Books and Cooks West
September 2000
The Battle for God by Karen Armstrong
The Battle for God by
Karen Armstrong
August 5, 2000, 5:00 PM
Dawn's Place
Menu: Garden Patch Rigatoni, Spaghetti, marinated fennel root, double chocolate bars, sundried tomato bread, and 1997 Ivan Tamas Cabernet Sauvignon
Our rating: 3.0 cups of tea!
Amazon.com The Books and Cooks The
Battle for God Informal Reading Guide How would a fundmentalist react to this book? Would it be possible to
write a book with the same premises that a fundamentalist would accept? What do you think the author's religious beliefs are? How
important is it to know what those beliefs are? How well do you think she supported her 2 main dichotomies (mythos
vs logos and modern vs conservative)? How accurately do you think she portrayed the historical religions? Do
you think she over-simplified them? What do you think her purpose in writing this book was? To promote understanding?
To inspire some form of action?
About 40 years ago popular opinion assumed that religion would become a
weaker force and people would certainly become less zealous as the world
became more modern and morals more relaxed. But the opposite has proven
true, according to theologian and author Karen Armstrong (A History of
God), who documents how fundamentalism has taken root and grown in many of
the world's major religions, such as Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.
Even Buddhism, Sikhism, Hinduism, and Confucianism have developed
fundamentalist factions. Reacting to a technologically driven world with
liberal Western values, fundamentalists have not only increased in
numbers, they have become more desperate, claims Armstrong, who points to
the Oklahoma City bombing, violent anti-abortion crusades, and the
assassination of President Yitzak Rabin as evidence of dangerous extremes.
Yet she also acknowledges the irony of how fundamentalism and Western
materialism seem to urge each other on to greater excesses. To "prevent an
escalation of the conflict, we must try and understand the pain and
perception of the other side," she pleads. With her gift for clear,
engaging writing and her integrity as a thorough researcher, Armstrong
delivers a powerful discussion of a globally heated issue. Part history
lesson, part wake-up call, and mostly a plea for healing, Armstrong's
writing continues to offer a religious mirror and a cultural vision.
--Gail Hudson
(member-generated questions in no particular order)
