The Battle for God

In our supposedly secular age governed by reason and technology, fundamentalism has emerged as an overwhelming force in every major world religion. Why? This is the fascinating, disturbing question that bestselling author Karen Armstrong addresses in her brilliant new book The Battle for God. Writing with the broad perspective and deep understanding of human spirituality that won huge audiences for A History of God, Armstrong illuminates the spread of militant piety as a phenomenon peculiar to our moment in history.

Contrary to popular belief, fundamentalism is not a throwback to some ancient form of religion but rather a response to the spiritual crisis of the modern world. As Armstrong argues, the collapse of a piety rooted in myth and cult during the Renaissance forced people of faith to grasp for new ways of being religious--and fundamentalism was born. Armstrong focuses here on three fundamentalist movements: Protestant fundamentalism in America, Jewish fundamentalism in Israel, and Islamic fundamentalism in Egypt and Iran--exploring how each has developed its own unique way of combating the assaults of modernity.

Blending history, sociology, and spirituality, The Battle for God is a compelling and compassionate study of a radical form of religious expression that is critically shaping the course of world history. more

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Smarter Choice Paperback, The Battle for God Karen Armstrong brilliantly and sympathetically shows readers how and why fundamentalist groups came into existence...	24,658 reviews *smarter certified	$7.49 Coupon 1 coupon available Code: Detail: Use this online coupon to get $5 off orders over $5 when you pay with eBillMe at Buy.com Expires:Dec-31-2009 Restriction:Unknow	See it
The Battle for God: A History of... General History - Arguing that fundamentalism is complex and innovative, and yet a failure in religious terms,...	Barnes & Noble	$16 $11.48 Coupon 3 coupons available Code:No Code Required Detail: Free Shipping on orders of $25 at Barnes & Noble Expires:Jun-30-2010 Restriction:see site for more details Code:J7M3C9V Detail: 20% off single item when you use Master card at Barnes & Noble Expires:Dec-31-2009 Restriction:Unknow Code: Detail: GET FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS OF $25 OR MORE at Barnes and Noble Expires:Dec-31-2012 Restriction:Unknow	See it
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Recent Reviews

3/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Aug-07-2009; Detailed but could be better organized; As a history of the development of religion fundamentalism (in the Abrahamic faiths - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), this book is very detailed and will not disappoint the reader who is committed to learning something new. I would,...; read full review | report as inappropriate

4/5: From: Amazon; Posted: May-23-2009; Good history but questionable analysis; The main thrust of the Battle for God is its five hundred year history of fundamentalist currents within Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. The book examines how modernity, generally considered a force of peace and progress, has uprooted...; read full review | report as inappropriate

5/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Mar-14-2009; A must read for understanding today's world; Karen Armstrong is my favorite author when it comes to religious history. At a time in the west where some of what we read in the behavior of Islamic extremists (a willingness to be a suicide bomber and believe that killing yourself and...; read full review | report as inappropriate

2/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Feb-25-2009; Informative, but bookish, naive and disappointingly anglo-americano-centric; Ms. Armstrong's book is informative and readable, but there are serious problems with its substance. The idea that modern scientific rationalism is associated with spiritual impoverishment and fuels the growth of fundamentalism among the...; read full review | report as inappropriate

Selected Reviews

4/5: From: Amazon; Posted: May-23-2009; Good history but questionable analysis; The main thrust of the Battle for God is its five hundred year history of fundamentalist currents within Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. The book examines how modernity, generally considered a force of peace and progress, has uprooted...; read full review | report as inappropriate

3/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Aug-07-2009; Detailed but could be better organized; As a history of the development of religion fundamentalism (in the Abrahamic faiths - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), this book is very detailed and will not disappoint the reader who is committed to learning something new. I would,...; read full review | report as inappropriate

2/5: From: Amazon; Posted: Feb-25-2009; Informative, but bookish, naive and disappointingly anglo-americano-centric; Ms. Armstrong's book is informative and readable, but there are serious problems with its substance. The idea that modern scientific rationalism is associated with spiritual impoverishment and fuels the growth of fundamentalism among the...; read full review | report as inappropriate