A thoughtful if unfortunately truncated analysis of modern terrorism.
Debut author Williams confronts the violent emergence of terrorism by appraising its root causes in modernity itself.
Williams’ shorthand for the problem is an idea borrowed from biblical thought: idolatry. In its original manifestation, idolatry means the willful turning away from rational thought in favor of some false object of worship. The modern version of idolatry, Williams argues, involves an obsession with inferior substitutes for moral purpose, like sex, money, and, ultimately, obeisance to illegitimate authority. This submission to false authority, the author believes, has extraordinary repercussions deeply corrosive of modern life. First, it undercuts the possibility of meaningful public discourse, narrowing the acceptable topics of discussion as well as the parameters within which they can be discussed. This leads to a broadly felt crisis in democracy itself because central political institutions cease to be adequately representative. As more and more people become disillusioned with the political process available to them, the possibility of bellicose reactions to it, like terrorism, becomes increasingly likely. The author considers specific sources of terrorism, including debilitating debt, polarizing media, the proliferation of weapons, and the prevalence of sectarian conflict fueled by “doctrinal supremacy.” Williams impressively studies the ways our current global challenges are the products of a modern ethos historically unfurling for some time now. And while he acknowledges the contributions Islamic fundamentalism has made to worldwide terrorism, he also explains that a more thoughtful interpretation of Islamic religion permits healthy debate and intellectual tolerance. In fact, he contends that an imperious Western colonialism helped push the Muslim world into its currently defensive posture. A quick 33 pages, this is more essay than full-length book, and the brevity of Williams’ treatment stymies his considerable ambitions. It’s simply not possible to do justice to this topic, and all the other issues he raises as its corollaries, in so few words. However, he provocatively and helpfully encourages the reader to look beyond our historical moment to find deeper causes for the stubborn problems that confront us today.
A thoughtful if unfortunately truncated analysis of modern terrorism.Pub Date: Sept. 7, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-5172-2641-1
Page Count: 54
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: Nov. 16, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2015
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
This a book of earlier, philosophical essays concerned with the essential "absurdity" of life and the concept that- to overcome the strong tendency to suicide in every thoughtful man-one must accept life on its own terms with its values of revolt, liberty and passion. A dreary thesis- derived from and distorting the beliefs of the founders of existentialism, Jaspers, Heldegger and Kierkegaard, etc., the point of view seems peculiarly outmoded. It is based on the experience of war and the resistance, liberally laced with Andre Gide's excessive intellectualism. The younger existentialists such as Sartre and Camus, with their gift for the terse novel or intense drama, seem to have omitted from their philosophy all the deep religiosity which permeates the work of the great existentialist thinkers. This contributes to a basic lack of vitality in themselves, in these essays, and ten years after the war Camus seems unaware that the life force has healed old wounds... Largely for avant garde aesthetes and his special coterie.
Pub Date: Sept. 26, 1955
ISBN: 0679733736
Page Count: 228
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1955
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