Not in God's Name
Confronting Religious Violence
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Not in God's Name
Buy Now for $26.99
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Narrated by:
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Jonathan Sacks
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By:
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Jonathan Sacks
About this listen
Despite predictions of continuing secularisation, the 21st century has witnessed a surge of religious extremism and violence in the name of God.
In this powerful and timely book, Jonathan Sacks explores the roots of violence and its relationship to religion, focusing on the historic tensions between the three Abrahamic faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Drawing on arguments from evolutionary psychology, game theory, history, philosophy, ethics and theology, Sacks shows how a tendency toward violence can subvert even the most compassionate of religions. Through a close reading of key biblical texts at the heart of the Abrahamic faiths, Sacks challenges those who claim that religion is intrinsically a cause of violence and argues that theology must become part of the solution if it is not to remain at the heart of the problem.
This book is a rebuke to all those who kill in the name of the God of life, wage war in the name of the God of peace, hate in the name of the God of love and practise cruelty in the name of the God of compassion.
For the sake of humanity and the free world, the time has come for people of all faiths and none to stand together and declare: Not in God's Name.
©2016 Jonathan Sacks (P)2016 Hodder & StoughtonWould you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
I thoroughly enjoyed this audible book.Fairly new to Girardian though as well and this just put the icing on the cake so to speak.
I loved the Jewishness, history and wisdom as also the stories of the other.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Not in God's Name?
The concept of meta-narrative and subversion to sibling rivalry.Inclusion and otherness as paramount to us moving forward.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
That Egypt is your brother. Wow!Any additional comments?
Beautiful book, one I have gifted already three times to others. I would say that for me it is the best book I have read or listened to.One of the best books I have listened to
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Sadly as I was reading (listening to) this book, the NZ terror attack occurred, shortly followed by one in Holland. It struck home that this book is greatly needed in today’s climate.
Rabbi Sacks does a brilliant job of linking the holy texts of Judaism, Christianity and Islam together. Clearly as a rabbi he is Jewish, but he does not admonish the other monotheist faiths, rather embraces them respectfully in an eloquent manner.
The first part of the book focuses not only on biblical texts but also on contemporary sociology, psychology and evolutionary theories. He has clearly studied, collated and understood key contemporary texts and weaved them into his book.
The second part focuses on sibling rivalry found in the Torah and he provides really insightful and sometimes surprising interpretations of these biblical stories we are all familiar with. It was this part I enjoyed most.
Rabbi Sacks also examines hatred and terrorism and uses anti-semitism as an example. I don’t think he needs to apologise for using this (he does several times in his book). Anti-semitism is an ongoing and extremely problematic issue and one that has been present in most, if not all, societies for thousands of years. Sadly, we find that what happens to the Jewish People, will often happen to other nations/groups later on. History has shown this.
The book really does make you question your self talk and your own prejudices. He encourages us to see each other as human and not “us” and “them”. He argues that faith in G-d should unite us and we can embrace difference. I know I’ve caught my thoughts recently and self talking - why do I think that about group X? Why do I feel that about group Y?
Overall, I think this is a well-researched, thorough and meaningful book that I would highly recommend!
I am looking forward to the Audible book release of Morality also by Rabbi Sacks soon!
Wonderful, insightful and greatly needed in today’s climate
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The Essence of the Truth of Humanity
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Marvellous and unmatched
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A book for our time
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