Synopsis
"How do we define religion? Can we define faith? Why in our twenty first century world are so many people religious? Why do, and how can people believe in a supernatural god or gods? Is religion dangerous? Does it have a value? What should our ambition for religion be?" This book is an insight into human nature. We human beings are strange in our commitment to beliefs which we inherit, imbibe and choose. We find them difficult to let go. For better and for worse, this is our commonality. The task is to better understand and attempt to take responsibility for those different beliefs and positions which seem to mean so much to us.
James F. DeRoche - Library Journal
That the editors are a theater director (Gordon) and a journalist (Wilkinson) would not ordinarily augur well for a collection of interviews on the subject of religion. But this good book is an exception because its contributors-among them A.C. Grayling (Birbeck Coll., London), Karen Armstrong (The Battle for God), Rowan Williams (archbishop of Canterbury), and Jonathan Sacks (chief rabbi, United Hebrew Congregation of the Commonwealth)-are well informed and even more well spoken. Some are nonbelievers; others are Christian, Jewish, or Muslim. Their conversations each make up a ten- to-15-page chapter and enable the reader to get very familiar with the opinions of the writer. Unfortunately, all the interviewees are British and so may not be familiar to American readers. Another mark of the Britishness of this collection: except for Gordon, who provides a five-page introduction, no Roman Catholics are included. Recommended for academic libraries and for public libraries with strong religion collections.