All on this globe together

Rosalie E. Dunbar

When Religion Becomes Lethal: The Explosive Mix of Politics and Religion in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Charles Kimball
Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, 2011

It’s clear from the outset that Charles Kimball’s desire is to help promote peace and understanding among Christians, Jews, and Muslims. During the past 25 years he has brought his expertise on these religions and the Middle East to the United States government and also to institutions such as the National Council of Churches.

A Baptist minister, Dr. Kimball is presidential professor and Director of Religious Studies at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma. This is his second book analyzing the forces that turn religion in violent directions. (When Religion Becomes Evil, a bestseller, dealt with post-9/11 issues.) The current volume is ideal for anyone who wishes to have a deeper understanding of how each religion has been shaped by its growth within political societies and social structures. One of his questions is what it means to accept the traditional view of the United States as a Christian nation when many citizens are not Christians but believe just as deeply in their faith’s moral and spiritual values.

The book presents a good basic history of the three religions, and how even in their early history politics played a role. For instance, after near annihilation under Diocletian, Christianity became the state religion under Constantine around 325 AD. None of this is tedious reading, and it’s quite fascinating to learn the tumultuous history of post-Muhammad Islam—especially in light of the role played by these religions today. Similarly, Kimball also covers contemporary issues like the power of the religious right in the US and Jewish pressure groups in Israel.

While some media outlets present Islam as an authoritarian monolith, Kimball notes that among the more than 50 countries where there is a Muslim majority, many “include some form of participatory democracy.” For Muslims, Islam is seen as essential to every aspect of society, but there is variation in how religious beliefs are applied. He urges readers to reject the popular “clash of civilizations” view that sees the West and the Muslim world as hardened opponents, and to look deeper.

One of Kimball’s final points is that we are all on this globe together, and must resist the temptation to retreat into armed camps fueled by ignorance and suspicion. “We will not all agree on what our faith or conscience requires when we encounter violations of basic human rights or systemic poverty linked to economic exploitation,” he writes, “but people of faith and goodwill do not stop caring about those who live on the other side of a national border. . . . What happens to the world economically, ecologically, and militarily is of central concern to us all.”

–Rosalie E. Dunbar, News Editor

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