God Is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World--And Why Their Differences Matter

God Is Not One (Enhanced Edition): The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World--and Why Their Differences Matter | Stephen Prothero

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Almost a so-so, but just on the pick side of the dividing line. Maybe it‘s just me.

I liked the discussion of the main religions in the world and how they are different. I agree with him that to reduce all religions to different expressions of the same deity or divine is reductionist and ignores the different traditions and aims of different world religions. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

GingerAntics I disagree with Prothero about Mr. Rogers being outdated, religion having no place in a romantic relationship, and that accepting the difference of the worlds religions means accepting, and not interfering in or passing judgement on their practices or shows of devotion because to desire to change them is futile and colonialist. These are “the way things are” in the “real world.” 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 9mo

GingerAntics Um, sure, suicide bombings, bombing abortion clinics, bombing military bases or offices, harming your own children (and/or others‘ children) for your god or traditions, claiming land for your god, etc is “the way things are” in the “real world;” however, to shrug and say we just need to understand the positions of these religious extremes… 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 9mo

GingerAntics instead of trying to make safe environments and societies for people of all beliefs is at best nihilistic in the extreme (in a way Prothero is not even open to the presence of), and at worst being complicit in the harming of innocent people. I can respect someone‘s faith and/or beliefs without condoning harm to others in the name of that faith or those beliefs. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 9mo

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GingerAntics For someone so focused on nurturing respect for all belief systems no matter how different they are from one‘s own, he does not extend this same respect to atheists (or agnostics to a slightly lesser degree). According to him, not all atheists are angry men, but he certainly considers atheism to be the hatred of god turned into religion. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 9mo

GingerAntics At one point he questions why all atheists can‘t just stop at agnosticism, but then he discusses agnosticism as sell outs and full of crap as much as atheists. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 9mo

GingerAntics Are we respecting all beliefs, or not? Are we giving up trying to convert everyone or change people‘s beliefs, or not? Are all forms of spiritual practice, faith, and religion unique and thus incomparable and acceptable the way they are, or not? 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 9mo

GingerAntics I felt like there was a huge double standard here once he got to the final chapter where he basically turned atheism, agnosticism, and belief in science into his whipping boy and the real problem in the world. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 9mo

GingerAntics He certainly mentioned Christopher Hitchens more than he mentioned some of the leaders and/or founders of some of the religions he claimed were the 8 biggest religions in the world. I would be interested in knowing what his personal vendetta against Hitchens and Sam Harris especially within the atheist movement. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 9mo

GingerAntics He takes the time to mention female atheists and how they too (conveniently) hate Hitchens and Harris, but then he insults them too for their atheism. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 9mo

GingerAntics Great discussion starter, but Prothero really needs to do some soul searching and start being honest about his anti-atheist and anti-agnostic biases. Still on the fence about reading Prothero‘s ‘Religious Literacy‘ seeing that he does not extend the same respect to everyone, just those he deems worthy by his own undefined logic. 9mo

GingerAntics #GodIsNotOne #StephenProthero #busbook #mixedfeelings #aslongasyouopenlyhaveatleastonegodyouregood 9mo

Texreader Very thoughtful. Thanks! 9mo

GingerAntics @Texreader I would still do this one as a group read, tbh. It does give some really good info and he presented this ancient pan-African religion that is like the 3rd or 4th largest religion practiced in the world, and I was thinking I‘ve never heard of this. How have I never heard of this? It‘s where voodoo and other traditional religions we are more familiar with came from. So that chapter was really cool. 9mo

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GingerAntics

God Is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World--And Why Their Differences Matter | Stephen R Prothero

This is the first book I‘ve heard this word that didn‘t have Luc and Oliver. It made me smile like an idiot on the bus! The more I think about it, this is probably a book Oliver has read somewhere along the way. 😂
#GodIsNotOne #StephenProthero #busbook #LondonCalling #BoyfriendMaterial #HusbandMaterial #Oliver #Lucien #OliverAndLuc

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GingerAntics

God Is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World--And Why Their Differences Matter | Stephen R Prothero

I haven‘t really listened to any books since last Tuesday. My mom had her knee replaced and I just haven‘t felt up to it. Maybe after my PT and chiro appt this afternoon.

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GingerAntics

God Is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World--And Why Their Differences Matter | Stephen R Prothero

Starting this new audiobook this morning.
#GodIsNotOne #StephenProthero #audiobook #busbook

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ravenlee

God Is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World | Stephen Prothero

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This is intended as a religious literacy primer, focusing on the eight major world religions in order of importance to history and current world events (Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Yoruba religion, Judaism, and Daoism, plus a bit about atheism). Prothero focuses on each religion‘s: problems (as in, the problem is sin/connection/surrender), solutions, techniques, and exemplars. Some bias shows through 👇🏻

ravenlee (Prothero does NOT like the New Atheists), but overall this is a really good way of looking at religion. It‘s also a response to the “all religions are equal and equally good! We all work toward the same goal and the same God!” kind of bland toleration that accomplishes little. 3y

ravenlee This is one of my #roll100 picks for February, and I actually finished it in time! @PuddleJumper 3y

PuddleJumper Yay! Well done! 3y

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TrishB Is atheism a religion? Genuine question, it confused me that it would be considered so. 3y

ravenlee @TrishB he actually addresses it in that way - and concludes that for some it can be. For those who treat the questions of atheism as part of their regular lives, especially the New Atheists like Dawkins and Harris, Prothero says it‘s a religion. They‘re concerned with a particular problem (in this case, the problem is religion itself), they pose a solution (worldwide replacement of religion with science), and use specific techniques and exemplars 3y

ravenlee in their pursuits. It‘s an interesting section in the book. Also contains sections on secular humanism (like Epstein‘s Good Without God) and like movements. 3y

TrishB Thank you 👍🏻 that‘s really interesting. I‘m an atheist but see it as a lack of religion and certainly don‘t feel it‘s something I think about everyday 🤷‍♀️ 3y

ravenlee @TrishB exactly! I am too, but I‘m not, say, an evangelical atheist. 😆 So I can see the point he‘s making, while he‘s careful to point out that it‘s only religious for some atheists. 3y

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ravenlee

God Is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World | Stephen Prothero

Calling all #DeadPhilosophersSociety - here‘s a roundup of “Tao of” books, including everybody‘s favorite, The Tao of Pooh (which Prothero does seem to like in his endnotes…wonder if he actually read it). I have to say, I think I‘d rather have read The Tao of Poop mentioned here. 😆

TheBookHippie, GingerAntics

TheBookHippie 😂💩 3y

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ravenlee

God Is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World | Stephen Prothero

East Berlin in 1935? Berlin (and Germany) was divided after World War II…which was after 1935. So while there would have been an east Berlin, I don‘t believe there was an East Berlin.
On a different note, Regina Jones sounds kind of bad-ass. She wrote her graduation thesis for rabbinical school on “Can a Woman Be a Rabbi According to Halachic Sources?” (Spoiler alert: Jones/Jonas determined the answer is yes)

thebacklistbook I looked it up East Berlin was founded in 1949 four years after the Berlin declaration. Hopefully that editor just goofed on capital letters rather than capital cities. 3y

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ravenlee

God Is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World | Stephen Prothero

@TheBookHippie isn‘t this what you‘ve been telling us about? This book has been a really interesting read (though Prothero isn‘t shy about sharing some of his biases, mostly against the New Atheists), and it dovetails nicely with #ThisLife #DeadPhilosophersSociety @GingerAntics

TheBookHippie YES!!!!! ♥️ 3y

TheBookHippie Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world‘s grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it. 3y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie I love this! 3y

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ravenlee @TheBookHippie @GingerAntics there‘s a lot of discussion in each section (one for each of the eight major religious traditions) about thisworldly vs otherworldly concerns. Very interesting companion to the Hagglund. 3y

GingerAntics @ravenlee I think I‘m going to have to go find this book. It sounds intriguing. Would love to read it with the rest of the group. We always have the best discussions about things. 3y

GingerAntics @ravenlee oh the audiobook is only 3.99 on Apple Books right now. 💙💙💙 3y

TheBookHippie @GingerAntics I‘ll have to get this as well 😂 3y

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ravenlee

God Is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World | Stephen Prothero

When it‘s been a cold, wet, nasty day, this is the best way to wind down and warm up.
#catsofLitsy #DannyBoy

wanderinglynn You have a cute lap warmer! ❤️🐱 3y

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ravenlee

God Is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World | Stephen Prothero

Tagged is #36 for #Roll100 and Industrial Magic is #90. The only problem is that I need to read Dime Store Magic before Industrial Magic! In January I‘ve only read one of my picks, but I‘m hoping to squeeze in the second in the next couple of days 🤞🏻. We‘ll see how I do for February. Maybe there won‘t be an entire week lost to being sick/having a sick kid/last-minute gig.

PuddleJumper

PuddleJumper Feel free to swap series books to the one you need. That's what I'm planning on doing with a few of mine. 3y

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