Book Description
Dr. Geoffrey Simmons focuses on the millions of structures and systems on the Earth that came about all at once, entire...with no preceding links, no subsequent links, no “sideways” links.
To illustrate, he surveys examples like...
- the hummingbird and its circulatory system
- insects and insect–eating plants
- the role of the thousands of species of viruses
- chemical signals and the sensory apparatus that detects them
- the self–regulating capacity of the Earth’s ocean/air/soil system
It’s clear: Nature contains only leaps, not links. Only the intelligence and purpose of an all–powerful Designer can explain the intricate
creatures, connections, and “coincidences” everywhere.
Excellent for students and parents, especially homeschoolers, and for educators who want to present the “full picture.”
Customer Reviews:
ID light- an honest review.......2007-10-05
I call this ID light because its not as in youre face as some of the other ID literature. I don't think someone who is against ID would be compelled to change their minds after reading this book. If you are an evolutionist, I think you should still find some beauty in this book, and not think of this as a direct insult on youre intelligence. This is a book filled with all kinds in neat facts that I think everyone can enjoy. Yes he clearly promotes ID, but he says you be the judge, could this model fit in with a design or do you think evolution has a better explination?
What really sold me on this book was scamming through it in the book store. I didn't even really want to buy it till I flipped through. It seems almost every sentence has something interesting. For example I just opend it to get a random quote and here it goes on page 212 about halfway down the page states "The bristle millipede is covered with tiny tufts and rows of velcro-like bristles that easily detach when the insect is attacked." Not that its the best part or anything, but I hope you can see how this book reads.
My overall favorite part is about ratios and symmetry. The fibonacci sequence is incredible! The bodys symmetry, The body mass and blood volume in mammals are intricately related. Even the heart size is dependant on the animal. There were better facts than that, but thats what sticks out currently in my mind. Sounds to me like a design! Like I said before, that may not convince you, but these are great facts and a fun read!
3 stars.......2007-05-20
*** Could the universe have come into existence by chance? That is what proponnants of atheistic evolution would have us believe. However, after reading the evidence presented in this book, such conclusions should seem to not have a chance to anyone with a reasonable mind. Though little is said about God, the evidence is laid out in such a way as to show that there had to be design, hence a Designer, orchestrating life. Beyond making that case, a variety of fascinating, little known facts are rendered that will enlarge your acumen, even if you never have the need to engage in a debate over evolution vs. intelligent design or creation. ***
Amanda Killgore
Excellent book.......2007-05-07
It just helps to demonstrate that it takes a bigger leap of faith for evolution than for a creator God.
Same old rhetoric........2007-05-03
Same old , same old. X can't be explained..........YET, therefore "GOD", the biggest assumption of all which doesn't EXPLAIN ANYTHING. And of course we all know this means the christian god as opposed to the thousands of other "GODS" throughout history. Same old "god of the gaps" arguement. Sorry, but that does not follow.
Evolution is an established fact of life, if you don't believe it, then I suggest you quit taking antibiotics along with using or eating domesticated animals for food,work, and or companionship. According to this book scientist should just throw in the towel and fling their hands collectively in the air and say "WE QUIT!". I suppose that should have been done before Copernicus,Kepler,Newton,Lavousier,Faraday,John Clerk Maxwell,Crick and Watson,Einstein etc made their discoveries. Utter nonsense. One assumption after another regarding nature and the cosmos has been toppled like sandcastles. The skeletetal backbone (no pun intended) and general principles have been quite established in evolutionary biology. Anybody with an inkling of reading regaring the sciences realizes all the emperical evidence for evolution is quite firm. These disciplines include,molecular biology, comparitve genome studies,physics,geology,paleoanthropology,paleontology,comparitive anatomy etc etc etc. The book has nice pictures though.
A Pleasure to Read.......2007-04-11
This book puts forth some very interesting trivial information about many animals that is often left out in the biology classroom in order to teach other information. Did you know the pupil of your eyes and the tip of your nose forms an equalateral triangle? The tip of you nose forms another one with the edge of your lips? That a square exists between your pupils and your lips' edge? In fact your body contains many such wonders. The belly button is the exact center of a circle that you can make with your body. Design or Chance....interesting.
The forethought and first chapter were very nice to read. The forethought basically said if you've convinced the miracle of birth and the beauty of it.. came about by trial and error... you might as well stop reading now. Birth is so amazing I think anyone will be struck with awe when reading his description of birth. However; Even if your a staunch evolutionist I think you would still like this book very much, I would encourage you to read it, even if you disagree with his view point you'll love the information. It contains alot of information that teachers/professors should talk about in class since it will keep students interested. I am a biology undergraduate and some of his book actually went over some of the things we were learning in university study, but put forth simply enough that anyone with no biology backround could unnderstand it. It presented the information in a fresh way to me, which was nice.
I thought his first chapter was great because I think many scientists (ID theorists and Neo-Darwinists) forget exactly what the scientific method is all about. It was designed to eliminate bias. I agreed with his suggestion that the scientific method should the foundation of biology not a philosophical theory like evolution by natural selection. Why? The scientific method begins with "observation". With that being said and to be fair he says the same flaw is found in the Intelligent Design and Evolutionary arguments alike. If you look into it you would be surprised how much of the whole molecules to man theory has never been observed its pure conjecture. Simmons says there could be some problems with the scientific method as the cornerstone of science, but they could easily be resolved.
Many people constantly say that ID theory says it is so complex that it could not have been designed. That is not true. In the first chapter he says ID says that life is natural systems that cannot be explained by natural forces, yet in any other circumstance would naturally be attriubted to design. Such a good definition. Why is it not attributed to design? Some people have a hard time comprehending something made them I guess. The same way other people cannot imagine that unintelligent processes made them. I think the first argument is weaker than the latter. The more we know about life he harder time Darwin's theory is having. Simmons also points this out in the first chapter.
Simmions puts forth a good analogy of the ID/Darwinist battle in the opening chapter. Imagine coming up to an oil rig in the ground and you said to your friend wow I wonder who made this, and you friend said "wait no one made this what are you talking about?" You try to convince you friend it was designed... maybe showing him parts that pump oil out of the ground and are needed to make it functional.. if they are not there the rig would not work.. and your friend says well you can't prove who made it...your making dogmatic statements about the existence of oil rigs. Sadly the friend is right you cannot prove someone made it dispite how much you try to convince your friend the oil rig was designed because neither one of you were there to see it so neither know for sure was that it was made. Darwin's challenge to his theory which was "if something could be shown to have not developed through slow steps my theory would absolutly break down". It certainly has broken down. So now darwinists say it has not broken down but then they themselves put forth unobserved senerios to try to preserve the theory. Big Surprise, evolutionary scientists are humans too all of them have a bias like all humans.
But regadless of your view of biology you will love this book just because its so fun to read. When I was reading I thought the information was great. It was like reading Planet Earth on the Discovery channel instead of seeing it. Simmons shows some amazing facts of the differences in life and what needs to be found for a fully comperhensive theory of evolution to be correct. You will come out of this book having a better appreciation of all life regradless of your views. Read the book
Book Description
This volume collects for the first time in a single volume all of Kant's writings on religion and rational theology. These works were written during a period of conflict between Kant and the Prussian authorities over his religious teachings. The historical context and progression of this conflict are charted in the general introduction to the volume and in the translators' introductions to particular texts. All the translations are new with the exception of The Conflict of the Faculties, where the translation has been revised and redited to conform to the guidelines of the Cambridge Edition.
Customer Reviews:
Imprescindible.......2006-01-25
Every serious scholar in Kant or Theology must owe this superb volume. It contains many unknown and important works in order to achieve a complete and accurate vision of Kant's moral theory and his philosophy of religion, as well as his whole system of philosophy, developed throughout the three Critiques. Kant himself delimited his philosophical project in the formulations of these three questions: "What can I know" --What I ought to do? and -What am I to expect? (CPR A 804/ B 832). Kant told that the last question, the theological one, was to be answer in "The religion within the limits of mere reason" of 1793 (AK 11: 414), a monumental work that makes clear several issues being somehow murky for the readers of the Groundwork and the Critique of the Pure reason, such as the value of the faith, the intelligible grounds of free will and the relation between morals and traditional religion.
Average customer rating:
- A remarkable and important book
- brilliant reading of intellectual efforts
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Rational Rabbis: Science and Talmudic Culture (Jewish Literature and Culture)
Menachem Fisch
Manufacturer: Indiana University Press
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Customer Reviews:
A remarkable and important book.......2006-05-19
This book presents a brilliant and original interpretation of Talmudic reasoning and, by extension, a large part of the Jewish intellectual tradition. It has recently been the subject of academic meetings and a special edition of the respected Journal of Textual Reasoning (Volume 4, Number 2 March 2006). (You can see this scholarly discussion of Fisch's work online. Amazon will not allow me to include the URL, but it's easy enough to Google). An extraordinary book, by any measure, and sure to remain a seminal book on Jewish modes of reasoning for years to come.
brilliant reading of intellectual efforts.......2002-01-13
Most people, when they hear or see this title say, "isn't that an oxymoron?" Perhaps. But that only illustrates Fisch's point that the "traditionalist" approach to the texts has come to dominate our understanding of them. Probing for what he calls the "rationalist" approach, one that responds to data, the rethinks materials, that thrives on challenge, Fisch reveals a world of complex intellectual interchange in the making of both the Mishnah and the Talmud, and then undertakes the very difficult comparison between modern science and talmudic learning. Challenging, intellectually exciting, and imaginative -- the book opens up important new approaches to thinking about both rabbinic and modern scientific thought.
Customer Reviews:
The best book I have ever read........2007-09-24
This book was so enlightening for me that I would say that it is the best book on the subject that I have ever read. It is well organized and gives so much insight into the process of repression and methods for overcoming repression. It is a must read for anyone trying to overcome anxiety, phobias, angry outbursts, or difficulties in marriage arising from these things. Practical and well organized, I highly recommend it!
Clarifications about the Books Ideas on Medications and Religion.......2007-02-23
Dr. Baars is not 100% the principal author of this book. Anna Terruwe was the principal author. Dr. Baars is her colleague, the translator, a contributor, and the reviser.
There is no mystical mumbo jumbo, New Age or Catholic, in this book. Dr. Terruwe found a way to explain psychiatric phenomena in the language of rational psychology and use her improved understanding of psychiatric problems to develop new and improved therapies.
People usually credit Thomas Aquinas with developing rational psychology, but Thomas took his rational psychology almost straight from Aristotle. Aristotle was not Catholic or New Age. Rational psychology fits so well with modern brain research that I'm surprised scientists don't use it when they explain their studies. We have individual senses, memory, imagination, a place in the brain where images from the individual senses are unified, and thinking in common.
God is not left out of this book, but if you took out the infrequent references to God, you would still have a profound explanation of human psychology. You don't have to be religious to benefit by this book. The only religious part is that some of the patients whose case histories are included in the book were priests or nuns. You can see how their psychiatric issues affected their religious and spiritual life and how Drs Terruwe and Baars taught them to manage the situations that came up as they matured.
Dr. Baars and Anna Terruwe were not averse to using medications if their patients could benefit from them, but the conditions in this book do not respond well to medications alone, especially obsessive compulsive disorder. Psychiatrists have not found a really good medication for it yet. Terruwe and Baars' patients got well, not just better. The doctors also sometimes prescribed massage and other therapies readily available in The Netherlands' health system in addition to medications.
I know many people with serious issues against religion who substitute Nature for God when they come across the word in Dr. Baars or Dr. Terruwe's books and just keep on reading, because they love what the two psychiatrists say, because it helps them so much.
Insightful, balanced, not at all unreasonable.......2005-09-04
If you were raised Catholic, and you hated it, you should read this book.
If you didn't hate it, or you are Catholic, you should read this book.
If you have nothing to do with Catholicism, but are familiar with a Freudian view of repression, you should read it.
If you're a parent, you should read it.
Now I would like to respond briefly to an older review:
"The treatments advocated by Konrad Baars, along with much else in the periphery of psychological treatment is a sham. These outmoded theories have been superseded by a biological understanding personality and disease as well as the innovated notions of Sigmund Freud, who, over one hundred years ago, introduced the discovery of the unconscious."
I wonder how a biological understanding has superseded anything when for every new medicine, we have two new diseases.
"The only appeal of Baars's work is its association with Catholic doctrine. But that religion is not a suitable basis for psychiatric treatment."
Not so. I am not Catholic, and I find his work compelling nonetheless. One does not have to be Catholic to see its value. But a purely biological view of man isn't suitable for therapy either.
"No psychiatric residency program in this country teaches this type of mystical, New Age mumbo-jumbo. It is soley the province of poorly-trained "counselors," social workers, and religious devotees. If you are having a problem, only the latest pharmaceutical innovations can claim to offer relief of suffering."
I'm sure. That's why I know so many people whom drugs offer little if any relief. Also, the mere fact that something isn't widely taught does nothing to disprove its worth. Montessori schools aren't widely popular, but I wouldn't say the standard academic system is superior--far from it. It takes a long time for things to become known, and when they go against the grain, longer for them to be accepted.
I would like to add that I have yet to hear a credible psychiatrist, or for that matter, any patients, claim that drugs alone will cure a mental/emotional illness. Perhaps the author of that review hasn't met many psychiatrists.
Excellent Book on the Emotional Life.......2002-11-10
Dr. Terruwe and Dr. Baars give us an excellent understanding of the healthy emotional life and what can go wrong to cause an emotional disorder. The reader is given an understanding of many of the repressive disorders which include symptoms such as tension, anxiety, depression, irritablity, anger, fatigue, scrupulosity and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Clinical cases underscore the concepts in this book, bringing the reader an understanding of the freedom available through the healing of these emotional disorders and *hope* for those afflicted. The authors' clinical discoveries are detailed along with an explanation of their therapy. Prevention of these disorders is also discussed. Many, many people have been greatly helped through these principles. This book is geared for a wide audience -- lay persons, mental health professionals and those involved in Christian ministry and the moral formation of others. (Please note that the words "psychic" and "psyche" in title of this book refer to "psychological" wholeness.)
A Failure........2002-04-21
The treatments advocated by Konrad Baars, along with much else in the periphery of psychological treatment is a sham. These outmoded theories have been superseded by a biological understanding personality and disease as well as the innovated notions of Sigmund Freud, who, over one hundred years ago, introduced the discovery of the unconscious. The only appeal of Baars's work is its association with Catholic doctrine. But that religion is not a suitable basis for psychiatric treatment.
No psychiatric residency program in this country teaches this type of mystical, New Age mumbo-jumbo. It is soley the province of poorly-trained "counselors," social workers, and religious devotees. If you are having a problem, only the latest pharmaceutical innovations can claim to offer relief of suffering.
Book Description
C. S. Lewis was one of the most influential Christian apologists of the 20th century. An Oxford don and former atheist who converted to Christianity in 1931, he gained a wide following during the 1940s as the author of a number of popular apologetic books such as Mere Christianity, Miracles, and The Problem of Pain in which he argued for the truth of Christianity. Today his reputation is greater than ever--partly because of his books and partly because of the movie Shadowlands, starring Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger.
In advocating Christianity, Lewis did not appeal to blind faith, but to reason. Convinced that Christianity is rationally defensible, he boldly declared: "I am not asking anyone to accept Christianity if his best reasoning tells him that the weight of the evidence is against it." But do Lewis's arguments survive critical scrutiny?
In this revised and expanded edition of his book originally published in 1985, philosopher John Beversluis takes Lewis at his word, sympathetically examines his "case for Christianity," and concludes that it fails.
Beversluis examines Lewis's argument from desire--the "inconsolable longing" that he interpreted as a pointer to a higher reality; his moral argument for the existence of a Power behind the moral law; his contention that reason cannot be adequately explained in naturalistic terms; and his solution to the Problem of Evil, which many philosophers regard as the decisive objection to belief in Christianity. In addition, Beversluis considers issues in the philosophy of religion that developed late in Lewis's life--such as Antony Flew's criticisms of Christian theology. He concludes with a discussion of Lewis's crisis of faith after the death of his wife and answers the question: Did C. S. Lewis lose his faith? Finally, in this second edition, Beversluis replies to critics of the first edition.
As the only critical study of C. S. Lewis's apologetic writings, this readable and intellectually stimulating book should be on the bookshelves of anyone interested in the philosophy of religion.
Customer Reviews:
Where are the C.S. Lewis readers?.......2006-04-05
I found it interesting, given the recent success of the Chronicles of Narnia film, that the last review of Mr. Beversluis' book was more than 5 years ago. I would have guessed that the film sparked a new curiosity about the substance behind the story. Alas, I suppose most people who enjoyed the film did so because they are content with the validity of their Christian faith. However, those who want to dig deeper (as Lewis did) will find that Mr. Beversluis' book is quite thought provoking, and on many points, quite devastating.
Walter Hooper, Lewis's "official" biographer, once tried to claim that Lewis' book "A Grief Observed" was not meant to be taken as a true account of Lewis' own life, but merely a piece of fiction used to make some theological points. On this he has been overruled by the evidence. And since much of Mr. Beversluis' book centers around Lewis' crisis in "A Grief Observed," one needs to understand that book and its ultimate compromise, which Mr. Beversluis sees as critical to understanding what amounts to a flaw in Lewis' attempt to rationally defend Christianity.
As Lewis stated himself--and as Mr. Beversluis reminds us in his book--one should follow the evidence and, if it is found wanting, one should not accept the claims of Christianity as true. The great thing about this book is that you can examine the arguments advanced by Mr. Beversluis, compare them to the writings of C.S. Lewis--many of which are quoted in the book--and decide for yourself. If, that is, you have an open mind.
Fair and Thorough Critique.......2000-03-24
I was rather surprised that someone believes this book is guilty of the straw man fallacy. On the contrary, Beversluis first systematically described each of Lewis's arguments in such a way that I was being convinced all over again, until of course, he continued on with his objections. This book served as a key turning point in my life so I'd be more than willing to listen to particular details concerning where Beversluis falls short in his critique. (I can be reached at johnku@uiuc.edu) Being a devout Christian and a huge fan of Lewis at the time, this book had a profound impact on my life and I think it's a shame that it is no longer in print.
Attempted critique falls short.......2000-02-18
John Beversluis's book _C.S. Lewis and the Search for Rational Religion_ has a number of promising elements to it: his writing style is often fluid and enjoyable, he pledges to stick to a balanced, moderate treatment of Lewis, and he quotes extensively from Lewis's works when appropriate. Unfortunately, his arguments against what C.S. Lewis has to write are sadly mistaken. Though I think there are good points to some of his arguments, and his caution towards exalting Lewis as a near-god are justified and welcome, the very shallow and near-sighted interpretation he takes on the works themselves is unfortunate, unjustified, and ultimately flawed.
He takes C.S. Lewis to be of the most ignorant or devious nature in setting forth his views and assumes that Lewis was either blissfully ignorant of the true nature of the positions he was attacking or dishonestly ignores their philosophical weight to make his task easier. The fact of the matter is that C.S. Lewis's critiques are rather often right on target. John Beversluis reads Lewis in his poorest light imaginable and then attacks straw men throughout--something he often accuses Lewis of doing himself. A more sophisticated and developed work is needed if C.S. Lewis's positions are to be attacked with the force Beversluis imagines he has used. This book was out-of-print at the time this review was written, and I think that is so for good reason.
Book Description
1932. Widtsoe, a member of the Council of the Twelve Apostles, writes: A rational theology, as understood in this volume, is a theology which 1) is based on fundamental principles that harmonize with the knowledge and reason of man, 2) derives all of its laws, ordinances and authority from the accepted fundamental principles, and 3) finds expression and use in the everyday life of man. In short, a rational theology is derived from the invariable laws of the universe, and exists for the good of man. This volume is an exposition; it is not an argument. The principles of the Gospel, as held by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, are stated briefly, simply and without comment, to show the coherence, reasonableness and universality of the Gospel philosophy. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.
Customer Reviews:
A Look at (and into) Church of Jesus Christ.......2002-01-05
This overview book expounds many of the doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, along the line of "Gospel Principles," and is a very good read, considering Elder Widtsoe was an emigrant form Norway. He covers the basics, but as President Hinckley has said, we learn by repetition. For those who are a fan of Widtsoe, this is an essential addition to their library.
The only drawback being that it is was designed for used in priesthood meetings, so it is not designed for non-Saints. For anyone interesting in "first contact" with the Latter-day Saints, I would recommend reading "The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ," or "Standing for Something" by Gordon B. Hinckley, the current world leader of the Church. Don't drink below the horses, including myself!
It should be noted that Brother Widtsoe comes from the point of view of a chemist and describes our theology in terms of rationality and a science. C. S. Lewis warned about "Christianity And," (Screwtape Letters, chapter 25) such as "Christianity and Pacifism," or "Christianity and Vegetarianism," the problem being that we are diluting the Gospel and rewriting it in the light of our own hobbies or profession.
True, our theology is rational and can stand the scrutiny of a Thomas Aquinas or a Jesse Ventura, but it is not the product of a test-tube or a syllogism. In other words, Joseph Smith didn't get our religion from re-shuffling verses of the bible, or just deep thinking or pondering, but he got revelations. He said, "I have got all the truth which the Christian world possessed, and an independent revelation in the bargain, and God will bear me off triumphant." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 376)
Despite this one point, would recommend this book for a new member learning, a non-member curious, or an old member wanting to review basics. C. S. Lewis also said that we should alternate between reading old books, and new books, since the old ones have stood the test of time, whereas the new books, such as "Believing Christ," or John Bytheway books are still on trial. I'm not saying the are bad, but that there is a verdict of history associated with "Jesus the Christ," or "Mormon Doctrine" that these striplings do not yet have.
This book converted my father.......2000-09-19
This is an unusual review, as I have not read the book. But I noted that no-one else has reviewed it, so somebody has to say something. My father was found by LDS missionaries in 1961. He has a great love of science, and naturally had many questions. Someone gave him a copy of this book, and he was convinced. He has a rational answer to most questions, and this book shaped his attitudes. I have not read the book, but it has indirectly defined my life and the lives of others.
Book Description
Drawing on texts both ancient and modern, this book explores rational theology in Islam, from ninth and tenth century Mu'tazilism to rationalist modernist scholarship.
Customer Reviews:
Great book but wish it was more detailed!.......2005-09-23
This is a great book describing the doctrines of the Mutazil school of Islamic theology. It explains the history and development of the different theological schools, focussing on the works of the famous Mutazil scholar Qadi 'Abd al-Jabbar. His "Kitab al-Usul al-Khamsa" (the Book os 5 Foundations) is known in Islamic circles as representative of the later Mutazil school, synthesized from various different strains of early thought. It is translated here with a commentary by the authors and also by one of 'Abd al-Jabbar's original students.
The 5 foundational principles of: "Unity of God" (Tawhid); "Justice" (al-'adl); "The Promise and Threat" (al-wa'd wa l-wa'id); "The Intermediate Position" (al-manzila bayn al-manzilatayn) and finally "Commanding the Good and forbidding the Evil" (al-amr bi l-ma'ruf wa-l nahy 'an al-munkar) are discussed in detail with reference to the Mutazil sources. Also the pre-requisite even before these - that of speculative reasoning (al-nazar) and it's use in coming to realise or prove the existence of God. Some of these positions differ radically from the main Sunni creed of the Ashariyya, but is more close to the Maturidiyya (the school I follow).
After the background and translation of this important text, the authors move to talk about a contemporary neo-Mutazil thinker in Indonesia, Harun Nasuiton. One of his works is translated and explained with commentary. The concept of the revival of Mutazil-inspired thought is discussed from the time of the original "Salafiyya" movement before it was hijacked by the Wahabbi creed (Muhammad 'Abduh for example) and a number of interesting points are raised.
I only gave it 4 stars, because I felt it was lacking in some parts. Mainly the history and development of the Mutazil creed, the socio-political aspects that led to their decline and other things. I wish there was much more information regarding this, as well as how much the Mutazil creed influenced the Shia theology as well (the student of 'Abd al-Jabbar referenced a lot was a Zaydi Shia for example). There is a chapter or 2 on this kind of imformation and it is a great overview, but it left me hungry for more! The same for the contemporary scene - I wish that more intellectuals and scholars were referenced. But I guess this is the problem with it being originally written in 1997.
I look forward to an updated and expanded edition, or another publication based on such pioneering work.
Important but Difficult Book.......2000-07-06
Mu'tazilism was a school of Islamic theological discourse (kalam) that enjoyed the patronage of many Muslim rulers during the Abbasid Age (800-1050 CE). Mu'tazali intellectuals forwarded a rationalist conception of Islamic theology and offered specific opinions about divine unity, the historical context of revelation, and ethical answerability to God. The first principle of Mu'tazilism was that all humans must exercise speculative reason in order to know God. Further, the Mu'tazila believed that humans had the power (qudra) to act independently and were responsible to God for those actions. Later Muslim orthodoxy (i.e. Ash'ariya) strongly opposed this doctrine and favored the doctrine of divine predestination.
The authors argue that modernist Muslim intellectuals have dipped into the well of Islamic history and drawn heavily from Mu'tazalism. In addition to the belief in human efficacy, modernist Muslims seem particular interested in the Mu'tazlite assertion that the Qur'an was revealed in a particular historical context and therefore Muslims must use reason to interpret it when living in new contexts. The Mu'tazilite doctrine that asserts that associating attributes to God is tantamount to shirk (polytheism) seems to be of little interest to most modernist Muslims.
Although very few of these contemporary intellectuals self-identify as neo-mu'tazalite they admire the Mu'tazalite commitment to reason. However, one Indonesian intellectual, Harun Nasution, has boldly declared himself to be a modern day Mu'tazalite.
The authors translate and explicate two Mu'tazalite texts. The first was written in the tenth century CE by Qadi 'Abd al-Jabbar, considered by some to be the last major Mu'tazalite scholar. The second was written by the contemporary Indonesian Islamic scholar, Harun Nasution. The authors compare these texts both in term of their theological (kalam) arguments as well as in terms of the context in which they were written. In this way, it is a exquisite examination of continuity and change within a religious tradition.
This is not a book for the casual reader, despite the fact that it is distributed through popular booksellers in the United States. It twists and turns through the history of theological debates in Islam. Some of the debates might seem arcane to the first time student of Islam and others confusing as to the real difference between the opposing views.
For the advanced scholar of Islam, this is a marvelous book. It reflects a collaborative effort of a kind that should be encouraged and repeated in the study of Islam. Martin is an historian of Islam and a philologist. Woodward is an anthropologist well-known for his work on Indonesian Islam. Both are detached scholars; neither is Muslim. Atmaja, on the other hand, is a young Indonesian Islamic intellectual conversant in historical texts and, like many of his contemporaries, trying to come to terms with modernity and postmodernity. In fact, as the preface of the book openly admits, this book was inspired by Atmaja's desire to examine Mu'tazilism as a source for thinking about the relationship between rationality and faith.
Ron Lukens-Bull, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Anthropology University of North Florida Jacksonville, FL 32224-2650 (904) 620-2850 rlukens@unf.edu
Book Description
Confessions of a Rational Mystic exposes both aspects of this transitional thinker through a multidimensional interpretation of his Pioslogion. It treats Anselm’s famous proof for the existence of God as both a rational argument and an exercise in mystical theology, analyzing the logic of its reasoning while providing a phenomenological account of the vision of God that is embedded within it. Through a deconstructive reading of the cycle of prayer and proof that forms the overall structure of the text, not only is the argument returned to its place in the Proslogion as a whole, but the historic relationship that it attempts to establish between faith and reason is examined. In this way, the critical role that Anselm played in the history of philosophy is seen in a new light.
Books:
- Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality
- Born in Blood: The Lost Secrets of Freemasonry
- Catching Up with Jesus: A Gospel Story for Our Time
- Celtic Traditions: Druids, Faeries, and Wiccan Rituals
- Chicken Soup for the Breast Cancer Survivor's Soul: Stories to Inspire, Support and Heal (Chicken Soup for the Soul)
- Chicken Soup for the Military Wife's Soul: Stories to Touch the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit (Chicken Soup for the Soul)
- Chinese Primer: The Pinyin (3 Volume Set)
- Clean of Heart: Overcoming Habitual Sins against Purity
- Complete Audio Holy Bible: King James Version
- Contemporary Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice: Essays in Honor of Gilbert Geis
Books Index
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