God's Century

January 24, 2011
Political scientists Toft (The Geography of Ethnic Violence), Philpott, and Shah explore the recent burgeoning political influence of religion in a timely treatise. The authors contend that religion's waning influence in politics—which dated from the Enlightenment and peaked in the 1960s—has seen a 40-year reversal; at present, "major religious actors... enjoy greater capacity for political influence today than at any time in modern history—and perhaps ever." This revival—manifested in developments like the "Islamic resurgence" and the rise of the religious Right in the U.S.—was rooted in a crisis in such secular ideologies as socialism, and has been nurtured by globalization and modern technologies like the Internet. Despite some occasional hyperbole and inconsistency—the authors shrill, "God's partisans are back, they are setting the political agenda, and they are not going away," and in the next breath, they caution policymakers not to "exaggerate the power of religious actors in public life"—this is a lucid and surprisingly seamless collaboration that should appeal to serious students of modern politics.

February 15, 2011

Nietzsche famously declared that "God is dead." Toft (Public Policy/Harvard Univ.), Philpott (Political Science and Peace Studies/Univ. of Notre Dame) and Shah (Boston Univ. Institute on Culture, Religion and World Affairs) suggest that the rumors of His death have been greatly exaggerated.

The authors claim that the influence of religion on the thinking and behavior of human beings may be stronger than ever, and they explore the implications of that influence over each of us as individuals and the world as a whole. Is religion a force for good or evil in politics? How much influence does and should it have? These are just two of the larger questions that the authors ask and then attempt to answer. Their sharp analysis, meticulous research and original thinking make for an enjoyable reading experience, and their willingness to unpack subtleties and address complexity keep their work from becoming biased or one-sided. In addition to critiquing religion, the authors celebrate it. Religion isn't a good or bad thing so much as it can be a good or bad thing. Any major religion claims adherents both irrational and violent as well as just and kind. The authors then consider how religion might be a force for good and not for ill, and these specifics are the most engaging parts of the book. The authors offer concrete suggestions for confronting the challenges that religion's influence can bring, as well as making the most of the unique perspective offered by religious thinkers and doers. In a world where religion isn't going away and may, in fact, be on the rise, Toft, Philpott and Shah urge us to take the influence of God seriously and to not simply accept or dismiss it as "good" or "bad."

In an age of Osteen and Hitchens, it's refreshing to see the subject of religion addressed in this nonpartisan, insightful way.

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

February 1, 2011
This books claim is that the twenty-first century is Gods Century. The term is a convenient way to capture religions effect on politics; the focus is global and encompasses all major religions. The authors favorite phrase throughout is religious actors, which include individuals or groups that have political pursuits alongside their religious beliefs and practices. Al-Qaeda, the Catholic Church, the National Association of Evangelicalsall are religious actors. The authors have observed a significant rise in the role of religion in global politics and are convinced that the trend will continue. Early chapters cover background matters, like the politics of religion, to help the uninitiated comprehend the basic issues. The core sections are devoted to focused areas, like democratization. There are also chapters covering religious civil wars, terrorism, and the push for peace and justice. Breaking up the text are tables or charts illustrating in a user-friendly way events or trends taking place.The book is filled with enough details and examples to satisfy serious researchers; appended are a 14-page bibliography and ample endnotes. A solid fit for academic collections and sizable public libraries.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)