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Topic: The Battle for God by Karen Armstrong
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skdadl
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 478
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posted 03 February 2002 10:45 AM
Pimji, I found that synopsis very promising, and I hope that many people on this board will take the time to read it. It addresses so many of the topics we debate above -- better, it explains how so many of them are linked, interconnected. There's one sentence (in her fast overview of Western European history) that I'd like one of the economics thinkers to explain to me: quote: Until then, all the great societies were based upon a surplus of agriculture and so were economically vulnerable; they soon found that they had grown beyond their limited resources.
I can't be reading that right, because to me those two statements read as contradictions of each other. Help?
From: gone | Registered: May 2001
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Mohamad Khan
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 1752
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posted 04 February 2002 11:03 PM
speaking of Karen Armstrong, i recently borrowed her biography of the Prophet Muhammad (salli-'llahu 'alayhi wa sallama) from Robart's (U of T main library), and some moron had scribbled his/her invective against Armstrong's views...and, on occasion, against Armstrong herself, calling her a "stupid woman" once or twice. the most pathetic bit was the unknown scribbler often referred to Armstrong in the second person(!!!) if people want to deliver monologues on such issues, fine, but i wish they'd do it without vandalising library books. it irked me so much i spent Friday night going at it with an eraser.anyhow, if you plan on reading that book, it's a good introduction to the Prophet's life; she doesn't shy away from being critical, but she's never offensive. for Muslims who've read authoritative bios such as Ibn 'Ishaaq's, i think the meat of the book will be a bit of a bore (as it was for me) since there's nothing really new in there except for her opinions; if you're looking for specifically for the latter, you might have more fun with it.
From: "Glorified Harlem": Morningside Heights, NYC | Registered: Nov 2001
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Mohamad Khan
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 1752
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posted 08 February 2002 07:25 PM
yeah, at least he didn't go through the book with a permanent marker.actually, i find Armstrong's mythos/logos idea very useful--i think it helps provide all three monotheistic religions with a way to become more tolerant, and it's also very useful to critique certain texts via some version of it, i've found. as for not finding it particularly deep, that's certainly understandable, since i don't think she meant it to be heavy. i think that it's a good intro to dealing with fundamentalism, and her mythos/logos framework is nicely suited to her relatively cursory account and analysis. but i think that it's also an invitation to the non-specialist--i.e., i think you're meant to feel unsatisfied, and hopefully the curiosity that you've built up will lead you to seek deeper studies and accounts, and the information you've gleaned from the book, will inform and facilitate your readings
From: "Glorified Harlem": Morningside Heights, NYC | Registered: Nov 2001
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