An interesting perspective on the largest single factor that changed Israeli foreign policy. A good insight into why the Jordan, Syria, Egypt, and Israel act the way they do. Anwar Sadat is a really interesting man. I wish I knew more about him. It’s also too bad he was assassinated.
Mark Lilla’s study of how religion became separated from politics centers around Hobbs, Locke, Hume, Rousseau, Kant, and Hegel. I have never read a more insightful analysis of LEVIATHAN.
“A reorientation would have to take place, turning human attention away from the eternal and transcendent, toward the here and now. The old habit of looking to the divine nexus for political guidance would have to broken, and new habits developed. For Hobbs, the first step toward achieving that end was to get people thinking about-and suspicious about-the sources of faith. If they could start to see ignorance and fear behind most religious beliefs; if they became skeptical of claims of revelation; if they learned to distrust priests and ministers; if they questioned political interpretations of scripture; if they linked religious fervor with political violence-in short, if they began to think of religion as a human phenomenon rather than a divine one, the spell of political theology might be broken. Then, and only then, could sane thinking about political life begin.” (p. 218)
THE STILLBORN GOD is the perfect antidote to the poisons of the Religious Right.
This is a short follow up to Sam Harris’ The End of Faith. This is his response to many of the letters he received from angry readers, particularly Christians (although this applies to those of all faiths). The focus is on arguing against many of the Christian rights’ beliefs and reasoning why these beliefs by necessity should be kept out of public policy. This is concise and well written, and was an excellent way to handle many of the responses he received and make their arguments public-and then break them apart using the very sources they were using to solidify their arguments.
An acient artifact is stolen from a long forgotten crypt beneath Temple Mount. The corpse that the Catholic Church has stolen had been crucified. This story revolves around the mystery of who these “sacred” bones belong to, with many religious communities attempting to take control. Interesting read with a rather obvious plot. But a good religious mystery along the lines of the DaVinci Code.
This book posed a lot of interesting questions about Progress and the future of religion. What are the issues that people who have “faith” must face to continue to believe? He separates people into Religious Moderates and Religious Extremists, and discusses both thoroughly and coherently. Moderates must pick and choose their beliefs because today’s society conflicts with our basic religious texts. Religious Extremists put too much faith in the literal words of that text. What I like about Harris’ arguments is that he uses these doctrines themselves to argue against continuous unquestioning faith in written word over progress and reason. In the end, he suggests this unquestioning literal interpretation, as well as our conscious decision to ignore what we dislike about them, does more harm than good. A really interesting read. While you may not agree with his points, I think the questions he raises are valid, and makes you question and consider where you position yourself within this debate.
