Average customer rating:
- A Guru for the 21st Century
- Something that will keep us pondering for a long time
- Harris dares to imagine no religion
- About the same as fellow atheists Dawkins and Hitchens but a tad more reasonable
- The End of Bad Arguments? Unfortunately Not
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The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason
Sam Harris
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton
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ASIN: 0393327655 |
Amazon.com
Sam Harris cranks out blunt, hard-hitting chapters to make his case for why faith itself is the most dangerous element of modern life. And if the devil's in the details, then you'll find Satan waiting at the back of the book in the very substantial notes section where Harris saves his more esoteric discussions to avoid sidetracking the urgency of his message.
Interestingly, Harris is not just focused on debunking religious faith, though he makes his compelling arguments with verve and intellectual clarity. The End of Faith is also a bit of a philosophical Swiss Army knife. Once he has presented his arguments on why, in an age of Weapons of Mass Destruction, belief is now a hazard of great proportions, he focuses on proposing alternate approaches to the mysteries of life. Harris recognizes the truth of the human condition, that we fear death, and we often crave "something more" we cannot easily define, and which is not met by accumulating more material possessions. But by attempting to provide the cure for the ills it defines, the book bites off a bit more than it can comfortably chew in its modest page count (however the rich Bibliography provides more than enough background for an intrigued reader to follow up for months on any particular strand of the author' musings.)
Harris' heart is not as much in the latter chapters, though, but in presenting his main premise. Simply stated, any belief system that speaks with assurance about the hereafter has the potential to place far less value on the here and now. And thus the corollary -- when death is simply a door translating us from one existence to another, it loses its sting and finality. Harris pointedly asks us to consider that those who do not fear death for themselves, and who also revere ancient scriptures instructing them to mete it out generously to others, may soon have these weapons in their own hands. If thoughts along the same line haunt you, this is your book.--Ed Dobeas
Book Description
An impassioned plea for reason in a world divided by faith.
This important and timely book delivers a startling analysis of the clash of faith and reason in today's world. Harris offers a vivid historical tour of mankind's willingness to suspend reason in favor of religious beliefs, even when those beliefs are used to justify harmful behavior and sometimes-heinous crimes. He asserts that in the shadow of weapons of mass destruction, we can no longer tolerate views that pit one true god against another. Most controversially, he argues that we cannot afford moderate lip service to religion—an accommodation that only blinds us to the real perils of fundamentalism. While warning against the encroachment of organized religion into world politics, Harris also draws on new evidence from neuroscience and insights from philosophy to explore spirituality as a biological, brain-based need. He calls on us to invoke that need in taking a secular humanistic approach to solving the problems of this world.
Natalie Angier wrote in the New York Times: "The End of Faith articulates the dangers and absurdities of organized religion so fiercely and so fearlessly that I felt relieved as I read it, vindicated….Harris writes what a sizable number of us think, but few are willing to say."
Customer Reviews:
A Guru for the 21st Century.......2007-10-08
Morally speaking, are Bronze-Age myths as good as it gets?
Sam Harris doesn't think so and he argues brilliantly for a
new religious paradigm to shepherd us through the 21st Century.
Like a Spanish Inquisitor Harris ruthlessly examines the shaky philosophical justification for Abrahamic theism and finds it wanting.
But Harris doesn't just convince us that there really is no Santa Claus, he offers us a new way forward. He proves conclusively that science and reason do not necessarily have to be divorced from spiritual inquiry and revelation.
Some of his detractors have said that Harris is angry at God, but
that of course assumes a fact not in evidence (the existence of God).
After hearing him speak at Aspen Colorado,
'angry' is not quite the adjective that comes to mind.
http://svayam8.blogspot.com/2007/07/sam-harris-at-aspen-ideas-festival.html
As hard as it may be for theists to accept, many disbelievers really are being intellectually honest.
Sam Harris is one of those. He isn't angry, he's just right.
Thank you Sam for being a beacon of reason in a dangerously
darkened world.
Letter to a Christian Nation
Something that will keep us pondering for a long time.......2007-10-07
Well, this book is one of those that you come across with an argument so solid that you cannot stop pondering about its ideas. Mr. Harris has laid down a set of ideas that for a long time will haunt us, and the generations to come. Mr. Harris exposition of his thesis is simply monumental. His lurid writing style and his exquisite manners have brought forth a fundamental issue.
Mr. Harris as in the moving The Kingdom have presented us a sordid reality. Either we continue with religions and destroy humanity or we dispose of religion and avoid genocide. Muslims wants us dead and we do not want Islamic doctrines in our life. Further, more 9-11 have presented us with the issue of Abrahamic Religions and their stupidity. Because of them we lost 500 years, The Dark Ages and because of them we are losing our freedom and technological progress.
Some rabble-rouser long ago hid truth from us. [...] God created man. [...] men create God. That is the way it is in the world - men make gods and worship their creation. It would be fitting for the gods to worship men! Gospel of Philip 71:34; 72:1-4 Nag Hammadi Texts
Fanaticism and Fundamentalism of the religious realm have ruin freedom and life itself! Both should be eliminated and replaced by logical processes, which will warrant freedom, progress, technological development, world peace and happiness to every single human being. Religious moral varies from religion to religion. Logical morality does not need to vary! 1+1=2 in USA and in China too! Morals should be in the same manner.
Mr. Harris has begun a movement that will be here long after he parts. It is a movement of personal right to live a life as one please and not as a few wants you to live. It is also a movement toward World Peace!
I do recommend this book to everyone!
Harris dares to imagine no religion.......2007-09-26
This book is so much fun to read I read it twice. Harris writes with passion, erudition, and razor-sharp wit. His book has forced so-called religious moderates to begin taking responsibility for the zealots they unintentionally shelter, and he has demonstrated that a world with powerfully destructive technologies, such as ours, can no longer afford the luxury of basing policy on tribal superstitions and on supernatural claims that cannot possibly be substantiated with evidence. Highly recommended.
About the same as fellow atheists Dawkins and Hitchens but a tad more reasonable.......2007-09-22
Sam Harris like Hitchens and Dawkins is a master at setting up religious straw-men and then knocking them down. It is more fun and sells more books than taking on the real thing. Then it becomes balanced and boring. The author looks at the great evils in the world, the cause of which many others have attributed to nationalism, capitalism, lack of "lebensraum" etc. and claims that religion was the real cause. "Knowingly or not Nazis were agents of religion."... "Stalin and Mao killed millions because "communism was little more than a political religion." Why are the millions killed by Paul Pot not mentioned was he not trying to please God like Stalin, Mao and Hitler? Looking at Webster's definition of religion it is clear that these three ruthless dictators were not great religious leaders.
The author is using words incorrectly to make false accusations. A "political religion" is not religion if it does not profess a belief in an after life and God. But the author ignores that fact, because he is out to pin as many bad things on the word "religion" as possible..
Unlike Hitchens Sam Harris is an atheist who does see bigger differences among religions. He thinks Islam, for example, is especially bad ("cult of death").
I did not know that Noam Chomsky was any kind of religious thinker but the author takes a swipe at Noam by stating that Chomsky's view of moral equivalence is a big mistake." It is not clear how that fits in with his attacks on religion, but he gets the third star for that anyway.
The End of Bad Arguments? Unfortunately Not.......2007-09-19
Sam Harris's "The End of Faith" is an assault upon religion, blind faith, and fundamentalist violence. However, clear thinking Christians have little to fear from Harris's social critique.
The majority of the book is an exposition of the evils, real or imagined, produced by religion. Harris discusses current atrocities, including September 11 and suicide bombings in Israel, as well as past atrocities, including the Inquisition and the Salem Witch Trials. This leads to the natural question- if Harris (an atheist) is so critical of religious horrors, how can he explain the atheistic regimes of Hitler, Stalin, Mao, and Pol Pot, which collectively were responsible for millions of deaths? Harris claims that, while they may not have been explicitly religious, these evil regimes were the result of poor thinking. He states in his afterword-
"While some of the most despicable political movements in human history have been explicitly irreligious, they were not especially rational. The public pronouncements of these regimes have been mere litanies of delusion- about race, economics, national identity, the march of history, or the moral dangers of intellectualism." [231]
Thus, we see that The End of Faith does not really support atheism or oppose religion, it simply supports reason and opposes blind faith. Otherwise, his critique of religion is completely arbitrary, as he admits in this quoted passage that the real enemy is not simply religious faith, but irrationality itself. Thus, Harris needs to demonstrate that Christianity inherently necessitates irrational faith if he wishes to demonstrate that it should be rejected. Throughout the book, Harris merely assumes that so-called "fundamentalist" Christians can only exist through blind faith, but his assumption is both unproven and incorrect. Despite railing on about the supposed irrationality of religion, Harris never once deals with any of the arguments offered by Christians either historically or in the present day. There is no critique of the Cosmological Argument, no consideration of the evidence for the empty tomb, no critique of biblical passages or doctrines. Harris simply assumes that Christianity requires blind faith, argues that blind faith is both stupid and dangerous, and declares victory. The problem is that he has never shown that Christianity requires blind faith.
The other problem with Harris's approach is a common one- he assumes that the misdeeds of religious followers invalidates the religion itself.
Thus, the majority of Harris's book is simply not relevant for intelligent Christians. Surprisingly, however, there is some value in The End of Faith. For example, he discusses morality and makes a good case for charitable giving, and discusses politics and law, and makes a good case for the legalization of (some) drugs as a matter of public policy. However, as a critique of religion in general, and Christianity in particular, "The End of Faith" fails quite miserably.
Book Description
FinallyâYou Can
Understand Her!
Women: complicated and impossible to understand? Do you love and want to please the woman in your life, but just can’t seem to figure her out? That was before For Men Only. Now at your fingertips is the tool that will unlock the secret to her mysterious ways. Through hundreds of interviews and the results of a scientific national survey of women, this book demonstrates that women are actually not random and that they really can be systematized and âmapped.â In fact, much to men’s delight, this book shows that women are actually quite easy to understand and pleaseâas long as you know what it is they need. This simple map will guide you to loving your wife or girlfriend in the way she needs to be loved.
Finally.
You Can
Understand Her!
Women: complicated and impossible to understand? Have you given up trying to âgetâ the woman in your life? If so, you are in for a pleasant eye-opener: She can be understood. Even betterâyou can make her happy. Which will make you happy.
The bestselling author of For Women Only teams with her husband to offer men the key to unlocking the mysterious ways of women. Through Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn ’s national scientific survey and hundreds of interviews, For Men Only reveals what you can do today to improve your relationship. And believe it or not, as Jeff assures men, âIt’s not splitting the atom.â
What makes her tick? What is she really asking (but not actually saying)? Take the guesswork out of trying to please your wife or girlfriend and begin loving her in the way she needs. Easily. For Men Only is a straightforward map that will lead you straight into her heart.
And for every guy who rarely reads a manual:
Quick-Start Guide Included!
âWhen we featured Shaunti’s book For Women Only on FamilyLife Today , the phone rang off the hook! When Shaunti and Jeff come back on our broadcast, I’m buying some more phones. This is fresh and relevantâgood stuff for every marriage. Read it!â
Dennis Rainey
President, FamilyLife
Story Behind the Book
âAs I was writing For Women Only to help women understand the inner lives of men, over and over I heard that men wished there was a way to understand their wives, but they felt it was probably impossible. I heard from them, âYou are writing this little slim volume about men, but if it was about understanding women, it would have to be the size of an encyclopedia! Women are random and complicated!’ These men were surprised and encouraged when I assured them that women are neither random nor complicated, and we can be understood. Men just want to love their wives well, and For Men Only will help them do that.â
âShaunti Feldhahn
Customer Reviews:
For Men Only.......2007-10-11
This is a must read for the women who wants to understand why men act the way they do. It will not change them, but it will make you not want to change them, and appreciate them for the way they are made!
Just What I Needed.......2007-09-25
I got this book at a friend's recommendation. I'm getting married soon and I was hoping for some help. The book was very helpful and informative. I liked it for not being biased or a 10 step program. It's literally straightforward information on how most women think. It's already drastically altered the way I relate to my fiancée and it's helped us grow closer together. I'd recommend it to any man that wants a better relationship with his lady. This is a great book to help newlyweds get started out on the right foot.
Undserstanding a Woman.......2007-09-21
The Feldhahn's bring humor and wisdom into an amazingly complex topic - understanding a woman. While my wife certainly is mysterious to say the least, this book provided insights into why she says what she says, reacts the way she does to my words, and what I have done to build walls that she gave up trying to climb. I found that many of her problems could be influenced for the better by my willingness to understand her and speak to her on her terms. This book has helped me help my wife love me more fully. Humble yourself and read it!!
Read this with your significant other.......2007-09-21
Great book on the inner lives of women. Read this with your significant other and it will bring you closer. It is written from a Christian perspective, but this is not overly apparent.
Great book! 5 stars!
Perfect Wedding Book!.......2007-09-07
Ok, so I admit that I read some of my husband's book titled "For Men Only". It's his own fault for leaving it next to the toilet.
We received these as wedding gifts awhile back. I was really curious to see if what it said was true. I have to say that it actually provided some great insight into my own thoughts and feelings and legitimized my feelings for certain issues that have arisen in our relationship. I'd have to say that in my opinion this is a great book to help men understand the average woman. Men, if you've ever thought "That girl is ka-razy!", then this is the book for you!
Two thumbs up!
Amazon.com
If Christian men are going to change from a pitiful, wimpy bunch of "really nice guys" to men who are made in the image of God, they must reexamine their preconceptions about who God is and recover their true "wild" hearts, writes bestselling author John Eldredge in Wild at Heart: Discovering a Life of Passion, Freedom, and Adventure. Eldredge throws down the gauntlet--men are bored; they fear risk, they refuse to pay attention to their deepest desires. He challenges Christian men to return to authentic masculinity without resorting to a "macho man" mentality. Men often seek validation in venues such as work, or in the conquest of women, Eldredge observes. He urges men to take time out and come to grips with the "secret longings" of their hearts. Although the book succeeds best in its slant toward a male audience, it also strives to help women understand the implications of authentic masculinity in their relationships with men. Eldredge frames the book around his outdoor experiences and appealing anecdotes about his family, sprinkling the text with touches of humor and overlying everything with heartfelt passion. Even as he mixes eclectic ideas about masculinity from popular movies such as Braveheart with classic words from Oswald Chambers, and lyrics from the Dixie Chicks with stories from the Bible, he points to only one answer for men searching for their true wildness of heart. Writes Eldredge, "The only way to live in this adventure ... with all its danger and unpredictability and immensely high stakes ... is in an ongoing, intimate relationship with God." --Cindy Crosby
Book Description
Helping men rediscover their masculine heart, this guide to understanding Christian manhood and Christian men offers a refreshing break from the chorus of voices urging men to be more responsible, reliable, dutiful… and dead. God designed men to be dangerous, says John Eldredge. Simply look at the dreams and desires written in the heart of every boy: To be a hero, to be a warrior, to live a life of adventure and risk. Sadly, most men abandon those dreams and desires-aided by a Christianity that feels like nothing more than pressure to be a "nice guy." It is no wonder that many men avoid church, and those who go are often passive and bored to death. In this provocative book, now available in trade paper, Eldredge gives women a look inside the true heart of a man and gives men permission to be what God designed them to be-dangerous, passionate, alive, and free.
Customer Reviews:
Misses the Mark.......2007-09-28
Has some good open insights, but misses the mark as the author wants us to return to the patriarchal ways of thinking that actually hurts true masculinity.Men-The Gods of Love
Wild at Heart Rocks.......2007-09-27
Wild at Heart rocks! Perfect view of God and men - No. A great motivator for men to develop a deep and very personal relationship with God - Yes. Having read the book a couple of times, and now having read other John Eldredge books, I can tell you that my spiritual walk with God has been completely changed in a very meaningful way. In fact 'changed' is probably a word that does not completely convey the real impact of the message on my life -- 'Warped Across the Universe' would be more descriptive.
As a few reviewers have highlighted, the book is not perfect. Nor is it the answer to every man's questions about his masculinity and how we are all formed in God's image. It simply provides a strong framework to think differently about what it means to be a man but yet a Christian.
As mentioned again by several reviewers, although the book has a little bravado here and there, it is not license to mistreat other people, especially not the women in our life's. The message is very clear. Although the God is a Warrior, He is also a compelling force who loves mankind deeply.
Bottom-line about this book is that message, can at least for some men, revolutionize their thinking about God, Church, their families and their relationships with other people. It has changed me in a personal a deep manner that this review cannot even begin to express.
Wonderfully Spiritual and Invigorating - Not Just For Men!.......2007-09-25
I cannot speak highly enough of this book! I learned so much from reading it--about myself, about my husband, about life! In fact, I think I'll read it AGAIN!
Truly Transformational!!.......2007-09-18
Treasures of the Kingdom, Vol. 1
I've seen the message from this book transform not only my own life, but the lives of many, many others as well.
The Eldredges have such a wonderful way of awakening the heart to its natural hunger and thirst for God. They throw us head long into a journey of pursuing God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength.
The pursuit results in total transformation. Mediocre religion doesn't cut it anymore. We have to have God and we have to see Him powerfully and fully integrated in our every day lives. Walking with God, hearing His voice, knowing His guidance and leading in our lives changes everything.
For true stories of lives transformed because of the power of this message as presented by the Eldredges, see the real life accounts in the Amazon book, Treasures of the Kingdom.
Timing is everything.......2007-09-13
I actually read this book about 4 years ago and remember thinking it was pretty good, BUT for some reason I picked it up a few weeks ago and re-read it. POWERFUL insight. Then just as I was finishing the book, my Dad died. There are no coincidences. This book answered a lot of deep questions I didn't even know I had. It was a real life shaper. TO those of you who are fathers to boys,.. its a MUST READ. The authors insight is right-on and much different than what you would expect from a "Christian author". BTW, I could see why some women might have a problem understanding and accepting some of his insights. I'd say they just need to listen, observe and keep an open mind. This book can save relationships.
Book Description
Kim Meeder has seen horses go where no one else can tread - stepping through the minefield of a broken child's soul in a dance of trust that only God can understand. From a mistreated horse to an emotionally starved child and back again, a torrent of love washes away their barren places. Kim's ranch is a place where this miracle happens over and over again. It is a place where the impossible flourishes, where dreams survive the inferno of reality - a place where hope rises.
Where Wounded Spirits Run Free
Follow a horse where no one else can tread, through the minefield of pain that surrounds a broken child’s soul. From a mistreated horse to an emotionally starved child and back again, a torrent of love revives their barren places.
In the presence of unconditional love, a mute girl speaks for the first time. A defiant teenager teaches a horse to trust again...and opens his own heart to love. A rescued horse gives a dying man his last wish. A battered girl finds love and protection in the friendship of a battered horse...
Come visit a place where the impossible flourishes, where dreams survive the inferno of realityâa place where hope rises.
Customer Reviews:
Beautiful.......2007-09-19
If this testimony of God's work in the lives of those at Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch doesn't pierce your heart, nothing will. It is well writen and absolutely beautiful.
Simply Beautiful.......2007-08-21
Inspiring, true stories of how neglected horses and neglected children help to heal each other. This book reveals over and over again the powerful miracles that can happen when one has hope.
Outstanding true stories of wounded horses and hurting kids.......2007-05-13
Kim Meeder is not only a fabulous person; she is a gifted writer. These true stories of mistreated horses and hurting children coming together for healing and enjoyment will gladden any heart. Even if you are not a horse lover, you'll love this book. It's about "horse therapy" for suffering children and the bonds and breakthroughs that happen when kids and horses interact on a safe and secure level. Kim Meeder writes with her heart and out of personal experience.
Absolutely beautiful.......2007-05-07
I loved this book. It was full of wonderful stories and personal experiences. Very touching and inspiring.
Hope Rising-Book of Miracles.......2007-03-20
This is a book of miracles. It is about love, faith, and healing. Ms. Meeder plays the human heart strings like a diva, and her stories of children healed by horses are as touching as they are inspirational.
J.R. Wise
Author of
"Give a Horse a Second Chance"
Amazon.com
The old Quaker adage, "Let your life speak," spoke to author Parker J. Palmer when he was in his early 30s. It summoned him to a higher purpose, so he decided that henceforth he would live a nobler life. "I lined up the most elevated ideals I could find and set out to achieve them," he writes. "The results were rarely admirable, often laughable, and sometimes grotesque.... I had simply found a 'noble' way of living a life that was not my own, a life spent imitating heroes instead of listening to my heart."
Thirty years later, Palmer now understands that learning to let his life speak means "living the life that wants to live in me." It involves creating the kind of quiet, trusting conditions that allow a soul to speak its truth. It also means tuning out the noisy preconceived ideas about what a vocation should and shouldn't be so that we can better hear the call of our wild souls. There are no how-to formulas in this extremely unpretentious and well-written book, just fireside wisdom from an elder who is willing to share his mistakes and stories as he learned to live a life worth speaking about. --Gail Hudson
Book Description
With wisdom, compassion, and gentle humor, Parker J. Palmer invites us to listen to the inner teacher and follow its leadings toward a sense of meaning and purpose. Telling stories from his own life and the lives of others who have made a difference, he shares insights gained from darkness and depression as well as fulfillment and joy, illuminating a pathway toward vocation for all who seek the true calling of their lives.
Customer Reviews:
An Excellent and Inspiring Book!.......2007-06-25
This is an excellent book for reading and reflecting on life. The words will grip your inner soul and move you to a higher state of thinking and consciousness. Along the way, the author uses poetry to awaken the spirit. This book is real and has practical applications regarding life for almost everyone. I heard the author speak at Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, regarding education and he is an excellent speaker. This is an educator who removes the secret veil, exposes what life is about, and the level of aspiration we should strive for. I highly recommend this book. Other excellent books to read are: "Trilogy Moments for the Mind, Body and Soul," "The language of Poetry Forms" by Tree Good, and "Everyday Miracles" by Okubo.
Spiritual self-reflection.......2007-03-25
Palmer's book would be ideal for a rainy day read or for taking on a private retreat. He shares much learning from his life experiences. It is not a book about doing. Rather, it is a way to be integrated in one's living. One can learn to listen to their inner voice by what goes well and by recognizing one's limitations. Much food for thought.
Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation.......2007-03-10
Parker Palmer does a wonderful job in a concise why of providing us a guide to how we can learn to value our own experiences and truly listen to our inner voice. Listen in such a way as to be guided by what we are sensing and felling to help us speak through our life work and work life in ways that are self fulfilling and enriching. A very thought provoking and touching look at his own inner journey.
Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation.......2007-02-09
A great look at who we are and should be
calling as a gift to receive not a goal to achieve.......2007-01-18
Here is a book that I wish I had read twenty years ago on that perennial Christian conundrum faced by so many: what is God's will for me in my vocational life? I hasten to add that I am not sure that at that stage of my life I could or would have understood its wisdom. For the most part Christians try to answer this question about God's vocational guidance by going "outside" of ourselves to external matters like my skills, the advice of others, perhaps some tests, and so on. But from his Quaker tradition Palmer urges us to go "inside" ourselves to matters of the heart. When we pursue the former path a "false" self often follows the expectations that others have of us and so distorts the "true" self. Vocation, in short, is not "a goal that I pursue. It means a calling that I hear" (p. 4) or "a gift to be received" (p. 10). We discover this call or gift, writes Palmer, by listening to our life, by discovering the true self God made each of us to be, rather than by soliciting the acceptance and approval of others about what we "ought" to do. Palmer is a gifted story teller and writer, and shares liberally from his own vocational pilgrimage, warts and all. Entire chapters on clinical depression and "when way closes" (a Quaker aphorism) were helpful. A final chapter uses the seasons as a metaphor for the vocational life, reminding us as we move inevitably through fall, winter, spring and summer that, contrary to all culture tells us, we do not only "manufacture" our life, but would do well to "grow" it.
Book Description
For too long, religion has been a political plaything of theright-wing in this country. American churches seem more concerned with whatpeople do with their bodies than with their souls. Now, Kathleen KennedyTownsend issues a spiritual call to arms to those who feel like her thattoday's churches--Catholic and Protestant alike--are failing to promote thewelfare of those who depend upon them. After recounting her personal storyin one of the most prominent Catholic families in America, she shows howAmerica's neediest are now forgotten while their churches fight politicalbattles against abortion rights and homosexual marriages. She provides hopethrough powerful examples of individuals effecting change, from obscuresocial workers to The Purpose-Driven- Life's Rick Warren, and maintainsthat our individual actions can return our churches to their traditionalrole as shepherds to their flock.
Customer Reviews:
Mrs. Townson is out of touch.......2007-08-26
Mrs. Townson needs to learn a little more about how and why this Country were founded before she write a book on this subject.
Infact she should learn a litle more about the Book she wants to judge.
If this country were run like it was set to run by our Founding Fathers we would not have the problems we have today.
We have too many other ideas and agenda's being presented and we have followed them and are no longer a Christian country. If this keeps up we will be taken over by the Muslims, like they have said.
Mrs. Townson you have been listening to Uncle Ted for too long.
Fair and balanced commentary.......2007-08-16
I absolutely agree with the theme of this book. I came into the Catholic faith a few years ago in a parish that emphasized social justice above all else and it was a big reason behind my decision to become Catholic. I have since moved and cannot find a parish that makes this central tenet of Christianity a central part of their teachings. It's so sad but perhaps this book can help awaken people to these failings of our religious leaders and demand change.
A reminder of the gospels so many Christians have forgotten.......2007-08-01
Townsend's book is a necessary call to those who style themselves Christians yet imagine that they can pursue riches (Jesus was against riches and the rich: re especially Luke and the parable of Lazarus and the rich man (sometimes Lazarus and Dives, as Dives is Latin for rich man), advocate capital punishment (Jesus: let he who is without sin cast the first stone), love weapons (no warrant for that in the NT), ignore the plight of the poor and wretched, and justify any war at all, let alone aggressive war, as in Iraq.
Call for a Religious Left.......2007-07-27
In "Failing America's Faithful", RFK's oldest daughter states that the Christian church in the United States, has moved away from its traditional roles of providing charity and promoting social justice. Instead, churches are primarily involved in one or both of the following:
a. Political battles about personal moral issues (sex, abortion, etc.)
b. A type of "individualist" Christianity where participants emphasize their own spiritual growth and needs, and maybe perhaps those of their immediate community, but de-emphasizing, ignoring or even walling themselves off from the issues that affect society at large.
Along with the right-wing evangelicals and the mainstream Protestant denominations, Ms. Kennedy's own Catholic Church is up for criticism too; not only abortion but contraception is banned there, and women are not allowed to be priests. (A whole chapter is devoted to the position of women in the Catholic Church).
The book covers some of the Kennedy family history, including her own childhood experiences, as well as the Church's (both Protestant and Catholic) place in the labor, civil rights, and anti-war movements through the years. But within the past twenty years or so, public Christianity in the United States has largely been co-opted by the Right; the Left is now mostly secular, and often hostile to religion. There is a Religious Left, but it is relatively small and quiet.
According to Kennedy, a true "Christian Nation" would be actively involved in supporting causes such as civil rights, women's rights, welfare for the poor, environmental issues, etc. rather than being involved in moral judgements, supporting "business conservative" concerns such as lower taxes, or promoting individual spiritual comfort. Secularism alone will not bring about a more just nation; a spiritual basis is required. The relationship between religion and politics should not be a "wall" but a "window" where they can observe and influence each other, but not unduly.
Essentially, she's calling for a stronger "Christian Left" to counter the "Christian Right". This may already be happening in some form, with even the evangelicals taking a closer look at environmental issues and such, not just slavishly following the lead of the business conservatives.
My only real criticism of this book, is that Kennedy basically wants the church to switch from one set of political battles to another more in line with her own political beliefs. That's fine, but to be a church, and not just a secular charity or political action group, there should be a definite spiritual structure. I would have liked to see a little more Biblical support for some of her positions. But that's just me....
Progressive Christians should read this.......2007-07-21
If you think Christianity has potential, but has lost its way, read this. The author does a good job of pointing out the loss of direction of the dominant Christian faiths in American today. She especially points out the self-serving nature of Catholic and evangelical Christian religions and their neglect of the social gospel.
Book Description
The struggle for the soul of Europe today is every bit as dire and consequential as it was in the 1930s. Then, in Weimar, Germany, the center did not hold, and the light of civilization nearly went out. Today, the continent has entered yet another “Weimar moment.” Will Europeans rise to the challenge posed by radical Islam, or will they cave in once again to the extremists?
As an American living in Europe since 1998, Bruce Bawer has seen this problem up close. Across the continent—in Amsterdam, Oslo, Copenhagen, Paris, Berlin, Madrid, and Stockholm—he encountered large, rapidly expanding Muslim enclaves in which women were oppressed and abused, homosexuals persecuted and killed, “infidels” threatened and vilified, Jews demonized and attacked, barbaric traditions (such as honor killing and forced marriage) widely practiced, and freedom of speech and religion firmly repudiated.
The European political and media establishment turned a blind eye to all this, selling out women, Jews, gays, and democratic principles generally—even criminalizing free speech—in order to pacify the radical Islamists and preserve the illusion of multicultural harmony. The few heroic figures who dared to criticize Muslim extremists and speak up for true liberal values were systematically slandered as fascist bigots. Witnessing the disgraceful reaction of Europe’s elites to 9/11, to the terrorist attacks on Madrid, Beslan, and London, and to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Bawer concluded that Europe was heading inexorably down a path to cultural suicide.
Europe's Muslim communities are powder kegs, brimming with an alienation born of the immigrants’ deep antagonism toward an infidel society that rejects them and compounded by misguided immigration policies that enforce their segregation and empower the extremists in their midst. The mounting crisis produced by these deeply perverse and irresponsible policies finally burst onto our television screens in October 2005, as Paris and other European cities erupted in flames.
WHILE EUROPE SLEPT is the story of one American’s experience in Europe before and after 9/11, and of his many arguments with Europeans about the dangers of militant Islam and America’s role in combating it. This brave and invaluable book—with its riveting combination of eye-opening reportage and blunt, incisive analysis—is essential reading for anyone concerned about the fate of Europe and what it portends for the United States.
Customer Reviews:
Good read, unique perspective.......2007-10-10
Excellent book written from the point of view of a man who really stands to lose a lot as islam strangles out Europe's sense of personal freedoms. Demonstrating his frustrations over how liberals can't see how their own soft racism against muslims is turning the disenfranchised muslim populations against the mainstream and will eventually lead to the loss of all the things liberals hold most dearly.
a little honesty.......2007-10-08
Given that Zionism has hijecked US policy, how ironic, but expected, it is that a book on 'Islam' would come out to suggest that it is Islam that is destroying the West from within? Rather, Zionism is a theory that would steal land from a group of people on a moribund 2000 year old claim and say that group's rights don't matter - Please explain why should the Palestinians be Zionists?
Serious Eye Opener.......2007-09-26
Having read a number of books about Islam and its role in the world, I didn't expect to find much I didn't know in this book. I was astonished at how much I learned!
The author takes a variety of social aspects - education, immigration, media, legislation and law enforcement to name a few - and pulls them all together to give a clear picture of what life on the streets of Europe is like for the burgeoning Muslim population and the rest of us.
Although I wasn't expecting or appreciative of the author's homosexual-rights bias, there was no denying the truth of his words or the accuracy of his information.
Every American should have to read this book, and our legislators need to take it's warnings to heart if we want to avoid the disaster that Europe now faces.
IN REALITY, AN OLD PROBLEM IN A NEW FORM.......2007-09-21
I'll break my review into several parts:
1). In the Fall of 1989, I served as a Fulbright Senior Research Fellow at the Vrije Unviersity of AMsterdam. Everything Bawer describes about European values, attitudes,society, their elites, etc., is absolutely correct. I saw it first hand. Because of the demise of patriotism and a value system, Dutch (and much of European) society has become one where social standards have evaporated. Thus, lacking a moral and ethical compass, an understanding of what is right and wrong, and a devotion to a coddling welfare state, they have created a vacuum that the Jihadists are only too willing and eager to fill. They created their own mess.
However, what he describes is ingrained in the Euroopean system throughout their history. I know. I immigrated from there as a child. Just the players have changed.
2). What Bawer did not disclose. WHile In the Netherlands, I discovered that Dutch corporations preferentially recruit workers from the military to staff the assembly line to the Board room. Many of these former military types "yearn to be of public service" and run for their parliament. Close to 55% of elected Dutch officials have a military background.
In 1989, I asked someone in the US Embassy what would happen if an economic turn down occurred. Would these ex-miltiary elected officials say "Ya, right, let's take over and run ze country like za military to fix ze problems" and would this lead to the re-emergence of militaristic fascism? I was made to understand this was a major concern. Bawer is correct in raising the issue of re-emerging fascism in response to the rising tide of Islamistc fascism in Europe, but he understated it. Likely, that will be the outcome to counter the Jihadists when crunch-time comes.
As my father once told me "beware of the man on a white horse." European hsitory is a continuiong saga of leaders on white horses, and becsue history repeats, it is likely to happen again.
Bawer also did not mention the following. European countries with former empires have only themselves to blame. When they gave up their empire, they still considered former residents (including native/ethnic people) of their "colonies" to be be citizens of the "Empire" and gave them British and French and Dtuch passports for openers. Many used these passports to immigrate to the UK, the Netherlands, and France. In 1960 when visiting London, I was astounded at the number of Pakistanis working as bus ticket collectors, street sweepers, and garbage men because British workers didn't want to do those job and instead collect welfare. Those Pakistanis saved their money, opened businesses, imported their wives and proceeded to multiply at a high rate, while establishing mosques and then importing immans.
3). What are the solutions?: Bawer really didn't have many. So here are some. First, if it is true that immigrants are tearing up their ID's and flushing them down the toilet on airplanes on the way to Europe and then claiming asylum, European governments COULD require that all ID's be turned over at check in, taken on board in a sealed container, and returned to the incoming passengers on landing at the immigration counter in the presence of a European immigration officer. That might slow things down with regard to fake asylum.
Second, European government should start shipping out ALL radical Muslim immans and radical Islmaic sympathizers (including those born in Europe) back to the country of their heritage.
Third, European governments should require that all children born in their country of foreign parents must attend school in Europe, and not be shipped at age 3 back to the Islamic world for an education, only to reappear later as adults. All subsidies for such children should be stopped if they leave the country. The only exception would be if the parents leave the country permanently too.
Fourth, Eruopean governments MUST stop subsidizing all religious schools, denominations, and institutions if they truly want to separate Church and State. Clearly, the failure to do so has been misunderstood, abused and corrupted.
Fifth, require all incoming "fetch brides" to be screened by embassies around the world before giving them visas. Use a system like the US uses in such circumstances.
Sixth, place a limit on the number of children the government will subsidize to three children. If a family has more than three children, no subsidies for the new ones. (Works in China to a point?)
If Bawer has sized up European attitudes correctly, and I believe he has, don't expect this to happen. But these proposals would help contain the problem in part.
Last, I have a question for Bawer? Why does he still chose to live in Europe? When I left the Netherlands in 1989 after living there six months, I vowed never to return and I haven't. It was bad then, and has become worse now.
RECOMMENDATION: Buy this book. It could happen in the USA and there are signs that in some parts of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states some of this is developing.
Bawer's Jeremiad against Europe.......2007-09-15
I saw Bruce Bawer on Bill Moyers and thought the idea of his book was fascinating. I had been watching news stories about the Muslim underclass in Europe and figured that there was a powder keg in the making, and I thought this book would enlighten me. In the first part of this book he states his central thesis, which is that the liberalism of European states will be the very thing that does them in, vis-a-vis their Muslim populations. He makes good points about Europeans not really understanding the meaning of true integration, about their romantic notions of other "exotic" cultures, and political correctness continuing to allow - if not condone - the worst practices of Muslim religious fanaticism.
Up until the middle of the book I was with him. Then, with the second part of the three-part book, he lets loose about every niggling little thing that any random European might have done or said to him that got under his skin. He clearly has lived in Europe too long. He proceeds to whine about how anti-American all Europeans are, how wonderful American-style capitalism is and just about deifies Ronald Reagan, who, he implies, singlehandedly brought down the Berlin Wall. He accuses liberals such as Michael Moore of lying about how bad the health system is in the US, questions how really "poor" Hurricane Katrina victims were and spends an inordinate amount of time dissecting the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro and Che Guevara. Huh? This is NOT why I bought the book.
I realized that this book was less about how European nations were dealing with their immigration problems and more about how homesick he was for the US - and, how Europe's social economy was just way, way too "liberal" for him.
He's a facile writer, and when he wasn't blowing his stack about Europe and praising the US I rather enjoyed the read. But I just felt that the book used the European immigration situation as a thin ruse for the real topic of the book...bashing Europe. Had I known that, I wouldn't have bought it.
Average customer rating:
- Short and excellent treatment of the subject.
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Speaking of Slavery: Color, Ethnicity, and Human Bondage in Italy (Conjunctions of Religion and Power in the Medieval Past)
Steven A. Epstein
Manufacturer: Cornell University Press
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ASIN: 0801438489 |
Customer Reviews:
Short and excellent treatment of the subject........2007-07-06
An astoundingly good read! Short and well-supported, this book looks at how slavery changed over the centuries. Originally, slavery wasn't really based upon skin color or ethnicity, but it grew to have those connotations later. In Italy particularly there was a peculiar sort of melting-pot of all cultures/backgrounds of slaves, and since Italy was rather fond of bureaucracy, we have a lot of records of slaveholders, sellers, buyers, and occasionally the slaves themselves. The book includes information about where slaves came from, how old they tended to be, what names they usually had, how long owners kept them, and what happened to them after they were freed or resold. It also discusses the Church's changing opinion on slaves and how to treat them. The subjects of Muslim vs. Christian slaves and owners, piracy, and ransom are also covered in detail. I found the information contained herein to be absolutely invaluable in learning about the practice of slavery during Renaissance times. Don't miss this book.
Amazon.com
Originally written by Campbell in the '40s-- in his pre-Bill Moyers days -- and famous as George Lucas' inspiration for "Star Wars," this book will likewise inspire any writer or reader in its well considered assertion that while all stories have already been told, this is *not* a bad thing, since the *retelling* is still necessary. And while our own life's journey must always be ended alone, the travel is undertaken in the company not only of immediate loved ones and primal passion, but of the heroes and heroines -- and myth-cycles -- that have preceded us.
Book Description
Joseph Campbell's classic cross-cultural study of the hero's journey has inspired millions and opened up new areas of research and exploration. Originally published in 1949, the book hit the New York Times best-seller list in 1988 when it became the subject of The Power of Myth, a PBS television special.
The first popular work to combine the spiritual and psychological insights of modern psychoanalysis with the archetypes of world mythology, the book creates a roadmap for navigating the frustrating path of contemporary life. Examining heroic myths in the light of modern psychology, it considers not only the patterns and stages of mythology but also its relevance to our lives today--and to the life of any person seeking a fully realized existence.
Myth, according to Campbell, is the projection of a culture's dreams onto a large screen; Campbell's book, like Star Wars, the film it helped inspire, is an exploration of the big-picture moments from the stage that is our world. It is a must-have resource for both experienced students of mythology and the explorer just beginning to approach myth as a source of knowledge.
Customer Reviews:
Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-25
In the Hero with a Thousand Faces Joseph Campbell traces the myths and stories associated with the heroic archetype through all the varied cultures and types, also looking at a psychological viewpoint at times. Very interesting from a storytelling point of view, and at something that resonates so strongly around the world.
This book changed my perspective on "Life, the Universe, and Everything".......2007-05-12
Wow. Now that I've read this book I can't believe that I'd never heard of Joseph Campbell before. I started this book slowly, taking in the general idea and getting the point Campbell is making: all myths, religions, epic tales, etc. follow the same basic over-arching pattern. The pattern is plotted out in extreme detail in the book, so I won't go into it here, but it is spot on.
Anyone who has any interest in religion, philosophy, psychology, or the human condition needs to read this book. ALthough it starts out a bit slow and self-evident, by the end you realize that you are reading a book written by a true master teacher. Campbell's clearcut objective explanations are superb and unarguably true. Using examples from the Bible, the Iliad, the Koran, native American folklore, Hindu tales, fairy tales, Eskimo tales, Chinese legends, African tribal rituals, and too many more cultural tales to mention, Joseph Campbell definitively lays out the monomyth and its structure.
The beauty of Campbell's writing is how it sneaks up on you. I was following the general theme of the book and feeling as if I was learning something until around the middle of the book it all clicked. This book is not just about myth, philosophy, or religion, it is about mankind's constant struggle to nail down and explain the human condition. What troubles us is that we can't ever do it.
For this reason, in every culture, there is always a hero story. A hero story that describes the life and adventures and discoveries of one man who broke through the confusing walls of this world we live in and became truly enlightened. What makes this book so perfect, though, is the painstaking detail with which Campbell recounts different parts of different myths, religious tales, legends, and folklore to illustrate the "monomyth" that all these stories are telling.
Be sure to also read the footnotes, as valuable information and references to other interesting novels are often found there as well.
Not sure what all the fuss is about this book.......2007-04-24
I got this book because many people mention that it is the way to learn how people tick. It has been mentioned that this can help with character development in writing.
I couldn't read it.
Maybe I am just not cerebral enough because I thought it was full or obscure references and difficult passages that lost me time and again. I could boil down what I got out of it, which is basically Freud's doctrine about how we all want to sleep with our mother's (or fathers).
There has to be something better out there than this.
If you don't enjoy Psychology / Mythology textbooks you won't like this.
I give it 3 stars because I didn't read the whole thing. Maybe all of the good stuff is after the first 100 pages...
A Master Teacher .......2007-02-22
The master teacher's words live on... It's amazing how Campbell's writings and teachings gain greater power and meaning over time. I recently watched a library rental tape of the PBS aired talks he did with Bill Moyers in 1987. I now plan to purchase these tapes as well as his books.
a piece of the puzzle........2006-12-29
Campbell has got it all figured out. He and Jung are a must read for any one looking to see religion for what it is rather than the misinterpreted mumbo jumbo that has been handed down as fact. This book is also important for writers. Since I am now a writer, and have been devoting myself to that, Campbell's works have been very helpful. Lucas used this book when creating Star Wars. Some of his characters seem plucked from this book. It is a must have for almost any writer, especially fantasy writers looking to create a complete myth/world.
Average customer rating:
- Wondering why you were born? Look no further.
- Other Books
- Accessible and clear
- One of the best storytellers of our time!
- Intellectual stuff
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The Power of Myth
Joseph Campbell , and
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The Hero with a Thousand Faces (Mythos Books)
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Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth
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Myths to Live By
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Pathways to Bliss: Mythology and Personal Transformation
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Transformations of Myth Through Time
ASIN: 0385418868
Release Date: 1991-06-01 |
Amazon.com
Among his many gifts, Joseph Campbell's most impressive was the unique ability to take a contemporary situation, such as the murder and funeral of President John F. Kennedy, and help us understand its impact in the context of ancient mythology. Herein lies the power of The Power of Myth, showing how humans are apt to create and live out the themes of mythology. Based on a six-part PBS television series hosted by Bill Moyers, this classic is especially compelling because of its engaging question-and-answer format, creating an easy, conversational approach to complicated and esoteric topics. For example, when discussing the mythology of heroes, Campbell and Moyers smoothly segue from the Sumerian sky goddess Inanna to Star Wars' mercenary-turned-hero, Han Solo. Most impressive is Campbell's encyclopedic knowledge of myths, demonstrated in his ability to recall the details and archetypes of almost any story, from any point and history, and translate it into a lesson for spiritual living in the here and now. --Gail Hudson
Book Description
Finally available in a popularly priced, non-illustrated, smaller-format edition, which is ideal for the college market and general reader alike, this extraordinary best-seller is a brilliant evocation of the noted scholar's teachings on mythology.
Customer Reviews:
Wondering why you were born? Look no further........2007-09-21
5.5 stars
The Power Of Myth pretty much explains why we are here, and what we can do about it.
I can't think of any single book that showed me as much about myself, my mind, and how I fit into the grand dance of history as Powers Of Myth. It takes the great Bill Moyers interviews and lays them out in a beautifully logical fashion.
There is more deep thought and simple logic about the world's religions and myths here than in any other book I have found; Campbell's favorite theme, that all religions come from the same sources and have the same message, is clearly explained. More importantly, the wonderfully wise author takes that information and shows us how to use it to make our lives richer and more meaningful. What a glorious man, and what a glorious book. It's not only a fine introduction to Joseph's extraordinary work, it's a fitting summation, and a tribute to how much one man can learn and share and grow in a lifetime.
Makes a perfect gift for anyone at any age who likes to think.
My highest recommendation.
Other Books.......2007-09-03
A more popular look at myths and mythology, using this format to relate Campbell's studies and other works to mythological type influences that we see today, even in major media and popular culture or entertainment situations.
When Campbell points it out, you sometimes realise what you are subconsciously missing.
Accessible and clear.......2007-08-06
This is the audio to a PBS special from the 80's. It's done in a conversation between Bill Moyers and Joseph Campbell. For some people this may feel like there is no structure and that it meaanders through the topic. But, for me it felt more like I was sitting in a living room as they talked to each other.
I've talked to people with lots of knowledge on this topic and they've said that Campbell is sort of the popular science or myth-light version of this topic. It was just the right amount of depth for me and interesting how he personalized myth for people in modern day.
One of the best storytellers of our time!.......2007-07-28
This was required reading for a graduate course in the Humanities. This is a great book written by a very engaging storyteller. Joseph Campbell describes the monomyth in his book The Hero With a Thousand Faces as embodying all the necessary elements of the hero's journey in the many myths in human history. Campbell discovered through extensive research that humankind shares a universal monomyth in its various religions and legends especially pertaining to the creation of the world and humankind. Campbell borrowed the term monomyth from James Joyce's book Finnegan's Wake. Campbell's intuitive insight in human myth proves that for thousands of years these myths display a certain standard structure, which he summarizes beautifully in his book.
A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a
region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there
encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back
from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons
on his fellow man (Campbell 30).
There are at least four major stages that a monomyth has however, in his book, Campbell goes on to describe seventeen stages that some monomyth's posses. The four stages making up the cycle of a monomyth are "passage: separation-initiation-return:" In the passage stage the hero is summoned to journey or embark on an adventure by some kind of event that takes place or from a message, he receives. The hero may embark on this passage willingly or reluctantly. During the separation stage, the hero meets with a mentor or wise man who gives the hero either an amulet or some words of wisdom to be of help to the hero on the adventure. It is during this stage that the hero will go through his first transformation, also known as "crossing the first threshold," as he crosses over to another world or dimension leaving behind the old world. In the initiation stage, the hero goes through several trials or tests. The hero often receives help in these ordeals along the way by allies or from a supernatural force. As the hero completes these ordeals successfully, he proves himself more worthy to continue the adventure. Most importantly, during this stage the hero must pass through a major ordeal that will expand his consciousness, and thereby change his character forever. Often, this ordeal entails the death of an ally or enemy. Once the hero successful accomplishes his ordeal he is rewarded with a gift, it could be intrinsic like the "holy grail, or it can be new found knowledge to better the world with. The last stage the hero travels is that of the return whence he came. Often the hero will undergo further trials on his return before he is permitted to cross the threshold back to the world he left. During his return journey, the hero will use his newfound wisdom or gift to make a safe return home. Once home the gift is used to cure some ill in the hero's home or to impart new wisdom to his neighbors.
Campbell points to the significance of the monomyth in the fact that it describes the cycle that Moses, Jesus, and Buddha had gone through according to their religious adherents. This is not to mention the hundreds of other monomyths told throughout human history. The monomyth proves that humankind shares a common creation DNA in a sense. The monomyth is the perfect vehicle for one to study the Humanities by.
Recommended reading for anyone interested in history, psychology, philosophy.
Intellectual stuff.......2007-06-27
I have tremendous admiration for the author Joseph Campbell and also for Bill Moyers, who did the interview. Both are tremendously intelligent, well-read and capable of verbalizing opinions and explanations in a very concise way. One would glean more from reading this book if a bit of "reqired reading" had been done previous to the reading. Our book club found the book challenging because we lacked the necessary background. Having such background would have made the book read faster and also would have enlightened our understanding as we read. However, we were all glad we did read it.
Books:
- The God Delusion
- The Gospel According to Jesus: What Does Jesus Mean When He Says, "Follow Me"?
- The Hero with a Thousand Faces (Mythos Books)
- The Kebra Negast: The Lost Bible of Rastafarian Wisdom and Faith from Ethiopia and Jamaica
- The Lamb's Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth
- The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil
- The Mystery Method: How to Get Beautiful Women Into Bed
- The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge: An easy-to-use one-volume library for Bible study and lesson preparation.
- The Place We Call Home: Exploring the Soul's Existence after Death
- The Practice of Dzogchen
Books Index
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