A well-researched, engaging argument against blind faith.
Friedrich dissects the origins and sociological purposes of religion in this nonfiction work.
“Although people with blind faith often think of themselves as good, righteous people,” writes the author in the book’s introduction, “they can also be mobilized for very evil actions in the name of their religion or cause.” In this sweeping survey of world religious history, Friedrich begins with an exploration of the sociological role of religion across cultures before transitioning into a multichapter narrative of the development of specific religions, including Abrahamic faiths, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, and Buddhism. Taking a just-the-facts approach, the author places each religion within its cultural and historical context. While its first half is global in scope, the book’s second half sets its focus squarely on the West, offering a methodically developed case against Christianity. Chapter-length topics include biblical justifications of violence, Christianity’s “prudish and guilt ridden” approach toward morality, and connections between Christianity and Roman paganism. The book’s concluding chapters explore the ways in which Christianity has been used to justify imperialism and religious persecution. Raised in the Catholic Church, Friedrich only began to question the faith of his parents after he embarked upon a career in business; as his role as a corporate executive increasingly required global travel, the author “became more tolerant and interested in other cultures and beliefs.” Self-reflection about his own beliefs, combined with subsequent historical research, led him to question many of the tenets he had been taught by religious authorities. Dedicating this book to his adult children, whom he implores to approach faith through the lens of “critical thinking and intellectual curiosity,” Friedrich argues that an honest examination of religious history and doctrine will “lead to a better, kinder, and less selfish society.” While pious readers may disagree with the author’s ultimate conclusions regarding the veracity of their beliefs and balk at his descriptions of religious “fantasy,” Friedrich backs up his arguments with a wealth of scholarly references. The text has an accessible writing style and is accompanied by a wealth of full-color, high-resolution maps, images, charts, and other visual elements.
A well-researched, engaging argument against blind faith.Pub Date: Dec. 16, 2024
ISBN: 9798992059120
Page Count: 396
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: April 23, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Readers unfamiliar with the anecdotal material Greene presents may find interesting avenues to pursue, but they should...
Greene (The 33 Strategies of War, 2007, etc.) believes that genius can be learned if we pay attention and reject social conformity.
The author suggests that our emergence as a species with stereoscopic, frontal vision and sophisticated hand-eye coordination gave us an advantage over earlier humans and primates because it allowed us to contemplate a situation and ponder alternatives for action. This, along with the advantages conferred by mirror neurons, which allow us to intuit what others may be thinking, contributed to our ability to learn, pass on inventions to future generations and improve our problem-solving ability. Throughout most of human history, we were hunter-gatherers, and our brains are engineered accordingly. The author has a jaundiced view of our modern technological society, which, he writes, encourages quick, rash judgments. We fail to spend the time needed to develop thorough mastery of a subject. Greene writes that every human is “born unique,” with specific potential that we can develop if we listen to our inner voice. He offers many interesting but tendentious examples to illustrate his theory, including Einstein, Darwin, Mozart and Temple Grandin. In the case of Darwin, Greene ignores the formative intellectual influences that shaped his thought, including the discovery of geological evolution with which he was familiar before his famous voyage. The author uses Grandin's struggle to overcome autistic social handicaps as a model for the necessity for everyone to create a deceptive social mask.
Readers unfamiliar with the anecdotal material Greene presents may find interesting avenues to pursue, but they should beware of the author's quirky, sometimes misleading brush-stroke characterizations.Pub Date: Nov. 13, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-670-02496-4
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2012
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