Article July 18, 2011 Issue

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.

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