the prognosis is not good, so his rich  aunt decides to take him on a world tour, as a last fling before he dies, or a special treat in case he lives. It begins from his home town in Paris. 

In the first chapter we are introduced to his family, and then begin the journey, from the oldest. It is said that , this book does for religion and spirituality what Sophie's World did for philosophy. Theo is fourteen, Parisian, and slow to get up in the mornings. His parents love him, and want him to choose his own life, his own faith, so they have deliberately avoided giving him a religious education. Theo is very clever, reads a lot, loves computer games and the Greek myths. But then, suddenly, he falls ill. His rich aunt Martha decides that they must roam the world to find a cure for his malaise. 

The sceptical, quizzical Theo being shown the varieties and depths of faith that exist in other places, other cultures. All this is handled with real style, pace, wit and clarity. The book is a thoroughly enjoyable introduction to why and how people believe in their God.

The journey begins with Jerusalem - A wall and a Tomb introducing Theo to Jews, Christians and Islam;  Then to Seen Hills, One Rock. Egypt, and Rome. Then to India covering 10 religions, Hindus, Islam, Buddhist, Sikhs, Christians, Jainism, Jews, Parsi's, Bahais; Mao and Tao in China; Shinto in Japan; Muslims, Hindus and Christians in Indonesia; Christianity and communisam from Russia; Islam from Istanbul; African traditional religion, Brazilian syncretism and even Mormons in New York, and back to Jews in Greece and return to the source. 

It covers a fair variety of religions, and most of the way through it seems to lead one down the path of syncretism, showing how each religion incorporates elements of other religions, or has points of resemblance to other religions.

Theo is half-Greek and so has an Orthodox grandmother (well, half-Orthodox, because she is syncretistic too, mixing Orthodoxy with faith in the Olympian gods). And the treatment of Orthodoxy is pretty skimpy, saying it is all about sorrow and suffering. There are detailed descriptions of rituals for some religions, at least three different rituals for the African traditional religions, but there is no comparable description of the rituals of Orthodox Christianity, not even a memorial service.  It says, Jainisam and Buddhism started around the same time, while Jainisam like Hinduism is old, and Mahavir is the 12th Thirthankara who was born during the time of Buddha. In the story of Ramayana, Rama has two mothers, when we know she has three. Nothing much is mentioned about Bahi religion. 

How is the aunt so rich? Investing and trading in stock market. Theo needs to solve a series of riddles which take him around the world to different cultures and different religions; it's hopefully not his final journey but an insightful adventure. His eccentric, atheist aunt hopes that one if all or any of the gods could heal him from his implied incurable disease.

'Faiths of many lands', is another interesting and better covered book on this subject. So does Kim by Rudyard Kipling. And Of course, my very own Swami Vivekananda and his Chicago Address.