Something to think about

David Haberman, the Chair of the Indiana University’s Department of Religious Studies, had some interesting comments on religion in the Summer 2005 issue of the Relgious Studies Alumni Newsletter. Haberman said in part,

I have recently finished reading Reza Asian's new book No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam. Not only do I recommend this book as a great read, but I also believe that it highlights the fact that religion is a highly influential — yet vastly contentious — force in global affairs today. The need to understand religion is, therefore, greater than ever. Asian remarks in his book: "Considering how effortlessly religious dogma has become intertwined with political ideology since 9/11, how can we overcome the clash-of-monotheisms mentality that has so deeply entrenched itself in the modern world? Clearly, education and tolerance are essential. But what is most desperately needed is not so much a better appreciation of our neighbor's religion as a broader, more complete understanding of religion itself." I could not agree more; these are times of ideological religious warfare. To understand the tremendous struggle going on within almost every religious tradition today to define the nature of that tradition, one must grasp how religion functions in public life.