Book Reviews: Books from Oneworld Publications
An independent publisher based in Oxford, England, Oneworld Publications specializes in books on topics like comparative religions, mysticism, philosophy, psychology and more.
Evolution: A Beginner's Guide
The importance of evolution to the biological sciences, and thus also to science generally, can't be overestimated. Yet despite its importance, there is also widespread ignorance about what evolution is, what it says about life, what it predicts, and how it should be used. Some of this ignorance is due to deliberate misinformation campaigns from religious opponents...
The importance of evolution to the biological sciences, and thus also to science generally, can't be overestimated. Yet despite its importance, there is also widespread ignorance about what evolution is, what it says about life, what it predicts, and how it should be used. Some of this ignorance is due to deliberate misinformation campaigns from religious opponents...
The Qur'an: A User's Guide
The Qur'an is the holy scripture for hundreds of millions of Muslims around the world. It is their guide to ethics, to conduct, and to religion. It is also a relatively difficult work to understand, which means that even those few non-Muslims in the West who attempt to learn more about it are often frustrated and disappointed.
The Qur'an is the holy scripture for hundreds of millions of Muslims around the world. It is their guide to ethics, to conduct, and to religion. It is also a relatively difficult work to understand, which means that even those few non-Muslims in the West who attempt to learn more about it are often frustrated and disappointed.
The Case for Religion, by Keith Ward
Religion is ubiquitous in human culture. People look upon religion as a source of inspiration, comfort, and meaning; in practice, it also serves as a source for division, hatred, and cruelty. Can a case be made for holding on to religion, despite all its problems? Can it be argued that religion is a reasonable, rational aspect of human life?
Religion is ubiquitous in human culture. People look upon religion as a source of inspiration, comfort, and meaning; in practice, it also serves as a source for division, hatred, and cruelty. Can a case be made for holding on to religion, despite all its problems? Can it be argued that religion is a reasonable, rational aspect of human life?
Kierkegaard, by Michael Watts
Soren Kierkegaard is an amazing, insightful, and fascinating philosopher. He’s also a frustrating, depressing, and difficult philosopher - all at the same time. He is regarded by most as the 'father of existentialism,' despite the fact that the word wouldn’t be coined for decades to come; yet for all his influence, he is understood surprisingly little outside of academic circles.
Soren Kierkegaard is an amazing, insightful, and fascinating philosopher. He’s also a frustrating, depressing, and difficult philosopher - all at the same time. He is regarded by most as the 'father of existentialism,' despite the fact that the word wouldn’t be coined for decades to come; yet for all his influence, he is understood surprisingly little outside of academic circles.
Sin and Salvation in the World Religions
The concepts of sin and salvation belong principally to Christianity, but do other world religions have similar ideas? As a matter of fact they do, and comparing these concepts to one another can provide an interesting and revealing perspective on these religions as well as their various doctrines.
The concepts of sin and salvation belong principally to Christianity, but do other world religions have similar ideas? As a matter of fact they do, and comparing these concepts to one another can provide an interesting and revealing perspective on these religions as well as their various doctrines.
Christianity: A Short Introduction
Christianity is the largest and, perhaps, the most diverse religion on the planet. You can study it your whole life and still not know everything there is to know about it, which is probably why there are so many books every year on the subject. You could go broke buying them all and still not learn anything.
Christianity is the largest and, perhaps, the most diverse religion on the planet. You can study it your whole life and still not know everything there is to know about it, which is probably why there are so many books every year on the subject. You could go broke buying them all and still not learn anything.
Daoism: A Short Introduction
Aspects of Daoism (Taoism) have become increasingly popular in America over the past few decades. Who hasn't heard about the growth of things like tai chi and acupuncture - not to mention the money that some are making off of them? These bits and pieces are, however, divorced from the religious tradition in which they first developed.
Aspects of Daoism (Taoism) have become increasingly popular in America over the past few decades. Who hasn't heard about the growth of things like tai chi and acupuncture - not to mention the money that some are making off of them? These bits and pieces are, however, divorced from the religious tradition in which they first developed.
Sartre, by Neil Levy
Jean-Paul Sartre was acclaimed by the people of France in ways normally reserved for rock stars in other countries. When he died in 1980, fifty thousand people lined the streets of Paris to watch his coffin go by. What did he do to merit such respect and attention?
Jean-Paul Sartre was acclaimed by the people of France in ways normally reserved for rock stars in other countries. When he died in 1980, fifty thousand people lined the streets of Paris to watch his coffin go by. What did he do to merit such respect and attention?
The Palestine-Israeli Conflict: A Beginner's Guide
Few people are unaware of the violence which is currently plaguing the Middle East today, especially the violence which keeps occurring between Israelis and Palestinians. At times, it threatens to engulf not only the surrounding nations, but the rest of the world as well. Yet why is this happening - what are the causes, and are there any solutions?
Few people are unaware of the violence which is currently plaguing the Middle East today, especially the violence which keeps occurring between Israelis and Palestinians. At times, it threatens to engulf not only the surrounding nations, but the rest of the world as well. Yet why is this happening - what are the causes, and are there any solutions?
September 11: Religious Perspectives
Terrorism today is rarely just about politics - often, it is at least as much about religion. Because such terrible acts of violence stem in so many ways from religious roots, they also raise uniquely religious questions about things like the nature of faith and the role of religion in society. How such questions are answered provides insight into religious traditions and religious attitudes.
Terrorism today is rarely just about politics - often, it is at least as much about religion. Because such terrible acts of violence stem in so many ways from religious roots, they also raise uniquely religious questions about things like the nature of faith and the role of religion in society. How such questions are answered provides insight into religious traditions and religious attitudes.
The Holocaust and Antisemitism: A Short History
Antisemitism has been an unfortunate and destructive aspect of Western culture for millennia. Of course, every culture has had its hatreds and despised groups, but antisemitism differs from most in the sense that it not only dehumanizes Jews, but also demonizes them. In addition to being separated from the rest of society, they are also made the worst enemies of society.
Antisemitism has been an unfortunate and destructive aspect of Western culture for millennia. Of course, every culture has had its hatreds and despised groups, but antisemitism differs from most in the sense that it not only dehumanizes Jews, but also demonizes them. In addition to being separated from the rest of society, they are also made the worst enemies of society.
Progressive Muslims: On Justice, Gender and Pluralism
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.
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.
God: A Guide for the Perplexed
Does God exist? If so, what is "God," what does God want and how do we know? If not, why do so many people believe anyway? The search for God - or at least the roots of belief in God - is one of the most divisive and perplexing projects in human culture. Is there any hope at it being resolved?
Does God exist? If so, what is "God," what does God want and how do we know? If not, why do so many people believe anyway? The search for God - or at least the roots of belief in God - is one of the most divisive and perplexing projects in human culture. Is there any hope at it being resolved?
Global Philosophy of Religion: A Short Introduction
Does God exist? If so, is it possible for God to be male or female? Do we survive our physical deaths? What is religion and what purpose does it serve? Does life have any sort of meaning? All of these questions and more are topics in the philosophy of religion, the subject of the recent and worthwhile book 'Global Philosophy of Religion' by Joseph Runzo.
Does God exist? If so, is it possible for God to be male or female? Do we survive our physical deaths? What is religion and what purpose does it serve? Does life have any sort of meaning? All of these questions and more are topics in the philosophy of religion, the subject of the recent and worthwhile book 'Global Philosophy of Religion' by Joseph Runzo.