Another deeply felt entry on two divergent, yet ultimately compatible, ways of engaging the world and understanding reality.
The New Atheists have it all wrong, insists McGrath (Science and Religion/Oxford Univ.; C.S. Lewis—A Life: Eccentric Genius, Reluctant Prophet, 2013, etc.).
Instead of delving deep into the classic proofs for the existence of a cosmic intelligence—cosmological, ontological, or theological arguments—the author concentrates on the basic errors of atheism. McGrath’s particular nemesis is The God Delusion author, Richard Dawkins. Those who rely solely on science for all the answers forget that scientific “facts” are not fixed but change with new information and new thinking. Though Charles Darwin’s insights remain intact, social Darwinism, after all, has had its day. Not so long ago, the Big Bang supplanted the steady state theory of the history of our universe, and the sun no longer revolves around the Earth. That has been scientifically established. Many of McGrath’s arguments for faith are based simply on “widely agreed” notions and “growing consensus.” He asserts that there are “strong indications that religion is something natural.” To understand the mechanics of the world, writes the author, we should ask the scientists; for ethics and meaning, we must turn to philosophers and theologians. Defender of the faith McGrath seems to consider his own Christian belief the sole representative of all religious faith—though the only Scripture he directly quotes is from the Hebrew book of Psalms. Much more ecumenical and accessible is Jonathan Sacks’ wonderful The Great Partnership (2012), which tackles many of the same existential topics. McGrath’s entry isn’t light reading, however, and close attention may provide new questions and yield nutrients for further thinking for adherents of both camps. Despite the declarations of religious fundamentalists or fundamentalist New Atheists, each path has a place in humanity’s search for knowledge and understanding.
Another deeply felt entry on two divergent, yet ultimately compatible, ways of engaging the world and understanding reality.Pub Date: Nov. 3, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-250-07792-9
Page Count: 272
Publisher: St. Martin's
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2015
A balanced, broad summary of Catholicism's response to sexuality that will be a valuable reference tool for the layperson, although the scholar will find little that is original here. Fox, editor of the National Catholic Reporter, writes with an easy, accessible, journalistic style. The greatest strength of the book is the way he delineates the interconnectedness of the many sexual issues he tackles, e.g. gender roles, abortion, homosexuality, and contraception. His basic thesis is that Catholicism's ``natural law'' view, which Aquinas developed and which has now become the standard litmus test for Catholic morality, is the crux that defines widely variant sexual practices as sinful (natural law forbids all sexual relations not aimed toward procreation). Fox also provides intriguing behind-the-scenes explorations of contemporary Catholic politicking, such as the inner workings of Vatican II, describing how the Church was lovingly but firmly introduced to the modern era. He tells this story engagingly and expresses clear progressive opinions while retaining a nonjudgmental tone. The book is weakest, on the other hand, when Fox attempts to summarize 2,000 years of complex historical and religious changes in perfunctory digest form. Readers conversant in Catholic history may feel that Fox has sacrificed depth in favor of breadth. His insightful discussion of postVatican II Catholicism, however, more than makes up for his sweeping generalizations about the more distant past. His focus on dissenters within the Church is an especially perceptive chronicle of a growing cadre of critical Catholic thinkers who have formed unofficial but vocal groups such as Catholics for a Free Choice. Although he fails to provide definitive historical analysis of the many sex-related issues he addresses, Fox offers sensitive insights into contemporary Roman Catholic morality.
Pub Date: Nov. 1, 1995
ISBN: 0-8076-1396-7
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Braziller
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1995
Diminutive sex therapist ``Dr. Ruth'' presents a sex guide for Orthodox and traditional Conservative Jews. ``People pick up the Bible for many different reasons but rarely, if ever, as a sex manual. That is their mistake,'' writes Westheimer. Here, with Jewish Week associate editor Mark, she sets out to correct this error. Westheimer begins by explaining Judaism's attitude toward sex, one which she considers particularly healthy. Judaism doesn't exalt celibacy; in fact, it frowns upon it. Women's satisfaction in marriage is not only discussed among the Talmudic sages, it is absolutely required of the husband. Lust and sexual impropriety are acknowledged and treated within Jewish law. In addition to the commandment against coveting thy neighbor's wife, Westheimer finds many explicit and implicit references to sex in the Hebrew Bible and rabbinical literature, focusing in particular on Genesis, Ruth, Song of Songs, and Talmudic and Kabbalistic sources. This last especially provides much fodder for the author. Westheimer also covers the commandments, the ritual bath, or mikvah, weddings, and the Sabbath, a day on which it is a special mitzvah (commandment) to have sex. Here the author offers a lovely metaphor for the relationship between husband and wife on the Sabbath: At the beginning of the day, the woman lights and blesses two candles, which according to Westheimer may represent the man and woman. At the end of the Sabbath, another blessing is made by candlelight, only this time the two wicks are joined together, often intertwined, representing the married couple, who have been brought closer through their sexual union. But this small gem is a rarity in a basically didactic and monotonous little book.
Pub Date: Nov. 6, 1995
ISBN: 0-8147-9268-5
Page Count: 188
Publisher: New York Univ.
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1995
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