Conversations on Religion
Published on 10. March 2008
Book
Paperback/Softback
240 pages
978-0-8264-9909-7 (ISBN)
Description
How do we define religion? Can we define faith? Why in our twenty first century world are so many people religious? Why do, and how can people believe in a supernatural god or gods? Is religion dangerous? Does it have a value? What should our ambition for religion be? Mick Gordon and Chris Wilkinson explore these questions together with 18 well-known religious thinkers and commentators, including: A.C. Grayling, Giles Fraser, Rowan Williams, Lewis and Matthew Wolpert, Don Cuppit, Mohammed Al Husseini, Tariq Ramadan, John Gray, Alistair McGrath, Abdelwahab El Affendi, Richard Dawkins, Julia Neuberger, Fraser Watts, Azzam Tamimi, Ann Widdecombe, Karen Armstrong, Shelina Janmohamed, Jonathan Sacks. The result is a fascinating insight into human nature. We human beings are strange in our commitment to beliefs which we inherit, imbibe and choose. We find them difficult to let go. For better and for worse, this is our commonality. The task is to better understand and attempt to take responsibility for those different beliefs and positions which seem to mean so much to us. "Conversations on Religion" is an important part of that process.
Reviews / Votes
"It is a privilege to hear these voices and I'd be surprised if some of their opinions did not surprise you." - Parish News Review in Church of England Newspaper. "a stimulating collection of interviews" Bookseller Buyers Guide, 1 january 2008 "an intriguing tapestry of variously intervowen, overlapping and uncorrelatable views" "The debate will rage on, but this book radically raises the level of debate" Observer, 10 February 2008 -- Tom Templeton Title listed under 'Books received' in Fairacres Chronicle, Summer 2008 "...a thought-provoking book...the resulting book honours religion and spirituality...a strong sense of intellectual give and take that can be very enlivening." Franciscan Vol. 21, September 2009 Title mention in The Bookseller, 2007 "A daring and very necessary book." Good Book Guide, 2008 Title mentioned by Christopher Howse, Daily Telegraph, 2008. '[A] stimulating set of interviews ... The wide spectrum of viewpoints challenged me mentally and emotionally.' Christine Simmons, The NEWSpaper, 2008 "The question and answer sessions which constitute the book have the merit that the contributors can sound off without interruption" Reviewed by Melanie McDonagh in Oldie, 2008More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 138 mm
ISBN-13
978-0-8264-9909-7 (9780826499097)
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Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Mick Gordon is an international award-winning theatre director. He has been Associate Director at the National Theatre and Artistic Director of The Gate Theatre, and he is the founding director of On Theatre. A.C. Grayling is Professor of Philosophy at Birkbeck College, University of London. He has written and edited numerous works of philosophy and is the author of biographies of Descartes and William Hazlitt.
Content
1. Professor A.C. Grayling, Birkbeck College, London; 2. Dr Don Cupitt, Emanuel College, Cambridge; 3. Archbishop Rowan Williams, Canterbury/Lambeth; 4. Dr Giles Fraser, Wadham College, Oxford; 5. Professor John Gray, LSE; 6. Professor Richard Dawkins, Oxford; 7.Professor Alister McGrath, Oxford; 8 Professor Tariq Ramadan, St Anthony's College, Oxford; 9.Professor Lewis Wolpert, Imperial College, London; 10. Dr Azzam Tamimi, Muslim Association of Britain; 11. Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks.