Rating: 
Summary: Almost there
Review: When Religion Becomes Evil is an erudite and well written work. This book is a fast read. This is not a historical delineation such as something that Karen Armstrong would write (if you have never read one of her books, I highly recommend that you do). It contains some history but also asks and answers the question, How do we avoid corruption in religion? And, in general, I agree with the conclusion. However, I do take some exceptions with the conclusion.The major basis of religious problems and corruptions has been laid out by Mr. Kimball. But, I feel that there was some room for betterment in the work. For instance, there is little said about pious people's constant need to feel persecuted thereby fabricating martyrs within the faith. In my opinion, this is yet another reason that corruption of faith starts. I also find it a bit platitudinous to simplify the problem to getting back to the roots of the religion's foundation. When a religion is based on sacrament, as the three major conflicted religions are, and that sacrament claims itself as the infallible and singular word of god, a great many followers are going to become zealots. Until we escape the tradition and myth that is religion, this will always be the case. There is no hope for the Arm of God. And, just as Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and local exclusionist pastors will always have a major hold over the flock, the Middle East is always going to see exclusionist and zealous leaders come to power who will have enough of a following that is willing to do the deeds of hate. That does not mean that the work of Kimball and others in the Middle East is futile. But, the oversimplified ideal of getting back to the roots is a far more complex and exhaustive effort than I believe is reasonably brought to fruition in any foreseeable future. With that said, this is a strong book that all should read. As one that no longer has any religious convictions (except that religion holds no empirical answers to the question of death), all I can really do is nod as I read his book. The people that really need this understanding are the most zealous religious advocates. Unfortunately, I can hear any pastor I ever studied under when I called myself a Christian preaching to his flock that Mr. Kimball's book is one that is heretical and not deserving of study. Interestingly, this reality is evidence of one of Mr. Kimball's postulated tenants of why religion becomes evil in the first place. I highly recommend this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Literalism as the Enemy
Review: When the first airliner slammed into the World Trade Tower on that fateful September day in 2001 and I heard the news over the radio as I drove to work my first thought was not Saddam Hussein (as was the apparent first thought of at least one major world leader), but Osama bin Laden. Why did I think this? Because there had been an earlier attack on the towers by Islamic extremists and religious fanaticism is more likely to produce self-sacrificing violent deeds than simple greed and power hunger. Religious extremism allows a person to destroy themselves on the promise that they will wake up in paradise. None of the people around Saddam Hussein were that devoted to the admittedly evil dictator to sacrifice themselves in such a violent act. Charles Kimball's book, "When Religion Becomes Evil" addresses the problem of corrupted religion and how to recognize it. He uses five warning signs to define such corruption- claims of absolute truth, demands of blind obedience, establishment of the "ideal" time, justification of means by the end, and declaration of holy war. We certainly have enough examples, from the Branch Davidians of David Koresh, to Heaven's Gate and Jim Jones, on through to Osama bin Ladin. All of these were or are demonstrably pathological. They all led to death and destruction for their followers and often innocent bystanders. Others, while not so extreme, are dangerous enough to warrant observation. These include several organizations of the so-called religious right in this country who often advocate violence indirectly by condemning certain groups that are deemed unworthy or under the control of Satan. As Kimball (who is a Baptist academic) notes exclusionary literal religions can indeed be a danger to democracy and to the general welfare of the society. Is religion the problem? Kimball correctly, I think, answers yes and no. Religion is always going to be with us and there will always probably be those who take it to extremes or use it cynically for their own gain, often at the expense of the lives of others. However, religion may be a human need. This is not necessarily a seeking for God as some would have it, but a need for meaning in life. An atheist can be just as ethically good as the best believer and a devote believer can easily be as evil in their actions as the most evil non-believer. We have Schindlers and Gandhis, Communist dictators and inquisitors. People who saved Jews in Nazi- overrun Europe came from all sorts of belief systems, including atheists, but all had some sort of faith in a moral system. On the other hand, some people who considered themselves truly religious turned in Jews to their destroyers. It is belief in a basic morality, not in a specific doctrine, which makes life bearable. As Kimball points out religion at its best can be very good, while at its worst it reaches depths of depravity seldom seen in simple non-religious disputes. The current hatred between Palestinians and Israelis is a case in point. Both sides have lost moral authority and I find it difficult at present to have as much sympathy for either side as I would like. While I cannot exactly share Kimball's Christian faith I am impressed with his honest attempt to examine the evils of religious literalism and bigotry. I might add that I do not embrace atheism, but prefer a more ecumenical approach that includes all major religions and non-believers as well. However, whatever your beliefs, if you want to learn more about the problems of religious exclusivity and literalism associated with hatred and violence, you cannot go wrong by reading "When Religion Becomes Evil." Whether you agree with Kimball or not, it will expand your understanding of the difficulties involved in too literal a belief system.
Rating:
Summary: Why did 9/11 happen?
Review: Why do practitioners of religions end up doing bad things? Why do we believe our religion (whichever one it is) gives us an open mandate to do evil? Is it, in fact, our religions that foment & encourage? Or is it something else? With the dreadful attacks of 9/11 & the global unease with Western values in mind, Charles Kimball sets out to explore these questions & see if there are any answers. If you have ever asked why good & faithful people mutate into death-dealing martyrs, WHEN RELIGION BECOMES EVIL, offers some insights. It is by no means a "heavy" read, after all Charles Kimball has been successfully teaching theology students for many years! & by the way, he was one of seven clergymen invited to Iran to confer about the embassy hostage taking. Thought-provoking, lucid & accessible. Highly recommended by RebeccasReads.
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