What do you think?
Rate this book
Guerras en el nombre de Dios / Making War In The Name Of God
El fanatismo religioso que conmociona al nuevo milenio es el capitulo mas reciente de una historia iniciada mucho tiempo atras. La humanidad ya lleva trece siglos de guerras santas. Por ellas se han enfrentado cristianos contra musulmanes sunnitas contra chiitas catolicos contra protestantes entre otros. Por que los hombres emprenden guerras en nombre de Dios? Desde las primeras jihads del siglo VII y las cruzadas de la Edad Media hasta las guerras de la Reforma y el terrorismo de los fanaticos de hoy el ensayista Christopher Catherwood recorre la inquietante historia de las guerras santas y revela las sutilezas y los complejos detalles que resultan esenciales para comprender un tema que sigue dividiendo a la humanidad. El resultado es un libro agudo que analiza el pasado que ha forjado nuestro violento presente y la siniestra conexion entre guerra y religion. Una lectura actual e insoslayable.
220 pages, Paperback
First published July 22, 1939
9 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Catherwood
64 books15 followersChristopher Catherwood is a writer and historian based in Cambridge. He has taught at the University of Cambridge and the University of Richmond, Virginia. An expert on Winston Churchill, his previous books include the bestseller Winston’s Folly.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 26, 2022
الأديان وشريعة القتل باسم الإله
...............................................
تتمة مراجعة الكتاب على مدونتي:
((( همى الغيث )))
https://www.hma-algaith.com/%d8%ad%d8...
December 27, 2012
Poorly written, poorly edited (lots of syntactical, typographical errors), and poorly planned.
As the author says in the first sentence of the conclusion, the book covers some 1400 years of history of religious violence, and all this in 193 pages of text. Catherwood discusses Islamic "imperialism" during the Caliphate eras, Christian Crusades, Balkan events of the 1990s, and contemporary radical Islamic terrorism; each section is so short, however, that he must assume that his reader is somewhat familiar with each topic (unlikely, given his intended non-academic audience).
He makes several good observations about the intersection of religion and nationalism, two of the most powerful tools for understanding one's place in the world, but doesn't really discuss the difficulties of trying to describe any situation where the two may be present simultaneously. Thus, the Balkan genocide in the 1990s was primarily religious in nature (because the ethnic differences were negligible other than religion) rather than being a conflict over a sort of identity equally influenced by religion, local community, long-term and widely-understood family history, and political organization.
Basically, my major complaint with the book - disregarding the poor editing - is that Catherwood tries to cover far too much in far too short a space. While I appreciate the attempt to introduce a serious consideration of this very important topic to a wider audience, more care must be taken to present a nuanced story of "Making War in the Name of God."
As the author says in the first sentence of the conclusion, the book covers some 1400 years of history of religious violence, and all this in 193 pages of text. Catherwood discusses Islamic "imperialism" during the Caliphate eras, Christian Crusades, Balkan events of the 1990s, and contemporary radical Islamic terrorism; each section is so short, however, that he must assume that his reader is somewhat familiar with each topic (unlikely, given his intended non-academic audience).
He makes several good observations about the intersection of religion and nationalism, two of the most powerful tools for understanding one's place in the world, but doesn't really discuss the difficulties of trying to describe any situation where the two may be present simultaneously. Thus, the Balkan genocide in the 1990s was primarily religious in nature (because the ethnic differences were negligible other than religion) rather than being a conflict over a sort of identity equally influenced by religion, local community, long-term and widely-understood family history, and political organization.
Basically, my major complaint with the book - disregarding the poor editing - is that Catherwood tries to cover far too much in far too short a space. While I appreciate the attempt to introduce a serious consideration of this very important topic to a wider audience, more care must be taken to present a nuanced story of "Making War in the Name of God."
February 15, 2016
I was disappointed in this book. On some level, I had hoped it would be a survey of religious violence down the ages -- including the many examples outside the three Middle-Eastern derived religions -- tied together with some theoretical thoughts. It's certainly not that, focusing instead almost entirely on Islamic/Christian conflict with a bit of the Reformation thrown in for good measure.
It's hard to put a finger on the book exactly. It's greatest part is the author's take on various author's positions/arguments regarding portions of that conflict as well as his personal opinion about where Islam is today and may be going. As a kind of historiography of other books, it's got a great bibliography and it does relate some important parts in the history of the conflicts that have arisen. But even that is relayed at such a general level that I think it presupposes a level of general detailed knowledge about this history that few would have.
In a sense, it's a jumping off point to other books, but I think it makes sense to read some of those others first -- whether it be something like Destiny Disrupted or Lost to the West, to name just a couple. Anyway, I thought there was the seed for something more in here and it just never germinated.
It's hard to put a finger on the book exactly. It's greatest part is the author's take on various author's positions/arguments regarding portions of that conflict as well as his personal opinion about where Islam is today and may be going. As a kind of historiography of other books, it's got a great bibliography and it does relate some important parts in the history of the conflicts that have arisen. But even that is relayed at such a general level that I think it presupposes a level of general detailed knowledge about this history that few would have.
In a sense, it's a jumping off point to other books, but I think it makes sense to read some of those others first -- whether it be something like Destiny Disrupted or Lost to the West, to name just a couple. Anyway, I thought there was the seed for something more in here and it just never germinated.
March 21, 2014
Another gift from my dear husband ...
And no doubt a five stars book!
As a muslum, reading such a book that is written by a practicing christian is a very mind opening an enriching experience.
The writer discusses the religious wars in general. But to me, reading the parts in which Islam was a part of the story where very important because one can never realize how he looks if he only looks from within. You need to look at yourself from the outside to evaluate yourself.
The writer's christian passion was very obvious. Yet, his struggle to overcome his religious and emotional biases is also as clear. And I would take my hat off for the efforts that the writer has put to come up with this book.
One thing was wierd to me, though. Inspite of the clear existence of the jewish star on the cover, the writer barely referred to jews! I can't see the reason behind that.
But still, the book was a great experience all in all.
And no doubt a five stars book!
As a muslum, reading such a book that is written by a practicing christian is a very mind opening an enriching experience.
The writer discusses the religious wars in general. But to me, reading the parts in which Islam was a part of the story where very important because one can never realize how he looks if he only looks from within. You need to look at yourself from the outside to evaluate yourself.
The writer's christian passion was very obvious. Yet, his struggle to overcome his religious and emotional biases is also as clear. And I would take my hat off for the efforts that the writer has put to come up with this book.
One thing was wierd to me, though. Inspite of the clear existence of the jewish star on the cover, the writer barely referred to jews! I can't see the reason behind that.
But still, the book was a great experience all in all.
February 25, 2025
If I can give it an even lower rating, I would. I basically wasted my time forcing myself to read this book, way too poorly written that I had to force myself through the boredom. The writer, at least at the time of writing this book, has a very weak understanding of what islam is. The title had so much potential, unfortunately it went to waste.
May 21, 2022
لم افهم أو أعرف ماذا يريد الكاتب إن يوصله لقراءه عنوان الكتاب مختلف عن المحتوى لم يتطرأ أيضا لأي صراع ضمن الديانة اليهودية
September 24, 2024
Excelente libro si lo ves desde una mirada no creyente, un fanatismo religioso te va a volver el libro una pesadilla
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2009
Short book covering the recent history of religious war from a western sensibility. Spends much time on the Crusades with the premise that recent western apologies for them are unwarranted and harmful to Christian/Muslim relations today. Unwarranted because they were the result of many different things (including Muslim attacks on Christiandom) and harmful because it gives reason towards feeding extremist Muslim groups. Seems to argue that the Muslim faith needs to have its own Reformation type event to solve interior issues (Sunni and Shiite) long simmering before Christianity and Islamic faiths can truly live in peace.
February 2, 2016
No single book is enough to read on this subject. However, Catharwood gives a fairly balanced account when it comes to his discourse analysis. He has lots of references to other thinkers and their perspectives to contextualize the discussion, but he's also readable and has a sense of humor at times (hard to do with the topic). He's a self-avowed Christian of "the West" and frames his discussion towards a public that identified traditionally with a secularization thesis, but I was skeptical of his pronoun usage -"we," "our," etc. He has good points about American academics and is useful for untangling some of the divisive positions currently affecting the university.
November 23, 2013
For centuries those who go to war "in the name of God" believe that only they are right and that everyone else is wrong. What is most appalling are the cruelties done in the name of God, torture, mass murder. genocide, rape. All religious persuasions seem to have perpetrated some kind of terrible crime against humanity, from the Crusades and the Inquisition to the terrorism we see today....in the name of God!
June 17, 2013
The author spends half the time describing the terrors and horrors of non-Christian religion and the other half explaining why "real Christianity" doesn't support violence. The author admits at the beginning that we all suffer from biases, but I've never seen someone admit that and then so blatantly let those aforementioned biases bleed through the writing.
Avoid this book.
Avoid this book.
January 3, 2015
Breve y no excesivamente apasionante relación de guerras por motivos religiosos. Desde las primeras jihads del siglo VII, pasando por las cruzadas, hasta el terrorismo actual.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews