Religion and politics Books

Book Synopsis“In this fascinating book, Madeleine Albright weaves together history, personal experiences, and brilliant analysis in exploring how religion can be a force for liberty and tolerance rather than oppression and terror. -- Walter Isaacson, author of The Code BreakerThe New York Times bestselling author and former secretary of state Madeleine Albright offers a provocative and very personal look at the role of religion in America’s foreign policyTraditionally, America’s foreign policy professionals have sought to downplay the impact of religious beliefs in international affairs. Reinforced by the constitutional separation between church and state, policymakers have shied away from this potentially volatile and divisive issue. In this timely precient book, one of the most renowned figures in American politic argues that in today’s climate, a secular approach is no longer sufficient.

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Book SynopsisWhy does religion sometimes increase support for democracy and sometimes do just the opposite? In Faith in Numbers, political scientist Michael Hoffman presents a theory of religion, group interest, and democracy. Focusing on communal religion, he demonstrates that the effect of communal prayer on support for democracy depends on the interests of the religious group in question. For members of groups who would benefit from democracy, communal prayer increases support for democratic institutions; for citizens whose groups would lose privileges in the event of democratic reforms, the opposite effect is present. Using a variety of data sources, Hoffman illustrates these claims in multiple contexts. He places particular emphasis on his study of Lebanon and Iraq, two countries in which sectarian divisions have played a major role in political development, by utilizing both existing and original surveys. By examining religious and political preferences among both Muslims and non-Muslims in several religiously diverse settings, Faith in Numbers shows that theological explanations of religion and democracy are inadequate. Rather, it demonstrates that religious identities and sectarian interests play a major part in determining regime preferences and illustrates how Islam in particular can be mobilized for both pro- and anti-democratic purposes. It finds that Muslim religious practice is not necessarily anti-democratic; in fact, in a number of settings, practicing Muslims are considerably more supportive of democracy than their secular counterparts. Theological differences alone do not determine whether members of religious groups tend to support or oppose democracy; rather, their participation in communal worship motivates them to view democracy through a sectarian lens.Table of ContentsList of Figures List of Tables Introduction An Interest-Based Theory of Religion and Support for Democracy The Religious Experience: Communal Prayer and Group Identity Christians and Muslims in Lebanon Before the Syrian Civil War Appendices Appendix 4.A Survey Questions Used Appendix 4.B Supplementary Tables After Syria: Communal Religion and Democracy in 2014 Lebanon Appendices Appendix 5.A Description of Experiment Appendix 5.B Description of Variables Representation or Redistribution? Evidence from Iraq Appendices Appendix 6.A Supplementary Tables and Figures Conclusion: Implications for Religion and Politics Appendices Appendix 7.A Additional Information, Cross-National Notes Index

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Book SynopsisFocusing on the contribution of preacher and politician Paul Peter Waldenström, this is an examination of the role of the Swedish Church in the emergence of political pluralism and social democracy in 19th and early 20th century Sweden.Trade Review"Plurality - of perspectives, principles, and persons - is a fact, not an option. So is the intense religiosity of millions amidst a 'secular age.' Safstrom's measured and finely written study of Waldenström not only vindicates a largely forgotten thinker, preacher, and politician, but makes one of the best cases I have read for pluralism as an ethic fit for the facts of plurality, and Christianity as a basis for democracy." Ned O'Gorman, Conrad Humanities Professorial Scholar, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign In the nineteenth century, Sweden went through a fundamental social and economic transformation and by the mid-twentieth century, it had emerged as an influential model of social progress. In this fresh and insightful book, Safstrom highlights the interrelations between religion and politics for these processes." Dag Blanck, Swedish Institute for North American Studies, Department of English at Uppsala UniversityTable of ContentsList of Figures and Tables Acknowledgments Introduction Part I: Crafting a Strategy of Pluralism Chapter 1: Locating 'The Middle Way' in Waldenström's Discourse Chapter 2: Modeling Pluralism through Allegory - Squire Adamsson Part II: Separating Church and State Chapter 3: Pietism as the Re-Emergence of Religious Pluralism in Sweden Chapter 4: Print Media and the Mobilization of Reform Chapter 5: Religion in Public: 'Private Matter' or 'Matter of Conscience'? Chapter 6: On Conscience and the Rights of Dissenters Chapter 7: The Limits of Democracy in the Kingdom of Christ Part III: Brokering Confrontation and Exchange: Pietism and Socialism Chapter 8: Pluralism as Productive Tension Chapter 9: Branting v. Waldenström: The Debate to Define Absolutism and Moralism Chapter 10: The Impact of the Free-Church Vote Chapter 11: Majoritarianism v. Proportionalism: Making Space for Dissent Chapter 12: An Exchange of Words: A Re-Socialized Christian Vocabulary and a Democratized Socialist One Part IV: Tempering the Politics of Temperance Chapter 13: Defining Moderate v. Absolutist Abstinence Politics Chapter 14: Pragmatism and Experimentation with Best Practices Chapter 15: A Preference for Education over Legislation Conclusion Endnotes Bibliography

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Book SynopsisAvailable for the first time in English language translation, the third volume of Totalitarianism and Political Religions completes the set. It provides a comprehensive overview of key theories and theorists of totalitarianism and of political religions, from Hannah Arendt and Raymond Aron to Leo Strauss and Simone Weill. Edited by the eminent Professor Hans Maier, it represents a major study, examining how new models for understanding political history arose from the experience of modern despotic regimes. Where volumes one and two were concerned with questioning the common elements between twentieth century despotic regimes - Communism, Fascism, National Socialism, Maoism â this volume draws a general balance. It brings together the findings of research undertaken during the decade 1992-2002 with the cooperation of leading philosophers, historians and social scientists for the Institute of Philosophy at the University of Munich.Following the demise of Italian Fascism (1943-45), German National Socialism (1945) and Soviet Communism (1989-91), a comparative approach to the three regimes is possible. A broad field of interpretation of the entire phenomenon of totalitarian and political religions opens up. This comprehensive study examines a vast topic which affects the political and historical landscape over the whole of the last century. Moreover, dictatorships and their motivations are still present in current affairs, today in the twenty-first century. The three volumes of Totalitarianism and Political Religions are a vital resource for scholars of fascism, Nazism, communism, totalitarianism, comparative politics and political theory.Table of Contents1. Introduction: On the Interpretation of Totalitarian Rule 2. The Classical Understanding of Tyranny and Despotism 3. The New Approaches 4. On the Concept and Theory of Political Religions 5. Fascism and Non-Democratic Regimes 6. Interpreters of Totalitarianism: A Lexicographical Survey 7. Bibliographic Index

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Through his narration of events great and small, Jordan evokes the mood of an age... He effortlessly covers a lot of ground in relatively few pages and there is an attractive economy to his stimulating treatment of subjects that come with considerable historiographical baggage. His book ought to have a wide readership of students and scholars alike."--Patrick Nold, H-France Review "Jordan opens a window on a remote time. It is Jordan's genius to spot that window, his achievement to let us peer through. That alone makes this work a valuable contribution to our historical perspective. It adds yet another piece to our understanding of a critical and enigmatic period."--Alan Friedlander, American Historical Review "In this book of modest size, Jordan succeeds in leading the modern reader into the world, work, and concerns of a fourteenth-century monk and scholar who occupied a not-insignificant place in the intellectual and political life of his time. Jordan's study provides new insights into debates and dissent over major church issues in the age of the last Capetians."--Kathryn L. Reyerson, SpeculumTable of Contents*FrontMatter, pg. i*CONTENTS, pg. vii*PREFACE, pg. ix*ACKNOWLEDGMENTS, pg. xiii*CHAPTER 1. Encroachments on Ecclesiastical Authority: Taxation, Clerical Immunity, and the Jews, pg. 1*CHAPTER 2. The Pope in Avignon and the Crisis of the Templars, pg. 18*CHAPTER 3. The Exemption Controversy at the Council of Vienne, pg. 37*CHAPTER 4. An Uneasy Relationship: Church and State at the Cistercian Abbey of Sainte-Marie of Chaalis, pg. 56*CHAPTER 5. Old Fights and New: From Exemption to Usus pauper, pg. 73*EPILOGUE: Unceasing Strife, Unending Fear, pg. 98*NOTES, pg. 105*BIBLIOGRAPHY, pg. 137*INDEX, pg. 151

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Book SynopsisAli Rahnema is Emeritus Professor at the American University of Paris, France. He is the author of The Rise of Modern Despotism in Iran (2021), Call to Arms: Iran's Marxist Revolutionaries (2021), Behind the 1953 Coup in Iran: Thugs, Turncoats, Soldiers, and Spooks (2015), Superstition as Ideology in Iranian Politics: From Majlesi to Ahmadinejad (2011), and An Islamic Utopian: A Political Biography of Ali Shariati (2000) among others.Trade ReviewThe product of thirty-five years of teaching and research, this text book is ideal for introducing students to the history of modern Iran. * Dr Roham Alvandi, London School of Economics, UK *By drawing on a wealth of primary and secondary source material Ali Rahnema offers a highly accessible and informative textbook, a lucid survey of Iran’s political history in the twentieth century to the present. * Ali Gheissari, Professor, University of San Diego, USA *An outstanding feat of scholarship and pedagogy, this remarkable textbook of modern history guides students through Iran's intertwined political, social, economic, intellectual and religious histories of the past 100 years in an engaging and straightforward language framed by a wealth of vivid excerpts from contemporary accounts, helpful explanatory sidebars and comprehensive sets of analytical and discussions questions that both students and instructors will come to appreciate. * Iago Gocheleishvili, Senior Lecturer, Cornell University, USA *Exhibiting concision, depth of research, elegant prose, and intellectual acumen in every page, this textbook is a much-needed resource for understanding modern Iran’s political history and its developmental trajectories from the outset of the twentieth century to the present. Ali Rahnema has once again produced a work of impressive range and great analytical subtlety that is destined to become a staple of Iranian Studies syllabi the world over. * Hussein Banai, Associate Professor, Indiana University Bloomington, USA *Table of ContentsList of Figures Acknowledgements INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1: THE QUEST FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY UNDER THE QAJARS: (1905-1911) CHAPTER 2: A STATE MADE DYSFUNCTIONAL (1912-1921) CHAPTER 3: REZA SHAH: NATION BUILDING, REPRESSION, EUROPEANIZATION AND MODERNIZATION. (1921-1941) CHAPTER 4. MOHAMMAD REZA SHAH: FOREIGN INVASION, OIL NATIONALIZATION AND THE COUP (1941-1953) CHAPTER 5: FROM POST-COUP TO POST-UPRISING (AUGUST 1953- JUNE 1963) CHAPTER 6: THE SHAH’S PUSH TOWARDS THE GATES OF THE GREAT CIVILIZATION (1964-1977) CHAPTER 7: THE REVOLUTIONARY TRANSITION FROM MONARCHY TO REPUBLIC (MARCH 1977- MARCH 1979) CHAPTER 8: KHOMEYNI’S ISLAMIC REPUBLIC (1979-1989) CHAPTER 9: PRESIDENT RAFSANJANI, THE CRUSADER OF CONSTRUCTION (1989-1997) CHAPTER 10: KHATAMI’S PRESIDENCY: A DEMOCRATIC OPPORTUNITY DEFLECTED AND FOREGONE (1997-2005) CHAPTER 11: THE AHMADINEJAD PRESIDENCY (2005-2013) CHAPTER 12: ROWHANI: SMILES, HOPE AND MODERATION DASHED (2013-2021) Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisLong-standing, award-winning Muslim human rights campaigner Sara Khan courageously takes on the extremists within her faith whose ideology has made it easier for terrorists to recruit young Britons. This important and timely book will be a major news story this autumn.Trade Review'Sara Khan is a fearless and principled voice in the struggle for the soul of Islam. Everyone who cares about combatting prejudice should read her, befriend her and fight alongside her.' Nick Cohen; 'An important book from a tireless campaigner' Mishal Husain; 'This is an important book full of compelling, disturbing and inspirational material, required reading to understand what is happening in our midst and what we can do about it.' Sunday Times; 'Deserves a wide audience.' Mail on Sunday; 'A fascinating book [by] one of the UK's most influential counter-extremism voices.' Dermot Murnaghan, Sky News; 'An impresive book. [This book] deftly examines the roots and growth of Muslim extremism in the UK and would have been invaluable for that alone. But it stands for something more. It is a powerful cri de coeur. British society, Khan urges, must stand with reforming Muslims otherwise "extremists are the ones who will be left to define British Islam".' TLSTable of ContentsAcknowledgements 9; A Note on Terms 11;Introduction 15; 1. Race to your Caliphate: The Rise of Islamist Extremism 25; 2. British Salafists and Islamists: The Growing Convergence 51; 3. The Islamist-Led Assault on Prevent 87; 4. Identity Politics: Islamism and the Ultra Left, the Far Right and Feminists 119; 5. Voices from the Frontline 151; Conclusion: Winning the Battle against Extremism 175; About the Authors 197; Notes 199; Bibliography 235; Index 243

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Book SynopsisJonathan M. Golden is Director of the Center on Religion, Culture, and Conflict at Drew University, USA, where he teaches comparative religion, anthropology, and conflict resolution.Joseph J. McCallister is a teacher of English and language arts at Northern Valley Regional High School in Demarest, New Jersey, USA, and is a doctoral candidate at Drew University, USA.Table of ContentsAlphabetical List of Entries Topical List of Entries Series Foreword Preface Overview Chronology A to Z Annotated Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisTitus Hjelm is Lecturer in Finnish Society and Culture at University College London, UK.Trade Review[I]t is [the] eclecticism that is one of the main appeals of the book. There is something to interest everyone, and younger researchers or those new to the field of sociology of religion will find it particularly helpful. * Sociology of Religion *This collection is outstanding: lively, timely, wide-ranging, probing and sceptical about woolly notions of religion’s return to the public sphere. It’s a must-read book for anyone with interests in religion as a social fact. -- James A. Beckford, Professor Emeritus of Sociology, University of Warwick, UKTable of Contents1. Is God Back? Reconsidering the New Visibility of Religion , Titus Hjelm (UCL, UK) Part I: Conceptualizing Public Religion 2. Studying Public Religions: Visibility, Authority and the Public/Private Distinction, Marta Axner (Uppsala University, Sweden) 3. Conceptualizing the Public in Mediatized Religion, Mia Löveheim (Uppsala University, Sweden) and Alf Linderman (Uppsala Universitym, Sweden) 4. Religious Cleavages and National Identity in European Civil Societies, Annette Schnabel (Bergische Universität Wuppertal,Germany) 5. Illiberal Secularism? Pro-Faith Discourse in the United Kingdom, Steven Kettell (University of Warwick, UK) 6. Negotiating the Public and Private in Everyday Evangelicalism, Anna Strhan (University ofKent, UK) 7. The Gods Are Back: Nationalism and Transnationalism in Contemporary Pagan and Native Faith Groups in Europe, Kathryn Rountree (Massey University, New Zealand) Part II: Rethinking the Religion-State Relationship 8. Religion and the State in the 21st Century:the Alternative between Laicité and Religious Freedom, Luca Diotallevi (University of Rome TRE) 9. The Sacred State: Religion, Ritual and Power in the United Kingdom, Norman Bonney (Edinburgh Napier University, UK) 10. Social Class and Christianity: Imagining Sovereignty and Scottish Independence, Paul Gilfillian (Queen Margaret University, UK) 11. National Piety: Religious Equality, Freedom of Religion and National Identity in Finnish Political Discourse, Titus Hjelm (UCL, UK) 12. Religion, Democracy and the Challenge of the Arab Spring, Ian Morrison (American University in Cairo, Egypt) Part III:Religion and Social Action 13. Social Welfare Provision and Islamic Social Movements in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA): A Viable Form of Social Action?, Rana Jawad (University of Bath, UK) 14. Understanding Definitions and Experiences of Care and Caring amongst Hindu and Muslim Older People: The Role of Ethnicity and Religion, Akile Ahmet (Brunel University London, UK) and Christina Victor (Brunel University London, UK) 15. Religion and Transnational Roma Mobilization: From Local Religious Participation to Transnational Social Activism in the Case of the Finnish Roma, Raluca Bianca Roman (University of St Andrews, UK) 16. Finding God in the Process: Recovery from Addiction in Sarajevo, Eleanor Ryan-Saha (Durham University, UK) Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisIn states in which the public role of religion is controversial, religious instruction becomes both a means and an end of politics. This groundbreaking collection of case studies drawn from Arab, Asian and European countries examines different aspects of religious instruction: how it is regulated, who decides its content, the values it imparts and, in particular, whether it triggers, deepens or reduces conflict.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction, THEODOR HANF AND KARIM EL MUFTI Teaching Religion, not Violence, HISHAM NASHABE Religious Education and/or the Making of a Citizen: The Case of Lebanon, KARIM EL MUFTI Teaching Religion in Egypt and Tunisia: A Challenge to Citizenship Education, MUHAMMAD FAOUR Capitalizing on Inequality? Religious Schools in Turkey and Israel, ANNALENA DI GIOVANNI Teaching Religion in a Multinational State: The Case of Bosnia-Herzegovina, KARIM EL MUFTI State-Building and Religious Education in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, GIUDITTA FONTANA A Review of Religion in the British Education System, KELSEY SHANKS Teaching About Religion in a Spirit of Laïcité: The Case of France, ANNE FRANÇOISE WEBER Teaching Religion in Germany, KARL SCHMITT Madrasa Education in Afghanistan: Between Reform and Militancy, RÜDIGER BLUMÖR Policies and Politics of Teaching Religion in India, SHREYA PARIKH Epilogue: What We Know and What We Don’t, THEODOR HANF About the Authors

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Book SynopsisThis is the first major effort to systematically organise and evaluate Schelling's arguments for a Philosophy of Revelation and to demonstrate their importance for contemporary debates in speculative realism, new realism and post-secularism.

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Book SynopsisThis book engages critically with the different models and approaches for managing religion adopted in Europe, Asia and Oceania. A truly intercontinental volume, this collection brings together high level scholarship from renowned scholars and rising stars in the fields of political theory, Islamic studies, sociology and law.

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Book SynopsisThis book provides a survey of Islam in Turkey since the founding of the modern republic in 1923. It examines the secularising policies of Turkey's founders and how these policies have shaped the development of religious institutions and social expectations around religious practice up to the present day.

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Book SynopsisFeaturing the work of Recep Alpyal and aban Ali Dzgn, this innovative study provides a concise survey of Turkish Muslim positions on religious pluralism and atheism as well as detailed treatments of both critical and appreciative Turkish Muslim perspectives on Western Christianity.

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Book SynopsisUncovering a history buried by different nationalist narratives (Jewish, Israeli, Arab and Palestinian) this book looks at how the late Ottoman era set the stage for the on-going Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

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Book SynopsisFollowing a period of rapid political change, both globally and in relation to the Middle East and South Asia, this collection sets new terms of reference for an analysis of the intersections between global, state, non-state and popular actors and their contradictory effects on the politics of gender.

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Book SynopsisThis book sheds light on the phenomenon of white rage, and maps out the uneasy relationship between white anxiety, religious fervour, American identity and perceived black racial progress.

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Book SynopsisSaitya Brata Das argues that in Kierkegaard's work we find a radical eschatological critique, not only of the liberal-humanist pathos of modernity but also the political theology of Carl Schmitt, that seeks to legitimise the sovereign power of the state by an appeal to a divine or theological foundation.

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Book SynopsisThis book introduces the history of the rise and spread of Salafism during the 20th century as a global Islamic reform movement. It also explains Salafi tools of methodological reasoning: traditionally used to justify highly conservative positions, they now appear equally effective in defending more liberal life choices.

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Book SynopsisProposes a framework of Muslim democracy that reconciles public claims made by Muslims with the normative and practical demands of democratic regimes.Trade Review"A very cutting-edge and path-breaking work in the field. There are many political science texts on the phenomenon of Muslim democracy" but this may be the first book that treats it as political theory or ideology. This will be a very important and influential book."" -Andrew F. March, Professor of Political Science, University of Massachusetts

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Book SynopsisUsing an evidenced-based, social-scientific approach to religion, Kenneth D. Wald and Allison Calhoun-Brown challenge the perception that religious influence in American politics is a problem to be solved. Instead, they contend that religion is a form of social identification that not only shapes our ideas about politics, but it also shapes the behavior of political elites and ordinary citizens, the interpretation of public laws, and the development of government programs. Ultimately, the authors show how religion plays a fascinating and crucial role in our nation’s political process and in our culture at large. The eighth edition of Religion and Politics in the United States has been fully updated to include the latest scholarship and coverage of the 2016 presidential election. It also features a new discussion of the religious right, center, and left, as well as the impact of religion on the fight for equality based on gender and sexual orientation. Additional student resources include all new discussion questions and further readings at the end of each chapter, as well as a companion website featuring self-quizzes.Trade ReviewI look forward to each new edition of this text. I have long recommended it to undergraduate and graduate students, and to colleagues who want to better understand the relationship between religion and politics in the United States. Now a classic has gotten even better, with expanded coverage of religion and gender politics, and the politics of sexual diversity. I recommend this highly to political scientists, sociologists, historians, and anyone interested in the myriad ways that politics and religion influence one another. -- Clyde Wilcox, professor of government, Georgetown UniversityThis is a strong, accessible textbook for upper division religion and politics courses. The book may be used as a stand-alone text and complements supplementary material well including magazine articles, religious group websites and U.S. Supreme Court opinions. -- Terri Susan Fine, University of Central FloridaLong the standard by which other volumes on religion and politics are measured, this new edition continues to provide not only up-to-date coverage but an excellent breadth and depth of such coverage as well. -- Corwin E. Smidt, Calvin CollegeTable of Contents1. A Secular Society? 2. Religion in the American Context 3. Religion and American Political Culture 4. Religion and the State 5. Mobilizing Religious Interests 6. Religion and Political Action 7. Religion and Public Opinion 8. Religion and Conservative Political Mobilization 9. Religion and Centrist Political Mobilization 10. Religion and Liberal Political Mobilization 11. The Struggle for Minority Rights: Gender and Sexuality 12. Religion and American Political Life

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Book SynopsisA collection of scholarly essays exploring the diverse perspectives on the intersection of religion and politics in Nigeria.

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Book SynopsisBy pairing a scholar of Islamic law with a scholar of Jewish law, a unique dynamic is created, and new perspectives are made possible. These new perspectives not only enable an understanding of the other’s legal tradition, but most saliently, they offer new insights into one’s own legal tradition, shedding light on what had previously been assumed to be outside the scope of analytic vision. In the course of this volume, scholars come together to examine such issues as judicial authority, the legal policing of female sexuality, and the status of those who stand outside one’s own tradition. Whether for the pursuit of advanced scholarship, pedagogic innovation in the classroom, or simply a greater appreciation of how to live in a multi-faith, post-secular world, these encounters are richly-stimulating, demonstrating how legal tradition can be used as a common site for developing discussions and opening up diverse approaches to questions about law, politics, and community. Islamic and Jewish Legal Reasoning offers a truly incisive model for considering the good, the right and the legal in our societies today.Trade Review‘A revelatory exploration of faith traditions in deep dialogue with one another. Islamic and Jewish Legal Reasoning offers a model of reciprocal conversation at a time when it is too often in short supply.’ -- Dr. Seth Anziska, Lecturer in Jewish-Muslim Relations, University College London‘A wonderfully engaging conversation about the meaning, value, and possible revision of legal traditions.’ -- Michael Walzer, Professor Emeritus, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton‘Islamic and Jewish Legal Reasoning is daring and innovative. The book is a conversation among scholars of law and religion in these two great traditions, based on intensive collective readings of and reflections on each other’s key texts, specifically concerning the role of reason and authority in determining law. The result is a fascinating and highly readable account of this dialogue.’ -- Ziba Mir-Hosseini, SOAS, University of London‘Anver Emon and Robert Gibbs are among the very best scholars of their generation on (respectively) Islamic and Jewish legal reasoning. This volume is a treasure, bringing their work into conversation with other notable scholars, helping us to better understand our shared heritage.’ -- Amir Hussain, Professor of Theological Studies, Loyola Marymount University‘Islamic and Jewish Legal Reasoning is a series of thoughtful scholarly essays in which recognition of differences becomes the starting point for mutual understanding. The essays introduce the reader to pairs of outstanding scholars who reflect together on legal questions regarding animals, sovereignty, the status of women, and other issues. Their conversations provide a wealth of detail on these two important traditions, and they remind us again that to know our own law and culture, we must first understand the questions others raise about them.’ -- Robin W. Lovin, William H. Scheide Senior Fellow in Theology, Center of Theological Inquiry‘Designed for the non-specialist, this fascinating book invites the reader to listen in on a conversation about law, Jewish law and Islamic law, among distinguished scholars thinking modern questions—the nature of law and judicial authority, the status of women, animal rights, and sovereignty—with ancient and medieval texts. It is a deeply serious book which models an informed and open dialogue about consequential matters rather than providing packaged pieties.’ -- Winnifred Fallers Sullivan, Chair, Department of Religious Studies, Indiana University BloomingtonTable of ContentsIntroduction: Islamic and Jewish Legal Reasoning—Beginnings (Anver M. Emon and Robert Gibbs) On Reading Together Formation of a Reading Practice From Reading Together to Writing Together PART I 1 Assuming Power: Judges, Imagined Authority, and the Quotidian (Rumee Ahmed and Aryeh Cohen) Introduction Rumee Ahmed Aryeh Cohen Rumee Ahmed Aryeh Cohen: Coda Conclusion 2 Guardianship of Women in Islamic and Jewish Legal Texts (Rachel Adler and Ayesha S. Chaudhry) Introduction Reading an Islamic Legal Text Together Reading a Jewish Legal Text Together Further Reflections: Rachel Adler Comparative Reflections: Ayesha S. Chaudhry Conclusion 3 The Cowering Calf and the Thirsty Dog: Narrating and Legislating Kindness to Animals in Jewish and Islamic Texts (Beth Berkowitz and Marion Katz) Introduction Dialogue 1: Legal Obligations toward Animals Dialogue 2: Compassion toward Animals Conclusion 4 Policing Women: Virginity Checkers and the Sotah Ordeal as Sites of Women’s Agency (Ayesha S. Chaudhry and Shari Golberg) Women Policing Women: From Montreal to Jerusalem The Hidaya: Testimony in Cases of Zina Mishnah Sotah: Testimony in the Case of Suspected Adultery The Adulteress vs. the Adulterer Conclusion 5 Sovereignty, Law, and the Pedagogy of Historical Fantasy: On the Halakha on the Laws of War and the Fiqh on Dhimmis (Arye Edrei and Anver M. Emon) Introduction Early Rabbinic and Islamic Legal Trajectories Inverting the Political Form Conclusion PART II 6 Cross-Textual Reflections on Tradition, Reason, and Authority (Adam B. Seligman) Introduction: Tradition and Reason Tradition and Dialogue Authority and Religion 7 The Social Life of Reason (Robert Gibbs) A Philosophical Framework Philosophical Questions List of Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisMinority religions that differ from the mainstream are often perceived as controversial and as a threat to the individual and to society. During the 1970s and 80s, there were intense discussions about whether conversion to these groups was voluntary or an effect of brainwashing or manipulation. In recent years, however, the situation of children in these groups has taken over the public debate regarding minority religions. Many believe that childhoods in cults involve physical and psychological abuse, and that severe punishment, starvation, sexual abuse, manipulation, forced obedience, lack of medical care and demonization of the outside world is part of everyday life. This book presents four years of research. Its purpose is to highlight children's upbringing in certain minority religions with a high degree of "sectarian" criteria in a sociological sense including high tension with society/world, unique legitimacy and high level of commitment. The study examines mainly, but not exclusively, seven minority religious communities: The Hare Krishna movement, The Family International (formerly Children of God), The Church of Scientology, The Family Federation (formerly The Unification Church), Knutby Filadelfia (a Pentecostal group), The Exclusive Brethren, and Jehovah's Witnesses. The fieldwork was conducted in Sweden, but the situation of the children and the findings are relevant to other countries. Most of the minority groups discussed have an international character with a presence in many countries, with only minor differences depending on local circumstances. The study is based on literature from the religions and observations of children and parents in religious rituals and daily life. However, the most important material for the book are eighteen in-depth interviews with children between the ages of 8 and 17 living in these groups and seventy-five in-depth interviews with adults who grew up in minority religions and who are still involved, who grew up in minority religions, but are not now engaged, and who raised children in the minority religions.Table of ContentsIntroduction Liselotte Frisk, Sanja Nilsson and Peter Akerback Section 1: General Overview and Perspectives 1. The Politicization of Children in Minority Religions: The Swedish and the European Contexts Peter Akerback 2. Children's Rights in Relation to Religion in Contemporary Sweden: Debates and Arguments Sanja Nilsson 3. Growing Up in Controversial Minority Religions: Constructions of Childhoods Liselotte Frisk Section 2: Different Groups and Different Perspectives 4. Recently Reborn: To Return as a Child of Scientologist Parents Peter Akerback 5. The Family International: A Narrative Approach Liselotte Frisk and Sanja Nilsson 6. Diana Baumrind's Parenting Styles: The Examples of the Osho Movement and Jehovah's Witnesses Liselotte Frisk 7. "I have lived all my life in a reality that doesn't exist": Perspectives from Ex-members Raised in Controversial Minority Religions Liselotte Frisk 8. Religion, Parenting and Child Corporal Punishment: The Example of the Twelve Tribes Liselotte Frisk 9. Medicine and Healthcare in Controversial Minority Religions: Perspectives from Medical Anthropology Liselotte Frisk 10. The Charismatic Leader in Knutby Filadelfia: The Children's Perspective Sanja Nilsson Section 3: Educational Perspectives 11. Learning the Principles: The Socialization of Children Within the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification Peter Akerback 12. In the Rear-view Mirror: Experiences of Attending an Ashram-based Religious Minority School in Sweden Sanja Nilsson 13. Raising and Schooling Children in the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church: The Swedish Perspective Liselotte Frisk and Sanja Nilsson 14. The Waldorf Education System and Religion Liselotte Frisk 15. Applied Scholastics and Study Technology: The Educational Perspective Developed by L. Ron Hubbard Liselotte Frisk Section 4: Conclusion 16. Conclusion: Controversial Minority Religions and Childhoods Liselotte Frisk, Sanja Nilsson and Peter Akerback Appendix 1: Glossary of Minority Religions Discussed in the Book Appendix 2: Interviews

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Book SynopsisThis collection of 21 papers were written by leading and emerging critical scholar/practitioners who represent three generations of survivors of imperial invasions and genocidal massacres across the globe. They are from the Middle East, East Asia, South Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Pacific and the Caribbean Islands who are renowned for the depth and urgency of their analyses and their principled ethical and political positions against empire and militarization. The contributors interrogate the oppressive ideologies and mechanisms of the modern empire and its allies and exemplify in particular how militarization has affected various peoples, lands, seas, and skies across the globe. They expose the desecration of lives and the earth by the modern empire and its local allies through various means, ranging from psychological warfare to brute force of advanced technological warfare, leaving an intergenerational impact. The authors have embraced people's cries against mass killings, starvation, rape, militarized prostitution, torture, forced disappearances, land grab, and the destruction of nature caused by modern warfare, as well as people's inherent collective aspiration for liberation of their lives and lands. They help evoke and sharpen the alternate consciousness amongst peoples in furthering resistance, and in envisioning and building a non-imperialist future for us, for our children, and for the planet earth. The authors foreground a breadth of modes of resistance and the places where they have been implemented, sharing with the reader their hard-earned knowledge and stories of truth and liberation, with a prophetic urgency.Trade Review"This book is a collection of deep reflections on the struggles of all those "modern prophets" who are fighting against the Empire in their own contexts through multiple ways. They are academics, activists, artists, theologians, and common people from the margins of the society. We pray that these testimonies of resistance will inspire all of us and strengthen our common struggle against the Empire. We urge that through this work our global network of anti-war and anti-militarization will be strengthened." Sudipta Singh, Mission Secretary, Research and Capacity Development, Council for World Mission, Singapore

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Book SynopsisAt the beginning of the twenty-first century, leading intellectuals are claiming "There is a problem with Islam in France," thus legitimising the discourse of the racist National Front. Such claims have been strengthened by the backlash since the terrorist attacks in Paris in January and November 2015, coming to represent a new 'common sense' in the political landscape, and we have seen a similar logic play out in the United States and Europe.Edwy Plenel, former editorial director of Le Monde, essayist and founder of the investigative journalism website Mediapart tackles these claims head-on, taking the side of his compatriots of Muslim origin, culture or belief, against those who make them into scapegoats. He demonstrates how a form of "Republican and secularist fundamentalism" has become a mask to hide a new form of virulent Islamophobia. At stake for Plenel is not just solidarity but fidelity to the memory and heritage of emancipatory struggles and he writes in defence of the Muslims, just as Zola wrote in defence of the Jews and Sartre wrote in defence of the blacks. For if we are to be for the oppressed then we must be for the Muslims.Trade ReviewThank goodness for this humane, civilized and morally brave book. It speaks important truths which these days are much too rarely heard. -- Peter OborneA powerful call to address the empathy deficit and intellectual poverty which underlies the 'obsessive Islamophobia' of much French public discourse. Noting that Islamophobia now performs the cultural function once assigned to anti-Semitism,For the Muslims is a polemic against indifference. Plenel resurrects France's heritage of critical thought to call on his fellow citizens and others to develop a competing imaginary to the one established by rampant xenophobia. -- Priyamvada GopalAn important book about one of the most pressing issues facing modern Europe. Insightful, historically grounded and detailed, it's required reading. -- Murtaza HussainAn urgent and necessary warning cry against hatred and the politics of fear and indifference that fuels it. From the Dreyfus affair to the aftermath of the Paris attacks of 2015, Plenel shows how the normalization of a far-right narrative of rejection, exclusion and otherness will have consequences for us all. -- Simon Hooper

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Book SynopsisAcross the world, grassroots movements for change are growing in number, skill, and impact on society. Finding a place at the intersect between spirituality and politics, these emerging activists are grounded in a deeper understanding of the world they wish to change, and act out of a deep sense that their simple acts can make a difference. With moving first-hand accounts, priest and community organiser Keith Hebden demonstrates what it means to be an engaged and alive human being in a world that is crying out for change, and how to play our part in it.Whether you have recently come alive to the possibilities of activism, or are familiar with the frustrations and challenges of working for change, this book will energise, inform and enchant you.Trade ReviewThis is a heart-warmingly compassionate exploration of activism with soul, full of wisdom drawn from real-life experience, expressed with disarming humility and humour. Keith Hebden's book offers accessible support and companionship for those seeking to deepen the spirituality of their peace and justice engagement - may the re-enchantment begin! -- Annie Heppenstall, Christian spirituality practitioner and author of books including The Healer's Tree: A Bible-based Resource on Ecology, Peace and JusticeKeith gets to the heart of what it means to be a true activist. Those dedicated to changing this world, regardless of whether they have a faith or not, will find wisdom here. For all who want to be part of a better world, but have been close to giving up, these distilled thoughts will surely help to re-enchant your faith in activism. -- Revd Chris Howson, liberation theologian and author of A Just ChurchKeith Hebden is part of a long and rich tradition of radical Christian clergy whose faith and cold anger drive them to act and thereby seek to challenge the principalities and the powers. In his thoughtful new book Re-enchanting the Activist he records his actions, the stories of others and the lessons learned on this journey. This story starts with the lone but 'enchanted' activist but progresses to the activist as teacher, mentor and team player as the quest - seeing the development of people 'in the right relationships' working for justice together. Keith is a great storyteller. His book is full of advice for readers who seek to act not out of anger or hatred but out of love and a deep spirituality. 'Re-enchantment', the book argues, comes from following the African proverb - 'if you want to go fast - go alone, but if you want to go far - go with others!' -- Neil Jameson, Founder and Executive Director of Citizens UKSeeing the painful reality of life can lead to 'burn-out' in activists. Keith shows how our faith communities and teachings can help us cope. I love his exploration of 'God of the Gaps' and the power of storytelling. He uses personal stories, stories from various faiths, shares helpful practices and challenges both our own limitations and 'status quo' religion. -- Modgala Louise Duguid, Buddhist activist and author of You Might as Well Die Here as AnywhereKeith Hebden's book is a clear and inspiring call to getting involved and engagement, it deserves to be read and valued by those of all faiths. A rallying call to direct and transformative spiritual action. -- The Reverend Kate Bottley, Priest in the Diocese of Sputhwell and NottinghamTable of ContentsIntroduction. 1. Losing Yourself. 2. Reclaiming Yourself. 3. Letting God Go. 4. Reclaiming God. 5. Re-enchanting Religion. 6. Enchanted by Affliction. 7. Between Heaven and Earth.

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Book SynopsisAlthough Religious Education (RE) is a legal requirement in UK schools, it is an oft-neglected and misunderstood subject. It is important to seriously re-think this key subject at this time of low religious literacy and rising extremism, to protect communities from the consequences of hatred and misunderstanding. This book promotes a public discussion of what exactly is needed from a new model of RE within our education system to benefit wider society.In this edited collection, the chapters are diverse and future-facing, informed by theory and practice and written by a variety of key leading practitioners and emerging national leaders in RE. It covers the most pressing and urgent issues for RE such as hate speech, educational reform, and the weakening of moderate religious institutions. Linking the chapters together with recurring themes and joining passages, the editors create a flowing and coherent discussion about the state of RE and offer choices and routes for readers to consider in terms of its future course.Trade ReviewThis diverse and accessible series of reflections provides an excellent route map navigating the complex terrain that is contemporary RE. It offers a range of radical solutions guaranteed to prompt debate about the future of the 'RE space' in a post-religious, post-secular contemporary world. -- Alan Brine, Former HMI and Ofsted National Adviser for Religious EducationThis book, in the words of two of its authors, does the same as effective RE in classrooms. It offers 'demanding material... a framework for talk, thought, misconceptions and deep engagement' and a discussion of 'unsafe topics'. It is timely and informed and everyone who cares about RE should read it. -- Dr Joyce Miller Associate Fellow, WRERUThis timely book assembles huge amounts of wisdom and experience. It is a valuable addition to a growing literature on the place of RE in our schools. I strongly endorse the message captured in the Postscript : be absolutely clear about the purpose of RE and teach it well. The rest will follow from this. -- Grace Davie, Professor emeritus, University of ExeterTeachers of RE - and, indeed, the general reader - will appreciate the honesty and clarity of We Need To Talk About Religious Education. There is a refreshing newness among the contributors to this important volume, most of whom either continue to teach RE, or have done so in the fairly recent past. -- Dennis Richards * Church Times *This wide-ranging and very readable set of contributions is highly recommended to all involved with or interested in the subject of religion education or religious education in schools, and its future. As well as making an excellent introduction to relevant issues for those preparing to teach religious education or to develop policy, it will be of interest to many working with issues of religious/religion education in a variety of national settings. -- Robert Jackson * American International Journal, Reliigon and Education *Table of ContentsContributor bios; Foreword - Linda Woodhead MBE, University of Lancaster; Introduction - Mike Castelli, Association of University Lecturers in RE and Mark Chater, Culham St Gabriel's Trust, Oxford; PART I. Context; 1. Time to Abandon RE: Ditching an Out-of-date Solution to an Out-of-date Problem - Clive Lawton, Former Chair of the Shap Working Party of World Religions in Education; 2. A European Perspective: How Educational Reforms Influence the Place and Image of RE - Peter Schreiner, Comenius-Institut, Germany; 3. Why We Need Legislative Change, and How We Can Get It - Mark Chater; 4. RE and the Knowledge Problem - Richard Kueh, Farmington Institute, Harris Manchester College, Oxford; 5. The Future of Catholic RE - Andrew Lewis, St Bonaventure's School, London; 6. RE-dressing the Balance - Gillian Georgiou, Diocesan Education Team, Lincoln and Kathryn Wright, Culham St Gabriel's, Oxford; 7. Towards a Core Integrity for RE - Sushma Sahajpal, Connectar Creative Education, Buckinghamshire; Part II. Futures; 8. Making the Case for More Demanding RE - Mary Myatt, education advisor, Wales; 9. Principles and Procedures for Classroom Dialogue - Mike Castelli; 10. Facing the Strange - Phil Champain, Three Faiths Forum, London; 11. RE as a Safe space for Discussing Unsafe Ideas - Neil McKain, Pipers Corner School, High Wycombe; 12. The Role of Religious Education in Addressing Extremism - Adam Whitlock, Ark Burlington Danes Academy, London; 13. Faith Communities as Stakeholders in RE: A Commitment to Generous Hospitality - Derek Holloway, The Church of England Education Office, London; 14. Does Research Matter in the Religious Education Classroom? - Dawn Cox, Manning Tree High School, Essex; 15. The 'Digital Turn': What does RE Teachers' Online Engagement Mean for RE CPD? - James Robson, Culham St Gabriel's Trust and Oxford University Department of Education; Index

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Book Synopsis'Religion' can be used to mean all kinds of things, but a substantive definition––based on the premise of superhuman powers––can clarify much. It allows us to attempt to differentiate religion from culture, ethnicity, morality and politics. This definition of religion necessarily implies a perception of reality. Until recent centuries in the West, and in most cultures still, the ordinary, natural and immediate way of understanding and experiencing reality was in terms of otherworldly or spiritual forces. However, a cognitive shift has taken place through the rise of science and its subsequent technological application. This new consciousness has not disproved the existence of spiritual forces, but has led to the marginalisation of the other-worldly, which even Western churches seem to accept. They persist, but increasingly as pressure groups promoting humanist values. Claims of 'American exceptionalism' in this regard are misleading. Obama's religion, Evangelical support for Trump, and the mega-church message of success in the capitalist system can all be cultural and political phenomena. This eclipsing of the other-worldly constitutes a watershed in human history, with profound consequences not just for religious institutions but for our entire world order.Trade Review'This is a very readable, brief, perceptive, and well-judged statement of a specific position, drawing on a wide range of material ... well worth reading for a sobering essay on the difficulties of mission today.' -- Church Times‘Skilfully argues and densely packs with quotes and references Christianity’s long lament about how things have turned out for it in the present time.’'Intellectual and brisk, this book will be of great use to those interested in the history of ideas. A very helpful rebuke to simplistic arguments about the changing nature of religion in society and the modern world.' -- Ben Ryan, Head of Research, Theos'A learned exploration of a compelling issue: why has religion lost its place in the West? Gifford's perspective as an Africanist is invaluable; he sees what scholars in Europe don't. Seamlessly weaving together history, theology and sociology, Gifford wears his erudition lightly. A major contribution and a good read.' -- David Voas, Professor of Social Science, University College London, and Co-Director of British Religion in Numbers

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