Reviews

Armstrong (Through the Narrow Gate) is a frequent commentator on Islam. This work, published before September 11, 2001, is a timeless and timely exploration of the differences and similarities among Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It takes an informative, sometimes witty, and contemplative approach to the subject. With a broad view, the author considers herself to be "a historian of ideas." Finding religion to be "highly problematic," she discusses the historical, philosophical, intellectual, and social developments during the ages that shaped the fundamental beliefs and practices of these faiths. She asserts that "strange as it may seem" to contemporary believers, "the idea of `God' developed in a market economy in a spirit of aggressive capitalism." Recommended for all academic and public libraries.-Pam Kingsbury, Univ. of North Alabama, Florence Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

This searching, profound comparative history of the three major monotheistic faiths fearlessly illuminates the sociopolitical ground in which religious ideas take root, blossom and mutate. Armstrong, a British broadcaster, commentator on religious affairs and former Roman Catholic nun, argues that Judaism, Christianity and Islam each developed the idea of a personal God, which has helped believers to mature as full human beings. Yet Armstrong also acknowledges that the idea of a personal God can be dangerous, encouraging us to judge, condemn and marginalize others. Recognizing this, each of the three monotheisms, in their different ways, developed a mystical tradition grounded in a realization that our human idea of God is merely a symbol of an ineffable reality. To Armstrong, modern, aggressively righteous fundamentalists of all three faiths represent ``a retreat from God.'' She views as inevitable a move away from the idea of a personal God who behaves like a larger version of ourselves, and welcomes the grouping of believers toward a notion of God that ``works for us in the empirical age.'' 25,000 first printing; BOMC alternate. (Oct.)