Ward dismantles the arguments against religion from fields as diverse as science, sociology, and psychology, offering an alternative view that emphasizes how religious faith can overcome selfishness, give a sense of purpose, and transform behavior.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Author, scholar and former Oxford don Ward uses his broad knowledge to make the argument for religion as a necessary and reasonable exercise for humans who are aware of the transcendent. He examines what major figures in other disciplines-anthropology, sociology and psychology-have historically said about why humans practice religion. He then briskly sketches the world's major religions and reviews the effect of the European enlightenment on religion, showing how it gave rise to historical and critical thinking and the valuing of experience as a means of knowing. Religion is too persistent, pervasive, positive and profound to be merely foolish, he suggests, but to fail to acknowledge the possibilities it contains for destruction is "a failure of spiritual perception of the first order." Ward is prodigiously well read, moving easily from Sumerian creation accounts to German philosophy to contemporary English philosopher John Hick. He is understandably better at the history of Western ideas than of developments within non-Western traditions, but is always aware that religion is historically a universal practice and now a global reality. In today's "increasingly self-aware global community of communities," the Anglican priest concludes, a coexistence of diverse faith traditions can provide religious leadership toward "human flourishing." Ward's previous book (God: A Guide for the Perplexed) was chattier and more accessible. By comparison, this book is not for the casual reader, but is ideal for serious students of religion who aren't afraid of philosophy.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
"All those who know Keith Ward's work will be eager to read his book on such an urgent issue in our time: the ongoing importance of religions despite their failings." -- Professor Dr Hans Küng - University of Tübingen
"Brilliant, highly readable, and genuinely illuminating. This is a book both for the religious and for those who regard themselves as non-religious, and each will find fascinating surprises in it." -- John Hick - University of Birmingham, author of 'Philosophy of Religion'
"Keith Ward brings his comprehensive mind and his penetrating pen to the crisis faced by all traditional religious forms" -- John Shelby Spong - author of 'Christianity for a new world.'
All those who know Keith Ward's work will be eager to read his book on such an urgent issue in our time: the ongoing importance of religions despite their failings. -- Professor Dr Hans Küng - University of Tübingen
Brilliant, highly readable, and genuinely illuminating. This is a book both for the religious and for those who regard themselves as non-religious, and each will find fascinating surprises in it. -- John Hick - University of Birmingham, author of 'Philosophy of Religion'
Keith Ward is Professor of Divinity, Gresham College, London and Regius Professor of Divinity, Emeritus, of the University of Oxford. He is author of the best-selling /God: A Guide for the Perplexed/, also published by Oneworld. -- A.N. Wilson, Spectator --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
"Brilliant, highly readable, and genuinely illuminating. This is a book both for the religious and for those who regard themselves as non-religious, and each will find fascinating surprises in it." -- John Hick - University of Birmingham, author of 'Philosophy of Religion'
"Keith Ward brings his comprehensive mind and his penetrating pen to the crisis faced by all traditional religious forms" -- John Shelby Spong - author of 'Christianity for a new world.'
All those who know Keith Ward's work will be eager to read his book on such an urgent issue in our time: the ongoing importance of religions despite their failings. -- Professor Dr Hans Küng - University of Tübingen
Brilliant, highly readable, and genuinely illuminating. This is a book both for the religious and for those who regard themselves as non-religious, and each will find fascinating surprises in it. -- John Hick - University of Birmingham, author of 'Philosophy of Religion'
Keith Ward is Professor of Divinity, Gresham College, London and Regius Professor of Divinity, Emeritus, of the University of Oxford. He is author of the best-selling /God: A Guide for the Perplexed/, also published by Oneworld. -- A.N. Wilson, Spectator --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
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6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
a most insightful look at the phenomenon of human religion(s),
This review is from: The Case for Religion (Hardcover)
While one may not agree with some of the conclusions and analysis offered in this book, nonetheless, it is a truly mind opening read. Hard core fundamentalists, be they religious or secular, should give this work a fair try. Fantastic book, far reaching and probing into the conepts of religion and humanity. Word of caution: it does require some mental work to get through it, but it is well worth it!
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convergent spirituality, objective spiritual reality, supreme spiritual reality, theistic model, totemic principle, experiential view Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
After Enlightenment, The Great World Religions, Sick Men's Dreams, East Asian, Matters of Morality, New York, Indra's Net, The Sigh of the Oppressed, European Enlightenment, John Hick, Axial Age, The Golden Bough, The Dreams of Reason, David Hume, Cantwell Smith, New Testament, Ibn Rushd, Cambridge University Press, Short Introduction, Supreme Self, Children of Abraham, The Second Revolution, Roman Empire, Rhythms of the Spirit, Way of Heaven Browse Sample Pages:
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convergent spirituality, objective spiritual reality, supreme spiritual reality, theistic model, totemic principle, experiential view Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
After Enlightenment, The Great World Religions, Sick Men's Dreams, East Asian, Matters of Morality, New York, Indra's Net, The Sigh of the Oppressed, European Enlightenment, John Hick, Axial Age, The Golden Bough, The Dreams of Reason, David Hume, Cantwell Smith, New Testament, Ibn Rushd, Cambridge University Press, Short Introduction, Supreme Self, Children of Abraham, The Second Revolution, Roman Empire, Rhythms of the Spirit, Way of Heaven Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!
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