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The Long European Reformation: Religion, Political Conflict and the Search for Conformity, 1350-1750 (European History in Perspective)

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Religious Conflict
by: Peter G. Wallace

September 11, 2003

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The Perfect Heresy: The Life and Death of the Cathars

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Religious Conflict
by: Stephen O'Shea

May 21, 2001
Cathars / Albigeois / Albigensians : it would be difficult indeed to live - as I do - in south-western France and remain unaware of them. I knew about them long before leaving the UK, though, and it seems that vast numbers of people all over the world now take considerable interest in the life, times, persecution and (presumed) extinction of this apparently harmless sect, whose history will forever be associated with the Languedoc.

Among the countless books available on the subject, ranging from the unbendingly scholarly and drily indigestible to the hack-written and downright fanciful, with all shades of the literary spectrum in between, The Perfect Heresy stands out as an intensively-researched work, smoothly and compellingly ... Read More:

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The Rise and Fall of the Knights Templar

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Religious Conflict
by: Gordon Napier

April 01, 2007
An excellent read. Having heard them mentioned in 'The Da Vinci Code' (film and book), and having visited temple church in London I was fascinated to learn a little more about them. This book is heavily laced with names and dates and direct extracts from writings of the time. It lays open several possibilities for their demise without the author ever really needing to force his own opinion on you. It's certainly left me wanting to know more about them.

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The Crusades: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Religious Conflict
by: Christopher Tyerman

October 13, 2005
I'm a great fan of the "very short introduction" series, published in a nice pocketable format and covering a huge range of topics. But editor and author must take heavy blame for this impenetrable monstrosity.

As pointed out by a previous reviewer, this book was written originally for a knowledgeable audience and has been simply rebranded as an "introduction". It isn't. Not a bit of it. Tyerman races through the events of the crusades and then attempts a long and excessively detailed analysis of their genesis and impact.

I consider this rebranding act pretty poor form on the part of OUP. But looking at the text, one starts to wonder who could have found even that original work an enjoyable read. The sentences are interminable ... Read More:

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Ethnic Conflict: A Global Perspective

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Religious Conflict
by: Stefan Wolff

July 12, 2007
The book represents a concise but comprehensive description of the state-of-the-art in the field of ethnic conflict. Moreover, it is a well written and--despite the grave nature of the subject--entertaining book. It provides a summary of contemporary views on why and how ethnicity has become such a powerful mobilizing force that can plunge societies into years of civil war and suffering; why in some cases ethnic conflicts become so violent and in others may be resolved peacefully; and how, if at all, such conflicts may be managed and resolved. The book is quite extraordinary in its coverage of conflicts in various parts of the world. Of course, Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Kosovo, for example, are well-known examples of ethnic conflicts. But how much do we know about ... Read More:

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The Dignity of Difference: How to Avoid the Clash of Civilizations

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Religious Conflict
by: Jonathan Sacks

September 05, 2002
At a time when religion is being claimed as a justification for killing, peace-loving people of faith are on the defensive. Fundamentalist or orthodox religiosity has acquired an especially dangerous reputation. In this fraught context, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks argues that orthodox religion could be, not only harmless, but a force for world peace. As chief rabbi of the mainstream Orthodox synagogues of Britain, Sacks speaks from deep within his own tradition, and his voice is worth listening to. His hope is to contribute to a "global conversation" in which voices of all religions, and of those with no religion, take part.

Sacks is not limited to ideas from his own tradition. He quotes many different classical and contemporary thinkers. Yet, appropriately ... Read More:

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The West and the Rest

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Religious Conflict
by: Roger Scruton

June 05, 2003
The West and the Rest is a book I have read three times and on each occasion extracted some new realisation. It is a small volume but so packed with civilisational counter-intuitiveness that it will make your head spin.

The most profound insight (that I dwell on almost daily when I listen to the news) is the link between democracy and the nation state. Scruton argues quite persuasively that to have a democracy means starting with a nation that sees itself as one. In other words, democracy is the child of nationhood and not the other way round because, in a democracy, all must agree to abide by the wish of the ruling majority. This is only possible because they trust (a key concept) that the majority have the best interests of all (not just their own) at heart.
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Terror in the Mind of God: The Global Rise of Religious Violence (Comparative Studies in Religion & Society)

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Religious Conflict
by: Mark Juergensmeyer

October 01, 2001
The West and the Rest is a book I have read three times and on each occasion extracted some new realisation. It is a small volume but so packed with civilisational counter-intuitiveness that it will make your head spin.

The most profound insight (that I dwell on almost daily when I listen to the news) is the link between democracy and the nation state. Scruton argues quite persuasively that to have a democracy means starting with a nation that sees itself as one. In other words, democracy is the child of nationhood and not the other way round because, in a democracy, all must agree to abide by the wish of the ruling majority. This is only possible because they trust (a key concept) that the majority have the best interests of all (not just their own) at heart.
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Gods of War: Is Religion the Primary Cause of Violent Conflict?

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Religious Conflict
by: Meic Pearse

October 31, 2007
The West and the Rest is a book I have read three times and on each occasion extracted some new realisation. It is a small volume but so packed with civilisational counter-intuitiveness that it will make your head spin.

The most profound insight (that I dwell on almost daily when I listen to the news) is the link between democracy and the nation state. Scruton argues quite persuasively that to have a democracy means starting with a nation that sees itself as one. In other words, democracy is the child of nationhood and not the other way round because, in a democracy, all must agree to abide by the wish of the ruling majority. This is only possible because they trust (a key concept) that the majority have the best interests of all (not just their own) at heart.
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Bin Laden: Behind the Mask of the Terrorist

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Religious Conflict
by: Adam Robinson

November 12, 2001
This book tells us nothing new about Osama Bin Laden and is very badly written, with words missing or spelt incorrectly. It also repeats facts and information several times throughout the book thus making it longer than it needs to be and a bit tedious to read.
The grammar in this book is so poor it actually makes it difficult to read!