| Top 10 Recently Reviewed Books |
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| Guide Picks |
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| Some of the most interesting books on religion, philosophy, atheism and skepticism published in the past months, organized in reverse order of when the book was reviewed. Readers across the theological spectrum can find interesting works covered here. |
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1) Zaddik: The Battle for a Boy's Soul
Are religious communities above the law? Apparently, some would offer an unqualified "yes" to this question. Learn the story of a woman whose son was kidnapped by ultraorthodox Jews and kept from her for years - all because they believed they had a religious duty to do so.
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2) The Supreme Court
William H. Rehnquist, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, revised and republished his history of the Supreme Court last year. He tells the story of the Court through the biographies of important justices and through explanations of key decisions. Especially noteworthy is his explanation of how the Court works behind the scenes.
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3) Jesus: Apocalyptic Prophet?
Who was Jesus? Biographies of him are plentiful and arouse intense passion among authors and readers - more so than with the biographies of other figures. Everyone seems to have their own opinions as to who Jesus "really" was and what his "genuine" intentions must have been.
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4) Son of a Preacher Man
It seems likely that just about everyone has heard of Jim Bakker, the televangelist. However, does everyone remember what exactly he did? More importantly, perhaps, does anyone know just what his transgressions and his punishment did to his family? Indeed, does anyone even think about his family?
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5) Philosophy in Crisis
What is the current state of academic philosophy? According to some, philosophy is suffering from deep, systemic problems. There are even those who have declared modern philosophy to be dead. However, is such a judgment really justified - and, if so, is there anything that can be done about it?
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6) Jews Without Judaism
What does it mean to be Jewish? Is "Jewish" necessarily intertwined with "Judaism," or are the two entirely separate? Can a person really be "Jewish" without also being religious - or indeed, without even believing in the existence of God?
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7) In Defense of Secular Humanism
Does secular humanism represent a fundamental and corrosive threat to the future of America? Will it undermine important values and morals, bringing about the destruction of religion and free government? According to some on the religious right, the answers to those questions is "yes." Paul Kurz's book, then, serves as a rebuttal to such claims.
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8) Roe v. Wade: Abortion Rights in American History
Why has the Roe v. Wade decision become so important in American history? Why has the debate on both sides of the abortion question become so intractable? What does this debate reveal about American history, society and politics?
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9) Culture, Ethnicity and Conflict
It is almost an article of faith today that modern conflicts coalesce around ethnic divisions rather than political disagreements and that, in turn, these ethnic divisions are more ancient in origin than any contemporary political conflicts have been. But is this true?
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10) Multiculturalism: Humanist Perspectives
For some, the term multiculturalism is an attack on Western values. For others, multiculturalism is an outgrowth of some of the highest values in the West. Which of these radically divergent views is more accurate, and what does humanism have to offer to the debate?
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| ~ Austin Cline |
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