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The Tenth Parallel: Dispatches From The Fault Line Between Christianity And Islam (2010)

by Eliza Griswold(Favorite Author)

3.81 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

1429979666 (ISBN13: 9781429979665)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Farrar, Straus and Giroux

review 1: This book is a challenge yet lacks substance. This book is quite thorough. Griswold goes quite in depth regarding the histories of Christianity and Islam along the tenth parallel. Griswold traces those histories quite adroitly to each of the current conflicts ongoing through out the world. One of my favorite sayings is "No man is illogical," and this book illustrates that point quite well. Griswold carefully explains individual's histories which lead to terrorist activities and atrocities.My largest challenge with the book lied in Griswold's depiction of Evangelical and Pentecostal Christianity. Admittedly, I am a member of the Assemblies of God denomination - which Griswold partially spotlights in the book. I was constantly telling myself during my reading of the book, "S... morehe is a journalist first. This book is a continuation of the journalistic tradition. She is doing her best to not insert bias toward any religion or denomination." This inner turmoil may simply underscore my own inner conflict regarding evangelization, but at points I found myself blatantly frustrated with the tone that she took toward Evangelical Christianity. Griswold - while not being entirely blatant about her repudiation of Evangelical Christianity - does seem to level a disproportionate amount of blame on Evangelical Christianity. Again, I wrestle with whether this is accurate or only my self-perception, which interprets unbiased journalism as slanted. Whether talking about Graham or any other number of Christian pastors or leaders who were interviewed, Griswold seems to be angered by the lack of respect that other Christians show her Christian heritage and such she scathes them in this writing. My hope is that Ms. Griswold does not throw the entirety of the Evangelical Movement out because of the individuals who express a vocal version of their intrusive Christianity. Though it was not her intention, the largest challenge to my finishing this book moving past my feelings of be belittled and ridiculed for my having chosen this faith perception.Rather than being "Dispatches from the Fault Line Between Christianity and Islam," this book is really "Correspondence with Religious Extremists." Stealing from US Army Counter-insurgency (COIN) Manual, Griswold briefly points out that 80% of a populace are good, honest people who do not care about religious tensions enough to turn such actions into armed political conflict. Yet, rarely does this book talk to people in the middle. Griswold - right or wrong - sought out the individuals who embodied extreme views and ideologies on both sides of the conflicts. I disagree with this premise because Griswold invariably gives an exulted voice to those extremists rather than those who are actively attempting to promote peace. When I stated this book lacks "substance," I am not referring to content. Griswold is very thorough in her research, and I was sickened by some of the acts of "evangelization" that she points out. This book lacks substance because it draws no conclusion to fix the problems that she identifies. This is strictly an educational piece. This is not an editorial book like a Thomas Friedman book. This is straight journalism, and the book succeeds and falters according to the limits of this style. All in all, I would recommend the book to any one who has any interest in Christianity, Islam, or the impacts of Globalization.
review 2: Out of the many books I've read concerning religion and international affairs over the past few years, "The Tenth Parallel" by Eliza Griswold is one of the strongest and most perceptive. Through an examination of five nations (Nigeria, Sudan, Somalia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines), Griswold book examines the way that religion is intertwined with political, economic, social, and environmental pressures along the Tenth Parallel across the Global South. What make the book strong is that the book take a nuanced approach to religion and international affairs. Sometimes the cause of problems, but often a manifestation or symptom of other problems, Griswold shows the importance of religion in areas where a variety of resources are becoming scarce. Additionally, the book is quite well-written and the author, an established journalist, has a way of using stories to capture wonderful, symbolic stories and images. And the stories she uses are ones that I've seen reappearing in other media, showing that she is completely plugged into the wider debate over religion and current affairs. In my opinion, the second part of the book on Asia is stronger than the first about Africa. And the one big flaw of the book is that because it was written in 2010 it does not reflect the Arab Spring, the division of Sudan, the establishment of an increasingly stable Somali government, etc.... In any case, these missing things aside, I would say that if you really want to understand religion in contemporary society, this book is essential reading. less

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