Michael Jordan
In the Name of God
Violence and Destruction in the World's Religions
Sutton 2006
Stron VII+272; format: 15x23cm
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'Kill them all for God will know
His Own'. This was the alleged battle cry of Crusader Arnaud-Amalric, before storming the city of Bézier in 1209. While it is a matter for debate whether he actually uttered those words, he was certainly not alone in his violence towards 'unbelievers'. Throughout the centuries the powerful influence of religion has not only been a force for good, it has also sparked bloodshed. Michael Jordan's powerful book explores why and how religion fuels fighting, death and destruction.
In the ancient fertility cult of the Sumerians, the goddess Ishtar represented love and fecundity but was also the one who stood 'arrayed in battle, beautiful.. . who handles the utug weapon, who washes the tools in the blood of battle'. The God of the Old Testament, worshipped by Christians and Jews, crushed nations and annihilated the entire earth by a flood. The Hindu god Krishna tells his disciple that risk in war is preferable to abstention from war, while the Qur'an states that 'idolatry is more grievous than bloodshed'.
With such encouragement in religious texts it is perhaps not surprising that 'holy' wars - whether a crusade or jihad - as well as individual acts of violence have occurred again and again over the centuries. Invoking the name of god helps to excuse violent behaviour. It also encourages the conviction that a glorious death in battle or by martyrdom is a fast track to paradise.
In the Name of God examines the history of religious violence and the relationship between religion, politics and society. This timely and important book also looks at modern religious terrorism and its link to religious absolutists, for whom the world is clearly divided into good and bad.
Contents
Introduction v
One Weapons of the Gods 1
Two The Word of God 25
Tliree Persecution 47
Four Destroy Them Utterly 71
Five The Christian Counter-attack 95
Six Jihad 121
Seven Internal Conflict 141
Eiglhl Heresy 165
Nine Inquisition 187
Ten The Spanish Crusade 211
Eleven Loving Them to Death 231
Twelve Infinite Wrath 239
Notes 247
Bibliography 259
Index 267
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