The Battle for God
In "The Battle for God," Karen Armstrong explores the rise of fundamentalism in major world religions, including Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, during the late 20th century. She examines the historical and cultural contexts that have led to this resurgence and argues that fundamentalism is a response to modernity and social upheaval. Armstrong advocates for understanding and dialogue among different faiths to combat the divisive nature of extremism.
20 curated highlights from this book
Key Insights & Memorable Quotes
Below are the most impactful passages and quotes from The Battle for God, carefully selected to capture the essence of the book.
Fundamentalism is a reaction to the modern world.
The quest for meaning is a quintessentially human endeavor.
Violence is often a response to spiritual crisis.
Religious traditions must adapt to the realities of contemporary life.
The sacred is not a thing but a relationship.
Dogmatism can stifle the search for truth.
Faith requires a commitment to the unknown.
Understanding different faiths can foster tolerance.
The divine is often experienced through community.
Apathy towards religion can lead to a loss of meaning.
Fundamentalism is not a reaction to modernity but a response to the loss of meaning in the modern world.
The divine is not a being but a presence that can be experienced in a variety of ways.
Religion is a way of making sense of the world and finding a place within it.
In the face of suffering, people often turn to religion to find solace and purpose.
The stories of our faith traditions can guide us through the complexities of life.
Fundamentalism seeks certainty, but it ultimately leads to isolation and conflict.
The challenge of our time is to find a way to live together despite our differences.
The sacred is not separate from the world but interwoven into the fabric of existence.
Mysticism allows us to experience the divine directly, beyond the confines of dogma.
To understand religion, we must look beyond the literal and engage with the metaphorical.