 |
|
Title: Beyond Tolerance: Searching for Interfaith Understanding in America (The Documents of 20th-century art)
ISBN: 0670019569
Author:
Gustav Niebuhr
Publicate Date: 2008-07-31
Publish: 2008-07-31
List Price: $25.95
Average Customer Rating: 4.0
Format: Hardcover
 |
|
|
|
|
Amazon Lowest New Price: $12.15
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $11.96
Amazon Merchant Price: $15.10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Customer Review: |
|
1: A history of religious freedoms in America
BEYOND TOLERANCE: SEARCHING FOR INTERFAITH UNDERSTANDING IN AMERICA tells of religious tolerance issues in the U.S., renowned for its religiously diverse population. This history of religious freedoms in America will find its place not only in spirituality collections, but in any high school to college-level library strong in American civil liberties and history. Chapters consider religious impact and social connections, offering depth and insights suitable for student debate and study.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
|
2: Worthy sentiments but falls short
It's almost painful to criticize this slim volume because the sentiments behind it are ppraiseworthy. Niebuhr argues in favor of interfaith dialogue. He says that in the post 9/11 world, mutual understanding and respect between different religions is more crucial than ever. I heartily agree.
A former New York Times religion reporter turned academic, Niebuhr travels around the country finding various small-scale but nonetheless inspiring examples of such dialogue. It's all quite heart-warming.
Where the book falls short is in its lack of context. How can you balance these earnest efforts at mutual understanding against other developments which suggest that intolerance and racism only seem to be increasing? Take for example, the wave of anti-immigrant feeling that has swept the United States -- to say nothing of the racism that Sen. Barack Obama's presidential bid has awakened, fueled not only by his color but by the false rumors that he is a Muslim?
Nieburh goes into quite a it of detail about post-Holocaust efforts by Christians to come to terms with their legacy of 2,000 years of hating, persecuting and humiliating Jews. "The overall record of Christians toward Jews and Judaism is discouraging," he says (page 145) -- one of the more spectacular understatements I've ever read on the subject.
He completely fails to address the unprecedented, disproportionate and unwarranted targeting of Israel by the Methodist, Presbyterian and other churches. Their attitude seems to be, "OK, we've said sorry for the Holocaust and we won't preach hatred about the Jews any more -- but the Jewish state is fair game." When these churches advocate disinvestment from Israel, they are once again falling back into the historical pattern of declaring Jews beyond the pale. It's anti-Semitism by another name.
This book is well-intentioned but falls short of confronting the subject with the true intellectual rigor and painful honesty it advocates.
|
3: A Visionary Call
Every once in awhile a book transcends paper, ink, and binding to paint a picture. Niebuhr's book does just that -- casting a vision for interfaith understanding and issuing a challenge to engage in a transformative dialogue -- to move beyond the boundaries that limit and constrain us. Our future health, vitality, and sustainability as a global culture lies in collaboration and connection that is greater than any one religious faith or belief system. Too often modern religion is framed in divisive, destructive, and dysfunctional terms, with little regard to the essence of the good, the beautiful, and the true that undergird every major faith. When differences can be set aside in deference to the common good and the shared values of diverse faiths, amazing things can happen. Niebuhr offers an invitation into a new way of being 'religious' in a complex, chaotic, and often contentious world. This is a recommended read for every person of faith who desires to see our world become a place of peace, justice, mercy, and love.
|
|
|
|
|
