While it is (intentionally) fairly basic and introductory, it does provide a good introduction to Islam, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Yoruba religion, Judaism, and Daoism. I found Stephen Prothero's book on the eight great religious traditions utterly convincing – for the argument his book opposes. Prothero spends the majority of his coverage of atheism on the "New Atheists"---Hitchens, Dawkins, et. Long title, I know. With a book titled God Is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World--and Why Their Differences Matter, it is clear Stephen Prothero sees religions as different paths to different destinations. "Stephen Prothero: All Religions Are Not The Same," Religion and Ethics Newsweekly, PBS, December 7, 2010: Prothero explains the ideas behind his book in more detail. If the purpose of this book is to clarify these differences and thereby make us a more peaceful planet, this book is a failure. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. This book, and the class I read it for, sparked a lot in me this semester. More on that later in the review. ... there are many, many names people have given to God, but He/She picked one and only one for Him/Herself. al., with all their bombastic diatribes and argumentative ways. In Stephen Prothero's last book, Religious Literacy, Prothero made the case that the level of understanding about the major world religions is dangerously low. Stephen Prothero is a professor in the Department of Religion at Boston University and the author of numerous books, most recently Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know—And Doesn't and American Jesus: How the Son of God Became a National Idol. I feel the author falls off on professionalism and puts too much of his own opinion in the atheism portion, but thankfully that was a brief coda. Start studying God Is Not One: Chapter 2- Christianity. According to many popular … Whereas Jesus tells us to turn the other cheek, the Quran tells us, 'Whoso commits aggression against you, do you commit aggression against him' (2:194). The New Testament says nothing about how to wage war. This book, and the class I read it for, sparked a lot in me this semester. Knowledge is empowering Understanding other religions gives insight into other cultures The answers provided by different traditions are fascinating Different There I was bitterly disappointed. Through chapters on Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Yoruba, Buddhism, Judaism, Confucianism, and Daoism, Prothero challenges you to question your perceptions of what you think religion is, what people want from it and what they believe that get from it, and how that works in a world where any two people who meet on the street will very likely have incredibly different viewpoints, even if they grew up in the same time and same place. The God whom Catholics believe in is not a nice, conventional being but a radical, all-consuming, at times terrifying mystery. Refresh and try again. Course Hero is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university. Unfortunately, this book is not a defense of its own thesis. Like Hinduism's Mahabharata epic, the Bible devotes entire books to war and rumors thereof. I think he has been successful here. But Judaism, Christianity and Islam—the religions of the book—are the most contentious and they all share a belief in one God. Instead of a Sociology minor at my school, I'm now a Theology and Academic Study of Religions minor. A thoughtful, well-written, occasionally genuinely eye-opening discussion of major world religions. His observation that Jesus for Christians is for what the Quran is for Muslims, or that Confucianism is like Buddhism its ambivalence about the need for "religion" itself--this is really thoughtful stuff. What is achieved in God is Not one is an interesting, if somewhat basic introduction to eight of the world's major religions. This book is an invitation to know this God. As an introduction to comparative religions it is a success. We accept as self-evident that competing economic sy. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Stephen Prothero is the New York Times bestselling author of Religious Literacy and a professor of religion at Boston University. He has commented on religion on dozens of National Public Radio programs and on television on CNN, NBC, CBS, FOX, PBS, MSNBC and Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. I think his 4-part analysis is a clever teaching device that hopefully serves as a simple first step on a path toward deeper understanding. I feel we are all on a journey in this life to find a perfect love and we find it in different ways: through the love of God, or Allah; through meditation and the love of self; through the love of a mate, parent, sibling, or child. So yes, a basically encyclopedic book, but nonetheless a good one worth reading. On Sale: 05/03/2011. ", Prothero's thesis that religions are not different paths to the same goal, but systems that address different problems by offering different solutions is compelling. Read a Sample Enlarge Book Cover. Mistaken identities, one-night stands, forbidden love, fake engagements—oh my! Unfortunately, this book is not a defense of its own thesis. As an introduction to c Stephen Protherd has as his stated reason for writing God is Not One, that of proving that the world's major religions are different and that assuming away these differences is causative in making the world more dangerous. I saw the author of this book interviews on TV, wanted to read it, and promptly forgot his name and the name of the book. Then, I became agnostic. Some could argue with the religions included or the order, and Prothero briefly addresses such objections. Of … In God is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World, New York Times bestselling author of Religious Literacy and religion scholar Stephen Prothero argues that persistent attempts to portray all religions as different paths to the same God overlook the distinct problem that each tradition seeks to … He has commented on religion on dozens of National Public Radio programs and on television on CNN, NBC, CBS, FOX, PBS, MSNBC and Comedy Cent. Nicely written and concisely put together—a great introduction to religion. by HarperOne. 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