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The Battle for God Paperback – January 30, 2001

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Karen Armstrong (Author)
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Karen Armstrong (Author)
169 customer reviews
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The Battle for God + A History of God: The 4,000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam + The Case for God
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Product Details

  • Series: Ballantine Reader's Circle
  • Paperback: 480 pages
  • Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1 edition (January 30, 2001)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0345391691
  • ISBN-13: 978-0345391698
  • Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 1 x 8.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (169 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #72,051 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

108 of 114 people found the following review helpful
"We can not be religious in the same way as our ancestors."
By slomamma on October 22, 2001
Format: Paperback
IÕve always been interested in comparative religion, but in the aftermath of September 11, it has felt urgent to understand what brings people to beliefs that are so obviously grotesque distortions of any religious tradition. I picked up Karen ArmstrongÕs book because after reading several articles about Islamic fundamentalism, it seemed to me she was the only writer I encountered who had a clue what she was talking about. While others spouted platitudes and engaged in useless debates about whether Islam was a religion of peace or war (virtually all religions are a mixture of the two), Armstrong offered clear and fascinating analyses of how Islamic fundamentalism developed and what its relationship was to the politics of the Middle East.
The book, a comparison of Christian, Jewish, and Islamic fundamentalism, has more than lived up to my high expectations. The world isnÕt less dangerous after reading it, but it makes a little more sense, and I feel better equipped to cut through the platitudes and nonsense.
Armstrong argues that in the modern world "we can not be religious in the same way as our ancestors," and yet without any religion at all, life feels as if it has no meaning. And so all of us, whether devout, agnostic, or atheist, search for meaning, for "new ways to be religious." Fundamentalism represents one of those searches, but it is a way that grows out of fear.
One of the things I found most interesting about this book is that Armstrong emphasizes that this "fear" isnÕt simply some bizarre paranoia. ItÕs often quite legitimate. American Protestant fundamentalism grew up among poor, rural, badly educated people who felt that powerful and sophisticated people were laughing at them and their beliefs. And, to be fair, they were right.Read more ›
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166 of 179 people found the following review helpful
A Fascinating Look At Fundamentalism
By A Customer on May 5, 2000
Format: Hardcover
I picked up this book hoping to gain some insight into "why" fundamentalists view the world as they do. Armstrong did her research which I expected (having read "A History of God", I sensed she would accomplish that) and she delivered interesting observations and a wealth of history. What was a pleasant surprise was that rather than trying to 'fight' fundamentalism, she made a real effort to try to 'understand' it (unlike Bruce Bawer in "Stealing Jesus" whose knowledge of fundamentalism history was unfortunately outdone by his bitterness and intent to strike back).
The contrasting of the fundamentalist perspective with the non-fundamentalist perspective was an eye opener. She points out the need for both meaning in life and reason. The trouble with applying a literal understanding of the Scriptures was discussed as well as the problem of relying upon 'reason' alone.
Even though Armstrong's observations were not as exhaustive as the history she describes, she gives you enough history to enable you to decipher and try out some theories of your own. Overall, I was much more impressed with this work than "A History of God".
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91 of 98 people found the following review helpful
A joy to read -- very informative
By Thomas J. Brucia on December 17, 2000
Format: Hardcover
This is a scholarly, detailed book about the development of religious thought from 1492 to 1999. More specifically it is about fundamentalism, which Karen Armstrong describes as movements of "embattled forms of spirituality" engaging in struggles to "re-sacralize an increasingly skeptical world". One can disagree with her contention that fundamentalist movements are "adamantly opposed to many of the most positive values of modern society", but many fundamentalists do seem to identify our age as one of "cosmic war between the forces of good and evil". I thought her contention that fundamentalists perceive that they are at risk of annihilation and that, consequently, they radiate fear does ring true. ----- Armstrong, a former Roman Catholic nun and author of at least 12 other books about religion, apparently is controversial (see other reviews!) but I found this book to be a well-researched history. It examines only four currents of fundamentalist thought: Jewish, American Protestant, Islamic Sunni (in Egypt), and Shiite Islamic (in Iran). (Do NOT look for any examination of fundamentalist currents in Roman Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc - they are NOT represented.) Armstrong's knowledge of Islam is legendary (she is an honorary member of the Association of Muslim Social Sciences and has written extensively about Islam). She also impressed me with her knowledge of Judaism. (Perhaps this is not surprising since she teaches at the Leo Baeck School for the Study of Judaism!). ----- "The Battle for God" can be read as four parallel volumes, and I would recommend readers to go completely through each of the four threads separately, as well as reading the volume straight through. ("The Battle for God" is worth reading and re-reading!Read more ›
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82 of 90 people found the following review helpful
Easy to misunderstand this book
By Howard Sauertieg on September 29, 2001
Format: Paperback
I wasn't going to review this book until I read the opening series of reviews by offended "believers" who pan a book they do not understand with ad hominem arguments and by crediting the author with absurdly distorted "liberal" (as in Clinton-esque liberal, even though Armstrong is British) notions.
"The Battle for God" is a study of fundamentalism in 3 major world religions, as it developed over centuries. One of the author's theories is that "fundamentalism" is a reaction to changes in the world which seem to threaten old belief systems with annihilation -- scientific & technological progress, secularization of political life, capitalism, among many others. It's interesting that "fundamentalists," whatever they call themselves, take offense at this loose categorization, and then proceed to rail against the very ideologies Armstrong touched upon in her definition.
Then again, Armstrong contends that fundamentalism is half-baked and dangerous theology, misreading the traditional basis it presumes to be reclaiming, while departing from the basic tenets of humility, humanity and compassion that all 3 religions were founded upon. The "believers" only add support to her claim by responding with obtuse, illiterate and/or ad hominem attacks on the author.
The modernity of Fundamentalism emerges as a paradox which confuses both fundamentalists and "liberals" alike. It's an impressive insight Armstrong provides when she demonstrates how, for example, discomfort with the theories & discoveries of science leads to the adoption of pseudo-scientific procedures for a new discipline, "creation science." Who needs faith when you have a science to prove your beliefs are correct?Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

Many ideas worth consideration

While I don't agree with all the author's arguments,there are many good ideas to consider.

Published 7 days ago by Jeaneen Stephansky
Fundamentalism

An eye opening look at the reasons behind any fundamentalist religious movement, regardless from which one of the three major religions it has sprung. Read more

Published 23 days ago by EllenB
And confirmed the worst I've begun to feel about the first

The second of Ms. Armstrong's books on God. The research and insights are incredible, and helped me move down the path I'm on trying to understand religion as opposed to... Read more

Published 1 month ago by Ron Heard
Five Stars

excellent overview of the conflict between fundamentalists and liberals. Only wish it were brought up to date.

Published 2 months ago by R. Kurshan
Fluffy nonsense.

A good glimpse inside the head of Karen Armstrong. I found it rather fluffy and nonsensical.

Published 3 months ago by Kat Spencer
good

bought this for rreligions class im taking, very interesting, but as for the quality and everythin, perfect condition, everything you expect, no problems, showed up on time.

Published 4 months ago by nelson
How little we know !

Most interesting and revealing! in my opinion a "must read"

Published 4 months ago by Garty
Five Stars

good book...

Published 5 months ago by Paul C.
Critical Read for today's religious conflicts

This book delves into Christian, Jewish, and Islamic fundamentalist movements and their history. Odd to say, Armstrong did such an excellent job exploring each, that I finally... Read more

Published 6 months ago by SoOH JO
A very good overview of the struggle between fundamentalism and...

The below is a review of the unabridged Tantor CD audiobook version of this work

This book primarily examines the battle of fundamentalists, in the world’s three... Read more

Published 6 months ago by Yoda

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