Using a blend of fiction and non-fiction, Stenesh weaves stories about the dark faces of religion. Stenesh covers many subjects as he tells stories relating to how religionists twist their theology to do harm to others. I found it hard to put the book down as I read the short stories. Stenesh does a good job of bringing the characters to life in each short story. Each story, while a blend of fiction and non-fiction, could easily be completely non-fiction. Readers will especially enjoy the stories of the Priest, Imam, and Rabbi; ripped from today's headlines. Stenesh plunges into the future of religious thought by taking us the future Atlantis through a conversation with the high priest. Whether atheist or theist, this is a great book to read for a better understanding of the darker side of religious thought. Even the religionist needs to recognize the darker side of his or her faith. The first part to getting rid of radical extremists that would do harm is for each religion to recognize that they exist among them. Stenesh helps the reader make that recognition, no matter what faith or non-faith the reader's background may be. No matter one's theological background you will end this book with the gears in your brain turning. Any book that makes you think is a good book. Blair Scott Alabama State Director, American Atheists, Inc. Director, Atheism Awareness Organizer, North Alabama Freethought Association
Highly recommended for religious studies shelves
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 20 years ago
Rot on the Vine: The Many Dark Faces of Religion is a collection of writings - some fictionalized "what-if" essays but mostly matter-of-fact expositions - that explore the side of religion that is perverted to serve human greed, hatred, hypocricy, and intolerance. From a brief exploration the roots of pervasive anti-Semitism as stemming from Christianity's and Islam's need to de-legitimize Judaism's older claim of a single, all-powerful God (among other factors), to a discussion of how Biblical passages are used to in modern-day America to exhort hatred of homosexuals and homosexuality, to religion's role in fueling the genocidal horrors of Nazism and much more, Rot on the Vine is disturbing, compelling, and highly recommended for religious studies shelves.
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