Rot on the Vine: The Many Dark Faces of Religion [Paperback]

J. Stenesh (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2004

Timely and provocative, the book focuses on dark faces of religion such as hypocrisy, intolerance, prejudice, and hatred, all of which are explored by a blend of fiction and nonfiction. Factual sections are well-researched, and fictional parts are ingenious and gripping. The author takes the reader on a journey of past, present, and future happenings that exemplify religion's dark faces and that are set in different parts of the world. He transitions effortlessly from fact to fiction, thereby creating a unique literary combination that makes for great impact. ROT ON THE VINE is a powerful and thought-provoking statement of universal significance and relevance in view of the current world-wide proliferation of religious extremism and the terrorism spawned by it.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

J. Stenesh holds a Ph.D. degree in biochemistry from the University of California at Berkeley. Professor Stenesh has had a distinguished career of teaching, research and publishing of scientific papers and books. In ROT ON THE VINE, he turns his attention to a subject that transcends the world of science.

Product Details

• Paperback: 265 pages
• Publisher: Cogno Pr (October 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0963355228
• ISBN-13: 978-0963355225
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,500,260 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Understanding the Darker Side, August 15, 2005

By 

R. Blair Scott "Alabama Atheist" (Huntsville, AL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rot on the Vine: The Many Dark Faces of Religion (Paperback)

Using a blend of fiction and non-fiction, Stenesh weaves stories about the dark faces of religion. Stenesh covers many subjects as he tells stories relating to how religionists twist their theology to do harm to others. I found it hard to put the book down as I read the short stories. Stenesh does a good job of bringing the characters to life in each short story.

Each story, while a blend of fiction and non-fiction, could easily be completely non-fiction. Readers will especially enjoy the stories of the Priest, Imam, and Rabbi; ripped from today's headlines. Stenesh plunges into the future of religious thought by taking us the future Atlantis through a conversation with the high priest.

Whether atheist or theist, this is a great book to read for a better understanding of the darker side of religious thought. Even the religionist needs to recognize the darker side of his or her faith. The first part to getting rid of radical extremists that would do harm is for each religion to recognize that they exist among them. Stenesh helps the reader make that recognition, no matter what faith or non-faith the reader's background may be.

No matter one's theological background you will end this book with the gears in your brain turning. Any book that makes you think is a good book.

Blair Scott

Alabama State Director, American Atheists, Inc.

Director, Atheism Awareness

Organizer, North Alabama Freethought Association

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended for religious studies shelves, November 8, 2004

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rot on the Vine: The Many Dark Faces of Religion (Paperback)

Rot on the Vine: The Many Dark Faces of Religion is a collection of writings - some fictionalized "what-if" essays but mostly matter-of-fact expositions - that explore the side of religion that is perverted to serve human greed, hatred, hypocricy, and intolerance. From a brief exploration the roots of pervasive anti-Semitism as stemming from Christianity's and Islam's need to de-legitimize Judaism's older claim of a single, all-powerful God (among other factors), to a discussion of how Biblical passages are used to in modern-day America to exhort hatred of homosexuals and homosexuality, to religion's role in fueling the genocidal horrors of Nazism and much more, Rot on the Vine is disturbing, compelling, and highly recommended for religious studies shelves.

1.0 out of 5 stars A, April 8, 2009

By 

Richard Jones (London, Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rot on the Vine: The Many Dark Faces of Religion (Paperback)

There is nothing new or of value presented in this book. It takes the perspective that religions are essentially a negative force and then supplements the few facts with cliched fictional accounts to illustrate and support this. While the position taken is from a rationalist perspective largely correct, advancing through the book results in a sense of anticipation turning to annoyance and displeasure, as it is realised no fresh insight or thought provoking information has or will be offered.The feeling cannot be escaped that the author is taking pleasure painting his negative pictures. Adherents of a religion will dismiss it as another 'satanic' work, but non-religionists will quickly find that it is at best simply a repackaging of all the old arguments. A lightweight and disappointing read.