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Not in God's Name

Confronting Religious Violence

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About this listen

Despite predictions of continuing secularisation, the 21st century has witnessed a surge of religious extremism and violence in the name of God.

In this powerful and timely book, Jonathan Sacks explores the roots of violence and its relationship to religion, focusing on the historic tensions between the three Abrahamic faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Drawing on arguments from evolutionary psychology, game theory, history, philosophy, ethics and theology, Sacks shows how a tendency toward violence can subvert even the most compassionate of religions. Through a close reading of key biblical texts at the heart of the Abrahamic faiths, Sacks challenges those who claim that religion is intrinsically a cause of violence and argues that theology must become part of the solution if it is not to remain at the heart of the problem.

This book is a rebuke to all those who kill in the name of the God of life, wage war in the name of the God of peace, hate in the name of the God of love and practise cruelty in the name of the God of compassion.

For the sake of humanity and the free world, the time has come for people of all faiths and none to stand together and declare: Not in God's Name.

©2016 Jonathan Sacks (P)2016 Hodder & Stoughton Christianity Judaism Religious Studies Middle East Middle Ages Iran War
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Written from a Jewish perspective, this book makes the case for common humanity by showing how group rivalry arises and that the God of the Hebrew Bible is implacably opposed to the will to power and violence.

Timely book for all time

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highly recommended for anyone who is questioning our current times and the state the world is in.

highly recommended

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This is a brilliant book by an extraordinary extraordinary gifted author whose premature death was a tragedy. Its insights are universal and urgently needed.

A brilliant book!

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I wasn't sure what to expect with this book - an apologetics based dissertation I think. But although it could be read as such, it is a much deeper, historic and educational document covering so many aspects (factual and perception) of the Abrahamic faiths, that are of interest to anyone who is a believer of those 3 faiths as well as Atheists, Agnostics and New Agers!

I have listened to it in its entirety 1 ½ times. I intend to listen to it again, and I'm minded to purchase the Kindle edition, because there are SO MANY quotable quotes, that are on point and worthy of repeating.

This is a very current edition, up to 2015, so it's very relevant to today's events. I cannot recommend this highly enough. Everyone should hear it.

Informative, Enlightening and Worth Re-reading

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As events unfold in Gaza the world stands watching and silent. This book speaks to each side reminding us that we are all gods children. May peace reign.

A book for our time Nov 2023

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