A bold polemical response to a generation of misguided scholarship, God Is Not One creates a new context for understanding religion in the twenty-first century and disproves the assumptions most of us make about the way the world's religions work. In God is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World, New York Times bestselling author of Religious Literacy and religion scholar Stephen Prothero argues that persistent attempts to portray all religions as different paths to the same God overlook the distinct problem that each tradition seeks to solve. It is the most well-researched and well-written book on comparative religion I have read. These were all the more valuable because they were rare; perhaps wisely, Prothero really wasn't aiming for any kind of genuine systematization in his analysis, but instead saw himself as offering kind of anecdotal parallels. ... there are many, many names people have given to God, but He/She picked one and only one for Him/Herself. Then, I became agnostic. This book, and the class I read it for, sparked a lot in me this semester. I learned a lot, but what I particularly enjoyed were the occasional comparisons that he would set up. Lucid and compelling, God Is Not One offers a new understanding of religion for the twenty-first century. “Widespread criticisms of jihad in Islam and the so-called sword verses in the Quran have unearthed for fair-minded Christians difficult questions about Christianity's own traditions of holy war and 'texts of terror.' View Prothero_God Is Not One.pdf from REL 321 at University Of Arizona. It fails in that effort. Whereas Jesus tells us to turn the other cheek, the Quran tells us, 'Whoso commits aggression against you, do you commit aggression against him' (2:194). Introduction. Having abandoned this book to gather dust on my ‘to-read’ shelf for over six months, I’m now a bit upset with myself at not having read it sooner. A few weeks ago I read an interview with the author of this book and that intrigued me enough to make this the first purchase through Apple's iBooks application on my iPhone. There I was bitterly disappointed. The author stays objective, for the most part, but adds great insight as to why interfaith dialogue is important and can affect change. This book, and the class I read it for, sparked a lot in me this semester. In God is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World, New York Times bestselling author of Religious Literacy and religion scholar Stephen Prothero argues that persistent attempts to portray all religions as different paths to the same God overlook the distinct problem that each tradition seeks to … Unfortunately, this book is not a defense of its own thesis. Tweet; God Is Not One In God is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World, New York Times bestselling author of Religious Literacy and religion scholar Stephen Prothero argues that persistent attempts to portray all religions as different paths to the same God overlook the distinct problem that each tradition seeks to … Each chapter is presented in a first person narrative, as if the author participated in every religious tradition in order to offer the most authentic treatment possible. Nicely written and concisely put together—a great introduction to religion. And now... well, I am somewhat religious. Find answers and explanations to over 1.2 million textbook exercises. After reading Stephen Prothero’s “God Is Not One” I have a deeper and less judgmental understanding of religious differences and the religious experience. According to many popular … While I was never an angry atheist, I was very skeptical and a bit against religion. God is Not One 2 Introduction to Multiple Mountain Metaphor Boston University Professor Stephen Prothero is totally against the mountain metaphor and according to him, all world religions are same and they may be different in non-essentials. These were all the more valuable because they were rare; perhaps wisely, Prothero really wasn't aiming for any kind of genuine systematization in his analysis, but instead saw himself as offering kind of anecdotal parallels. The amount of detail is exquisite throughout the book, making it useful for academics, yet his conversational writing style makes it accessible for non-academics. Anyone who is interested in religion and wants a new viewpoint. Prothero himself admits much is missing from his choices — some examples: Shinto, Jainism, Zoroastrian. But that is to leave largely untouched the much more subtle question of whether they are ultimately the same. His observation that Jesus for Christians is for what the Quran is for M. A thoughtful, well-written, occasionally genuinely eye-opening discussion of major world religions. During this last weekend's dive trip, and I had enough free time to spend educating (and re-educating) myself on the world's greatest religions. In Stephen Prothero's last book, Religious Literacy, Prothero made the case that the level of understanding about the major world religions is dangerously low. Here war is allowed in self-defense (2:190; 22:39), but hell is the punishment for killing other Muslims (4:93), and the execution of prisoners of war is explicitly condemned (47:4). Knowledge is empowering Understanding other religions gives insight into other cultures The answers provided by different traditions are fascinating Different Mistaken identities, one-night stands, forbidden love, fake engagements—oh my! If the purpose of this book is to clarify these differences and thereby make us a more peaceful planet, this book is a failure. I’ve had a difficult time writing this review because I didn’t know where to start but then it hit me as I was desultorily leafing through the book that the most important section is the author’s introduction, where he sets out why “god is not one” and why the idea that He is, is wrong headed and dangerous. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. As with any study which fits an entire tradition into 40-50 pages, there is a lot of detail that is necessarily left out. For all his seeming knowledge of the religions he explains, he doesn't appear to have a firm grasp on what atheism is. Regardless of where this perfect love is found, once you find it, you realize that life is something incredible and special and you want to nurture it and share your experience with the world around you. As an introduction to comparative religions it is a success. Rather, it's a survey of Prothero's somewhat arbitrary selection of the most influential religions in the world, and not a very good one either. We blur the sharp distinctions between religions at our own peril, argues religion scholar Stephen Prothero, and it is time to replace naÏve hopes of interreligious unity with deeper knowledge of religious differences. overcoming sin vs attaining enlightenment), the role of faith and works in each, the existence of any higher power, God, or gods. To see what your friends thought of this book, God Is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World--and Why Their Differences Matter, I am not going to spend much time discussing the bulk of this book – the nine chapters that introduce you to “the eight rival religions that run the world” (in Prothero’s estimation) and atheism – because that turns out not to be the important part. If one wants to avoid mere glibness on the question, then there are a few things one needs to consider. The three most recognizable faiths built on the belief that "God is one" are Judaism, Christianity, and Islam - you will find many commonalities among the three, but there will be differences. In God is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World, New York Times bestselling author of Religious Literacy and religion scholar Stephen Prothero argues that persistent attempts to portray all religions as different paths to the same God overlook the distinct problem that each tradition seeks to solve. God is Not One: The Eight Ancient Religions that Run the World. Then, I became agnostic. I think he has been successful here. (I hold this truth to be self-evident, given recent experiences reconnecting to family and high school friends on Facebook. I've always been fascinated by different religious faiths and traditions. There's no denying it: The romance genre has got some of the... At the dawn of the twenty-first century, dizzying scientific and technological advancements, interconnected globalized economies, and even the so-called New Atheists have done nothing to change one thing: our world remains furiously religious. infographics! While it is (intentionally) fairly basic and introductory, it does provide a good introduction to Islam, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Yoruba religion, Judaism, and Daoism. With a book titled God Is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World--and Why Their Differences Matter, it is clear Stephen Prothero sees religions as different paths to different destinations. To the contrary, it shows how all of the major religions identify a broadly similar problem in the world – call it sin, death, ego, or suffering – and identify a problem to fix it that universally includes an ethical imperative to treat others better. As an introduction to c Stephen Protherd has as his stated reason for writing God is Not One, that of proving that the world's major religions are different and that assuming away these differences is causative in making the world more dangerous. Learn more about The Da Vinci Code with Course Hero's FREE study guides and God is not God's name. More spiritual, but I know what religion I would pick for myself to be labeled under. Left here, this would be an excellent book. Instead of a Sociology minor at my school, I'm now a Theology and Academic Study of Religions minor. According to Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel, “If a Jew has no one to quarrel with, he quarrels with God, and we call it theology; or he quarrels with himself, and we call it psychology.”8 It was a Jew, Albert Einstein, who proved via the theory of relativity that even scientific observations depend on your perspective. To begin with, the bizarre coda about atheism that many reviewers have cited as the reason for a low rating does, to be sure, leave one with a bad taste in the mouth. To claim that all religions are the same is to misunderstand that each attempts to solve a different human problem. Stephen Prothero is a professor in the Department of Religion at Boston University and the author of numerous books, most recently Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know—And Doesn't and American Jesus: How the Son of God Became a National Idol. I deeply admire Prothero's effort to write an accessible and readable introductory book on religion for the general U.S. public. Course Hero is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university. Second, this book prompted me to. As with any study which fits an entire tradition into 40-50 pages, there is a lot of detail that is necessarily left out. God is not one : the eight rival religions that run the world--and why their differences matter Item Preview ... and even the so-called New Atheists have done nothing to change one thing: our world remains furiously religious. We’d love your help. God is Not One Introduction Why are You Here? We accept as self-evident that competing economic systems (capitalist or communist) or clashing political parties (Republican or Democratic) propose very different solutions to our planet's problems. He shows very little effort and even less interest (or respect) for the more average atheist, the one who, to paraphrase Carl Sagan, "has not yet been convinced by the evidence. In Religious Literacy, Prothero demonstrated how little Americans know about their own religious traditions and why the world's religions should be taught in public schools. It fails in that effort. It is the most well-researched and well-written book on comparative religion I have read. A thoughtful, well-written, occasionally genuinely eye-opening discussion of major world religions. What distinguishes it from other books on comparative religion is the chapter on the Yoruba Religion which details not just the religion of the Yoruba people in Nigeria, but the Yoruba-derived traditions such as Candomble and Santaria. Prothero uses fours steps to describe the religious framework of these eight religions. For good and for evil, religion is the single greatest influence in the world. by HarperOne. This preview shows page 1 - 4 out of 4 pages. For good and for evil, religion is the single greatest influence in the world. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. In God is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World, New York Times bestselling author of Religious Literacy and religion scholar Stephen Prothero argues that persistent attempts to portray all religions as different paths to the same God overlook the distinct problem that each tradition seeks to solve. Welcome back. Religion Similar to Sports Why learn about other religious traditions? By discovering who God is, we will find that he invites us to an exciting life but also that he is interested in our eternal well-being. By Stephen Prothero. Whether in the abstract is is better to rely on a scripture that regulates war or a scripture that hopes war away is an open question, but no Muslim-majority country has yet dropped an atomic bomb in war.”, Secularism, Science Literacy, and Social Justice, 48 Rollicking Romance Recommendations by Trope. For good and for evil, religion is the single greatest influence in the world. The first step is problem. After carefully reading the coda, I think I can see where Prothero is coming from, but he does a poor job in writing an objective account of what atheism, represents. Stephen Prothero is a professor in the Department of Religion at Boston University and the author of numerous books, most recently Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know—And Doesn't and American Jesus: How the Son of God Became a National Idol. Sometimes, his cultural references are already outdated (claiming that t. I deeply admire Prothero's effort to write an accessible and readable introductory book on religion for the general U.S. public. Anyway, yes, its tone. I am no stranger to Dawkins-esque New Atheism, which Mr. Prothero (not unjustly) describes as “angry” and “self-righteous.” After reading through an endless (and repetitive) collection of New Atheist books, though, I felt utterly drained of anger and in dire need of a long religious study hiatus. His observation that Jesus for Christians is for what the Quran is for Muslims, or that Confucianism is like Buddhism its ambivalence about the need for "religion" itself--this is really thoughtful stuff. The God whom Catholics believe in is not a nice, conventional being but a radical, all-consuming, at times terrifying mystery. God Is Not One highlights the unique aspects of the world's major religions, with chapters on Islam, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Yoruba religion, Judaism, Daoism and atheism. Overview. The New Testament says nothing about how to wage war. "God Is Not One: Eight Rival Religions That Run The World" is a fascinating book on how they are the same and how they differ. Interfaith dialogue is great, but at the bedrock of each faith are things that work deliberately to keep them from conglomerating into one wave of peace and love, no matter how good the cookies and intentions are. 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