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The Myth Of Religious Violence: Secular Ideology And The Roots Of Modern Conflict (2009)

by William T. Cavanaugh(Favorite Author)

4.35 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

0195385047 (ISBN13: 9780195385045)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Oxford University Press, USA

review 1: Cavanaugh has done a ridiculous amount of research to put this book together. The first chapter will absolutely exhaust you as far as references and competing arguments go. The second chapter is superb. I would give second chapter 5 stars. Cavanaugh goes into great detail on the history of religion- not just as a set of beliefs, but also how the term 'religion' has evolved over the years between cultures. The fourth chapter 3 stars, but overall this is an excellent book that you could easily reference back to many times after you have read it and put it back on the shelf.
review 2: This was an excellent book. Cavanaugh essentially does a 230 page literature review on the topic of religious violence, and the religion/secular divide. In doing so, he turns the sch... moreolarship reviewed in on itself. The result is a carefully reasoned critique of western liberal understandings of history, political thought, the place of religion in contemporary society, and Islam. The most vital contribution this book makes is in its revealing discussion of the term 'religion.' Cavanaugh has done a great service by showing that the definition of the term is a fabrication which is used to give legitimacy to the modern nation-state. Likewise, it gives legitimacy to liberal nation-states' acts of violence against "irrational" religious people. I'm not entirely on board with his analysis at the end of the book, especially his branding of the US's role in the world. However, this was a very good book. less

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