Top 10 Top Books Reviewed in 2003

A dominant view of Islam is that it is conservative if not reactionary, opposed to everything that might qualify as "modern" and therefore necessarily hostile to the modern West, with all of this liberal ideas about society and humanity. Is this view, shared by both Muslims and non-Muslims alike, actually justified? Some argue that it is not.

Debates about the existence of God fascinate some and bore others; nevertheless, they have occupied a great deal of philosophical, theological, and scientific interest over the centuries. Many of the arguments currently used are very old, while others are based upon recent developments in science and philosophy. Has either side developed an advantage over the other?

Biotechnology is advancing at a rapid pace - far faster than most anyone could have realistically predicted even just a few years ago. Our ability to manipulate the human genome is growing almost every day. One of the consequences of this is that we have learned a great deal about human embryos, and if things go as expected, we may be able to make use of them for medical treatments. But should we?

Do you revere anything? That may sound like an odd question in the context of a modern society where little, if anything, is regarded as worthy of reverence. It may be argued that reverence is not only as necessary for modern society as it has been for any society throughout history, but also that reverence is quite distinct from and independent of both theism and religion.

Philosophy is a serious and often difficult topic, yet just as often it is made out to be more difficult than it actually is. The basic point of philosophy is, at least much of the time, to think reflexively and critically about those things which matter most in our lives. It's about fundamental questions without easy and pat answers. Studying philosophy shouldn't be a pursuit just for university students - unfortunately, not many teachers of philosophy reach out beyond that narrow audience.

Identity politics is a boogeyman of the American political landscape. Both the left and the right can be found decrying identity politics as divisive, fractious, and ultimately detrimental to a healthy and vibrant democracy. But is this evaluation justified, or is it actually based upon misperception and prejudice?

Morality has played an important role in both religion and theism throughout human history. So deeply intertwined have the two been that most people today sincerely believe that morality isn't possible outside of religion or, at the very least, without belief in God. But what if neither morality nor meaning depend upon either religion or theism?

Humans have committed great evil against other human beings over the course of millennia, but many outstanding examples occurred during just the 20th century. Such evil is not, however, the standard means by which people relate to one another - usually people are quite a bit more civil and kind. How is it that such behaviors are left behind and truly heinous barbarism develops?

Family planning, contraception and abortion are all intimately related issues which are often subject to rancorous debates in modern society and international politics. According to conventional wisdom, religion is inevitably anti-choice in such matters. But what if conventional wisdom is wrong?

Conflict in the Middle East has resulted in untold death, destruction and suffering. Although many have offered plausible arguments as to the social, political, and economic origins of the various conflicts, inevitably everything keeps coming back to religion: the disagreement and violence between Christians, Jews, and Muslims. Understanding the role of religion is necessary to understanding the violence itself - and this one book does more than almost any other to provide that understanding.