Taming the Gods: Religion and Democracy on Three Continents

by Ian Buruma

Book Overview

Why religion must be separated from politics if democracy is to thrive around the world For eight years the president of the United States was a born-again Christian, backed by well-organized... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0691134898
• ISBN13: 9780691134895
• Release Date: February 2010
• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Tao of Peace, religion and democracy on three continents

Ian writes this book to evaluate the relationship between religions and democracy with a perspective of western viewpoint. However, he offers in three chapters with many pages on 1. Full Tents and Empty Cathedrals, 2. Oriental Wisdom and 3. Enlightenment Values. It is fun to find out Confucius and Mencius's teaching might help spark the American and French Revolutions! Before the Enlightenment in Europe,there was Divine right, Monarch right and no human right for ordinary citizen. Chinese "democratic nature of the state with officials selected on intellectual merit by civil examination (American took the system up), not by birth right. Did Imperial and Colonial British Empire ever give democracy to the colonial locals? Did US invade Iraq based on misinformation and transplant democracy to the land? Are the citizens living better or worse? The May 4 Movement of 1919 in China look for Mr. Science and Mr. Democracy. They do define their own destiny. Mr. Chang helped draft the UN Human Right Declaration. It is interesting that Mr. Trump started a trade war with China based on allegations. Many intellectuals in Europe and America worry about the future of democracy. A few months ago, French President Macron made a pessimistic comment on the end of western democracy. Ian's book is thought provoking, read and find the truth!