A little history of religion

A little history of religion

Richard Holloway, 1933-

Book - 2016

In an era of hardening religious attitudes and explosive religious violence, this book offers a welcome antidote. Richard Holloway retells the entire history of religion from the dawn of religious belief to the twenty-first century with deepest respect and a keen commitment to accuracy. Writing for those with faith and those without, and especially for young readers, he encourages curiosity and tolerance, accentuates nuance and mystery, and calmly restores a sense of the value of faith. Ranging far beyond the major world religions of Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism, Holloway also examines where religious belief comes from, the search for meaning throughout history, today fascinations with Scientology and creationism, re...ligiously motivated violence, hostilities between religious people and secularists, and more. Holloway proves an empathic yet discerning guide to the enduring significance of faith and its power from ancient times to our own.--INSIDE FLAP.

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Subjects
Religions.
Religion > History.
Published
New Haven : Yale University Press [2016]
Language
English
Main Author
Richard Holloway, 1933- (author)
Item Description
Includes index.
Physical Description
viii, 244 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm
ISBN
9780300208832
  • 1. Is Anybody There?
  • 2. The Doors
  • 3. The Wheel
  • 4. One Into Many
  • 5. Prince to Buddha
  • 6. Do No Harm
  • 7. The Wanderer
  • 8. In the Bulrushes
  • 9. The Ten Commandments
  • 10. Prophets
  • 11. The End
  • 12. Heretic
  • 13. The Last Battle
  • 14. Worldly Religion
  • 15. The Way to Go
  • 16. Stirring up the Mud
  • 17. Religion Gets Personal
  • 18. The Convert
  • 19. The Messiah
  • 20. Jesus Comes to Rome
  • 21. The Church Takes Charge
  • 22. The Last Prophet
  • 23. Submission
  • 24. Struggle
  • 25. Hell
  • 26. Vicar of Christ
  • 27. Protest
  • 28. The Big Split
  • 29. Nanak's Reformation
  • 30. The Middle Way
  • 31. Beheading the Beast
  • 32. Friends
  • 33. Made in America
  • 34. Born in the USA
  • 35. The Great Disappointment
  • 36. Mystics and Movie Stars
  • 37. Opening Doors
  • 38. Angry Religion
  • 39. Holy Wars
  • 40. The End of Religion?
  • Index
Review by Booklist Review

For readers in search of a thoughtful, thorough, and approachable survey of the history of religion, this book is an excellent place to start. Writing in engaging prose, the author takes readers on a thematic (rather than chronological) journey through the founding and burgeoning of world religions, discussing the prophets who fomented them and the ways religions wound up interacting and refining each other. Throughout, author Holloway takes time to discuss the sometimes very human motivations behind each prophet's work. For the most part, he successfully avoids making value judgments about the religions, merely presenting the revelations to the reader with some relevant questions to ask about their origins. It is an excellent introduction to the history of religion around the world and a timely reminder that despite various religions' many differences, they all have a startling amount in common.--Engel, Christine Copyright 2016 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review

Covering all of the major religions, Holloway (former bishop of Edinburgh & primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church; Leaving Alexandria) offers a balanced introduction of the subject in general, including some faiths that have had an influence beyond their significant numbers. The author gives simple explanations, without being simplistic, while also acknowledging the evil that has been done in the name of religion. Holloway's treatment is generally sympathetic (though he comes across as somewhat critical of Scientology and the Unification Church), and he stresses what most religions have in common. In an age of religious tension, this is an important contribution to understanding different beliefs. Readers looking for a more in-depth study will find value in Huston Smith's The World's Religions, although Holloway considers more of the minor sects and contemporary movements. VERDICT A straightforward, well-written introduction to religion and its various manifestations, this work successfully defends the subject against ignorant critiques so often heard today.-Augustine J. Curley, -Newark Abbey, NJ © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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